Planning or lack of it from ECB.

[Abdul Qadir 236]

* 99. Michael Vaughan
* 27. Kabir Ali
* 40. James Anderson
* 20. Rikki Clarke
* 11. Andrew Flintoff
* 29. Ashley Giles
* 8. Darren Gough
* 28. Steve Harmison
* 61. Richard Johnson
* 35. Robert Key - Released 7th July
* 30. Anthony McGrath
* 98. Chris Read
* 38. Vikram Solanki
* 23. Marcus Trescothick
* 12. James Troughton

This was the squad England picked in the first post World Cup 2003 series. I remember watching the announcement on Sky TV. The following was said:

Announcing the squad, Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: "The bulk of this squad is under thirty years of age and has been chosen with the next World Cup firmly in mind. We are anticipating two tough series this summer, but we believe that now is the right time for us to look at younger players and give them an opportunity to develop on the international stage.

How laughable it seems now. Compare to the 2007 World Cup squad. Only Vaughan, Anderson and Flintoff survive.

Kabir Ali was a very good prospect. A brisk medium pacer with an ability to unleash some lusty blows, he was dropped after being England's leading wicket taker in South Africa no less. As has happened with subsequent players, this totally destroyed his confidence.

Rikki Clarke has yet to realise his potential. He was too tentative with the bat at intl level and his bowling, much like his teammate Azhar, never had penetration.

Giles well he is the wheely bin, enough said.

Gough is still the best death bowler in England but was ignored for the World Cup despite his experience and much improved batting.

Harmison I believe did warrant a place because you need a strike bowler but he had the wrong attitude towards odis and I suspect he has in general going by some of his interviews.

Johnson has faded from glory. His last two seasons have fetched a miserable 42 wickets @ 42. Goodness knows why Middlesex need him!

Key is more suited I think to tests but definitely hard done by at international level. Impressed Aussies at WACA and 221 v WI, harsh to be left out of Ashes in favour of Joyce.

McGrath - well he is another Ian Austin/Matt Fleming etc type of player - rubbish.

Troughton a stylish left hander and in many ways the Suresh Raina of England. I would not be surprised to see him play for England soon.

Read and Solanki are the two unluckiest ones in this squad. Chris Read is by far the best wicket keeper in England and is an innovative late order play in limited overs cricket. However, his face simply did not fit with Fletcher even though every Australian player rated Read highly. Solanki is a terrific top order player, so stylish and can play every shot in the book. He is also an outstanding fielder and has lots of captaincy experience. Vaughan brings exactly what to the table ahead of him?

England should have a more coherent and positive gameplan for the next World Cup. It should start with domestic reform. Scrap the pro 40 and change the 50 over competition to play more games and also bring in Netherlands and Denmark.

As for personnel, that is secondary but I would start with James Benning of Surrey.

[Taurus]

Read's an old style wicket-keeper. Absolutely world class with the gloves, but no more than handy with the bat. He could have averaged 20 in Tests and ODIs, but his confidence when in this environment was shot.

[Abdul Qadir 236]

This is what I can't understand for the life of me. England are happy to espouse this traditional method of going about a one day innings yet are hellbent on picking an anything but old fashioned wicket keeper!

Still, what does Rod Marsh know...

[12thMan]

Sky just showed this and it is quite depressing

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by 12thMan Sky just showed this and it is quite depressing

wooh they have only beaten 2 major teams since winning that semi final in 1992

[swaziboy]

this is WYSWIG

(what you see is what you get)

[Who Knows]

England are no better than the Windies at ODI level. It is simple they don't have the player to succeed at that level. Only having one International class batsman in Pieterson makes it diffucult for you to win matches at a consistent level. The bowling line up as a whole is average at best. You need more than one bowler to help you win matches. Collingwood/Bopara as 5th bowler says it all.
It is simple they are not good enough compared to the likes of Australia/S.Africa at ODI level.

[cornered paktiger]

the worrying thing is that England have done better than us in the last 2 World Cups!!!!

[12thMan]

Vaughan not quitting ODIs

Captain Michael Vaughan says he will not retire from one-day cricket despite seeing England exit the World Cup after a nine-wicket loss to South Africa.

But he accepts that both he and coach Duncan Fletcher could lose their jobs.

He said: "I'm an honest guy who says my position is hugely in doubt due to my batting. But I still believe I'm a very good captain - I'm not retiring."

Vaughan also defended Fletcher, saying he was an "outstanding coach" who still had a "tremendous amount to offer"....

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/c...nd/6566051.stm