Pakistan's Tour of England 2021

England are having to pick an entirely new team to play Pakistan on Thursday after 3 of the team and 4 of the management team tested positive after tests on Sunday.

Ben Stokes will captain a hastely assembled team.

England ODI squad for Pakistan series

Ben Stokes (Durham, captain),
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire),
Danny Briggs (Warwickshire),
Brydon Carse (Durham),
Zak Crawley (Kent),
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire),
Lewis Gregory (Somerset),
Tom Helm (Middlesex),
Will Jacks (Surrey),
Dan Lawrence (Essex),
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire),
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire),
Craig Overton (Somerset),
Matt Parkinson (Lancashire),
David Payne (Gloucestershire),
Phil Salt (Sussex),
John Simpson (Middlesex),
James Vince (Hampshire).

interesting mix of exciting young players who have done well this year and some getting a 2nd chance they probable thought they never would

It looks like the selectors have brought some capped players back in order to give the starting XI some experience.
The 18 man squad has 6 uncapped players, although some of the remaining 12 would be making their ODI debuts. The keeping role will more than likely see one debut, a choice between Salt or Simpson, as Duckett doesn't take the gloves that often. If they want a left-arm seamer then Payne is the only option. Helm is a strange choice, showed promise at an early age, but hasn't pushed on. The fast bowling spot will more than likely go to Mahmood, but Carse has really impressed me. Jake Ball has been in some of the squad recently as one of the many covid substitutes, he looked like he would have a long International career when he first appeared.
With the 1st match in Cardiff the shape of the ground doesn't help the slow bowlers. I'd like to see matt Parkinson play, to see what he's made of, Briggs would possibly be a safer choice, or pick Jacks & or Lawrence to fill in with some part-time stuff if required & leave the front-line spinners out.
Having Stokes back will balance the team, with Gregory & Craig Overton offering allrounder abilities.

^^ wouldn't call Craig an all rounder hes a proper quick, his batting is ok hes only at 7 for somerset as we have a few proper old school tailenders lol ,
Lewis has been poor with the bat this year and gone for a lot of runs but hes also took lots of wickets everyone gets worried in the stand when hes bowling lol,
i would like to see Salt play looks a very good player but think they will pick Duckett as keeper based on his batting,
i think the other batters will be James Vince, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Daniel Lawrence cant really be anyone else,
Will Jacks, Lewis Gregory as the allrounders not sure its what i would do but it would fit with how england do things,
and my attack Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson, Jake Ball and Saqib Mahmood, i know there will be those you say you cant play Parkinson at cardiff but i think spinners can do well there
my batting line up would be

Duckett
Vince
Malan
Stokes
Lawrence
Jakes
Gregory
Ball
Overton
Parkinson
Mahmood

I'll have a stab at what the starting XI will be, & I could get this badly wrong.

Salt
Vince
Malan
Stokes ©
Jacks
Simpson (k)
Gregory
Payne
Carse
Ball
Mahmood

About halfway through, I think this above line-up became my choice, lol. But I'm hoping I'm not far off.

My reasoning would be, why is Simpson in the squad if he's not going to start, he's the best keeper, by a mile & is an underrated batsman. I think Stokes may have some influence some influence as captain, so Carse has a big chance of playing. Morgan has a lot of faith in Rashid, but I can't see Stokes having the same trst in Parkinson, so I think they will go with no spin & use Jacks/Malan if they are desperate. I believe they will stick with their policy of playing a left-armer, & Payne will add depth to their batting. I mulled over the choice between Craig Overton & Ball, but I see ball as a senior bowler, who should help those with little experience at this level.

On the subject of experience, Stokes has 98 ODI caps, Ball is next with 18, Vince had 16. Six other players have a combined total of 14 caps between them, which leaves 9 uncapped players.

1st ODI Cardiff
England won the toss & have elected to bowl.
England XI
Salt
Malan
Crawley
Vince
Stokes©
Simpson (K)
Gregory
C Overton
Carse
Mahmood
Parkinson

Not bad, I got 8 out of 11 right. I was actually thinking about Malan opening, having a left/right combination at the top of the order always helps. I didn't really do my homework on Crawley, his first-class form has been poor, but has been consistent in the Blast, with any relly big scores. His best being 69.

Latest - Pakistan 101-7 (26.2 overs) Mahmood 4-33

(08-07-2021 14:53 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Not bad, I got 8 out of 11 right. I was actually thinking about Malan opening, having a left/right combination at the top of the order always helps. I didn't really do my homework on Crawley, his first-class form has been poor, but has been consistent in the Blast, with any relly big scores. His best being 69.

i got 7 not bad going lol, wasn't expecting them to be so brave to pick Salt but i am really happy they did