Interesting One Day squad announced

[Ian J]

Steve Harmison has announced his retirement from One Day internationals in a bid to prolong his Test career so he has stated. I think that the real reasons are that retiring from ODI's means that he can spend more time with his family as he is notoriously homesick and as he doesn't seem to be suited to that form of the game he could well have been dropped anyway.

It have often wondered why the England management persevered with Harmison in their one day squads when even his County didn't pick him for their one day sides.

The selectors in their infinite wisdom have also recalled Michael Vaughan to the One Day squad showing that they have learned nothing from the recent debacle with the other long term injury returnees Giles & Anderson. Vaughan has played a few games in Perth recently but none of them were competitive and I think that it's stupid picking someone to play for England against the might of Australia if he can't even make runs against Western Australia's second team.

Geraint Jones has been dropped from the squad which must signify the end of his international career and the wicket keeping understudy is none other than 36 year old Paul Nixon. We're obviously planning for the future

I'm not looking forward to the One Day series anyway as we're pretty hopeless at this form of the game even when playing ordinary opposition at home let alone Australia in their own back yard.

PS. The full squad is James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), James Dalrymple (Middlesex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Ed Joyce (Middlesex), Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Paul Nixon (Leicestershire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Chris Read (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Chris Tremlett (Hampshire), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire)

[rio1981]

I think the change from test to ODI could be just the thing our team needs - agree about Harmison on all counts.

It's obviously good to see Vaughan back but I would only have him in Australia at the moment to be around the team and talk to the more inexperienced members of the squad, not actually play. It'll be much more constructive to wait until the summer before Vaughan comes back full-time... and much as I like Freddie we do need Vaughan's captaincy back quick-smart....

[Spligsey]

Originally Posted by rio1981

I think the change from test to ODI could be just the thing our team needs

I think it's the opposite! - we're not one of the worlds superpowers in 1-day cricket, Australia are (what a surprise), Kiwis are good, and WI can be dangerous too, as can India. I'd put all those above us.
South Africa are pretty good too, i just cannot stand their captain (Graeme Smith). Also, our 1-day record of late isn't particularly encouraging!

I am looking forward to seeing Pietersen in the 1-day series.
Harmison is a funny bloke, capable of bowling some absolute unplayable stuff, but also capable of the 'first ball in the ashes' syndrome.
Interestingly, i recently acquired a DVD called 'Englands greatest XI' - and he was one of the fast bowler picks the panel went for!

Adz

[scrapbook]

Originally Posted by Spligsey

I recently acquired a DVD called 'Englands greatest XI' - and he was one of the fast bowler picks the panel went for!

Adz

You get the impression with Harmison that he could easily be one of our greatest if he could ever sort out whatever it is that goes on in his head!

[Ian J]

I think that Harmison's epitaph will begin "If only....."

He has the potential to rival, if not beat, the West Indian greats but apart from one purple patch his potential has largely been unfulfilled

[rio1981]

It's the overseas thing that really seems to bother Harmison - he looks different class in this country when fully fit but as soon as you ask him to be out of the country for months at a time, he just can't hack it... and as a touring party you can't be carrying anyone, it feels like we've carried Harmy in this tour, which is a real shame.

In terms of tall "hit the deck" bowlers, I can only think of Broad that's coming through at the moment to compete with Harmison? Mahmood needs to sort out his radar more before becoming more of a mainstay....

I suppose it could go one way or another in the one-dayers, I'm glad that the one-dayers have come along after the test matches, the pressure might be off a bit more and at least it's an opportunity to play in games which aren't "dead rubbers", which the next two tests will be.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by rio1981

at least it's an opportunity to play in games which aren't "dead rubbers", which the next two tests will be.

I think that they will still be fought as competitively as possible as the Australians will want to humiliate the English whilst we will be well aware that the Australians are insufferably arrogant at the best of times so will try our hardest to give them as little as possible to crow about.

[huwg]

Originally Posted by Ian J

I think that they will still be fought as competitively as possible as the Australians will want to humiliate the English whilst we will be well aware that the Australians are insufferably arrogant at the best of times so will try our hardest to give them as little as possible to crow about.

At least the Aussies have something to be arrogant about; they are the best team in the world.

I personally thought last years celebrations (when we won) to be way over the top given the closely fought series.