Cricket Comment: England must unleash future stars or risk World Cup failure
ASHLEY Giles has his hands tied with a number of his top players not available for selection to England’s one-day international squad, but that gives him licence to try the younger players and I think he’s missing a golden opportunity at the moment.
I didn’t see the sense in selecting Steven Finn and James Tredwell, alongside newcomer Boyd Rankin, as the only specialist bowlers in the
88-run hammering at Old Trafford on Sunday.
These players are tried and tested – Rankin aside who did well – and at no point in the game did we ever look like beating Australia. I don’t get the logic.
Joe Root and Ravi Bopara are real pluses because they can bowl 10 overs, or five and five between them, but England have got to find another bowler before the World Cup in 2015.
So, today at Edgbaston, I’d love to see uncapped seamers Jamie Overton and Chris Jordan given a go.
It’s a mistake to play three bowlers when England are trying to find the right bowling attack ahead of the World Cup. They’ve got to find decent bowlers if they are to compete in that tournament.
Yes England are missing the Ashes attack, the likes of Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Graeme Swann, but they may not be the best options in two years’ time. I think Giles has done well generally since assuming the role. He’s getting a feel for the players, but I really believe he needs to use these matches to see what Overton and Jordan can do.
Take the opportunity to see someone else now, because the next chance will be in a game overseas and that is completely different.
PSYCHE
I want to see us get a side together that is consistent, but why include these guys in the squad if you have no intention of playing them?
Building a winning psyche is also something very important. England beat Ireland last week quite comfortably, as expected.
But a win is a win and it’s important England can build confidence against Australia, because winning becomes a habit and you don’t want to go there for the Ashes series having been hammered in the one-day internationals.
Andy Lloyd is a former England Test cricketer who has also been captain and chairman of Warwickshire.