Having a look at the prospective candidates

After England suffered a humiliating defeat at Headingley against Australia is it time to drop Bopara, or even Bell? if so, who are the candidates to look out for?

So, I thought of having a look at few of the players who can play for England.

Trott

Trott has been picked as the reserve batsman so, he maybe the likely candidate to come into consideration. Trott has had a very good season for Warwickshire as he has scored lots of runs, and should be high on confidence.

The points that can go against him are the track at Edgbaston has usually been a slow track so, he did play on a track on which run scoring wasn't that difficult. I have a feeling he is a bit like Colly, and may even call him as the poorer version of Colly as he does have a habit of trying to work deliveries from the off stump deliveries to the on side, and may get out straight balls, and add to it he is not that good on the off side.

Key

Many cricket fans pick him as the player who can replace Bopara, or Bell, but I have never rated him as a player. Other than an double hundred against a weak Caribbean bowling attack he has looked out of his depth in test cricket.

My opinion is that any decent test bowler who has the ability to move the ball should trouble Key as he is flat footed when he drives, and can play around his front pad.

I also wonder if Patel doesn't look fit how can one say Key is fit?

Shah

He never looked the part as a number 3 batsman as he is a nervy starter. His style of play which includes taking risks may not be suited for the number 3 position.

At number 5 though he can be ok and on a true surface like the Oval it can suit his style of batting as it would allow him to play all those wristy flicks, or those horizontal bat shots.

So, with KP out having an attacking player like Shah at number 5 on a true surface like the Oval is surely not the worst option in the prevailing circumstances.

Moore

Moore of Worcestershire didn't had the best of starts this season in CC, but has just played an important knock against Lancashire, and that shows he is returning back to form. He did make most of the opportunity in the Lions game against Australians at Grace Road by scoring a hundred against Lee, Clark, Johnson and Hauritz. He does look ok against pace, and seems to have the temperament to bat in the top order.

He is basically an opener but in the prevailing circumstances he is worth a gamble.

Horton

Another opener and this time from Lancashire, who if needed can bat at number 3. If England want a player, who goes about his job of accumulating runs without much of a fuss, then he is the payer.

He is usually consistent, but this season he has been in average form in CC. Another player just like Moore, who for some reason rarely gets talked about.

Joyce

I feel that he is one of the more talented batsman in CC. A very graceful player to watch. Joyce the lefthander used to play for Middlesex, but probably in an attempt to play first division cricket is now playing for Sussex.

He did score a hundred for England in the CB series in Australia in 06/07, but failed in few subsequent matches and was soon discarded. At his best Joyce looks a bit it like Gower though occasionally he can get out to soft dismissals.

I wonder why players with some talent like Joyce are discarded very soon, but Key got 15 chances to play test cricket, and still gets talked about!

Hildreth

A good strokemaker, who plays in the middle order, but some cricket fans have the habit of saying as he plays at Taunton he gets easy runs as the pitch at Taunton is usually flat.

He looks good when he gets gets going, but may have a weakness against the inswinger.

Patel

Another player who is wristy and strong on the on side. He can struggle to get his timing right when he plays shots on the off side, and can be a bit of lbw candidate. He can also bowl a bit of left arm spin.

He hasn't had a good season in CC this year.

Morgan

He did play for England in the T/20 world cup. Morgan of Middlesex is a good timer of the ball, but his habit of moving across the crease makes him an lbw candidate.

If he does some work on it he may play test cricket in the future.

Solanki

Solanki was a surprise selection to play in the Lions game against Australia. Botham once even ridiculously hyped him up as the next Sobers.

His tendency of having a high back lift even against bowlers, who bowl full means he would always be in trouble. For example Lee bowled full in the game against the Lions team and his stumps went for a walk.

Denly

At his best he looks like an well organised player, and did scored a fine 90 odd against the likes of Clark and Warne for Kent against Hampshire in 2007, but he is not consistent enough.

Ramprakash

A few fans still talk about Ramps coming back, but he has been given 52 chances, and he is also about 39 now.

Players like Northeast are too young to come into consideration.

After having a look at the prospective candidates my feeling is selectors at most would go for Trott instead of Bopara, and there can be a slim chance of them going for the Kent captain Key instead of Bell.

It would be the usual case of selectors looking at County records, or players who get talked about like Key instead of what Fletcher did in 2000, when he stressed for the selection of both Vaughan and Tresco though at that time neither didn't had good records in CC, but Fletcher saw them as players with test match temperament, and the rest is history!