With Test Matches done for the summer, England's attention turns to white ball cricket. India's attention has probably been there since they produced a performance worthy of the occupants of the 'other' Old Trafford back in Manchester. There was a same old, same old feel to the squad announced for the one-dayers. A squad without Ravi Bopara. Thats the all-rounder Ravi Bopara who can hurry through ten overs of economical medium pace bowling and then clear the boundary with consummate ease.
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| Hales in action for Notts |
The inclusion of Alex Hales in the squad is at least a positive move, but then he was in the squad for the Sri Lanka ODI's but didn't even play when Cook missed out through injury. Alex Hales has proven in County Cricket this summer that there is more to his game than just t20. In fact its become hard to not think he can open in all three formats for England in a way David Warner does for Australia.
England have scheduled plenty of ODI's over the coming months to prepare for the World Cup. Being in Australia where par is, more times than not, 300 "power hitters" should be in the minds of the selectors. Preserving wickets for an assault in the last 10 overs may well work fine in England but in Australia 60-3 after ten overs is better than 31-0. If England really are serious about preparing for this World Cup, the pitches in this India series should mimic those that will be encountered in Australia. I'd like to see the likes of Vince, Roy and Willey seriously considered to the extent where at least 2 of them will be on the plane to Australia.
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