Three new young bowlers are in the running for Sunday's match in Manchester after the Headingley wash-out
After the wash-out at Headingley this series needs a sun-powered kickstart to capture the imagination but there is no more certainty about there being sunshine in Manchester on Sunday than about the personnel in England's line-up for the match against Australia. An unfamiliar captain, Eoin Morgan, will be taking charge of an unusual side.
In fact the forecast for Old Trafford is not too bad. There should be a game and a glimpse of the unfamiliar faces on both sides. For Australia there is Aaron Finch, the "Finch-hitter" who humbled England's bowlers in the first of the T20 matches to the tune of 156, and Fawad Ahmed, the wrist spinner with a newly acquired Australian passport.
Fawad's inclusion has caused a bit of a stir at home. A devout muslim, Fawad was uncomfortable wearing a shirt with a VB (Victoria Bitter) logo on the collar. So he has been allowed to wear a shirt without the logo. This seems a mature response by Cricket Australia and its sponsors. Indeed this little episode has probably given more exposure to Victoria Bitter (there it is again) than would otherwise be the case. Recently Hashim Amla has been given a similar dispensation by the South African Cricket Board.
However, some Australians are unhappy about the situation. "Doug Walters tells Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed: if you don't like the VB uniform, don't play for Australia. Well said, Doug. Tell him to go home," tweeted David Campese, the former rugby union star. Such a reaction is, as they say, "disappointing" as well as myopic. Clearly some Australians have yet to come to terms with Fawad in their team. England's batsmen are also unfamiliar with him and this might give him a little leeway at Old Trafford. Batsmen like to have a good look at a new bowler before deciding how to attack him.
By the same token there are new bowlers, unfamiliar to the Australians, in the England squad. Steven Finn and James Tredwell are suddenly the senior citizens, now joined by Boyd Rankin, Chris Jordan, Ben Stokes and Jamie Overton.
England's fast bowling coach, David Saker, enjoys the presence of the new boys like a kid with new toys. "You can start coaching again, I suppose. With the Jimmys and Stuarts you probably have done all you can, so to get new guys is exciting, especially when they're bigger guys."
Saker obviously likes his fast bowlers big. Both Rankin and the 19-year-old Overton, who will become the youngest England cricketer since Brian Close in 1949 if he gets a game, are over six feet six.
Saker gives an interesting insight into the selection criteria for this series. There is an element of creating a training camp, which enables the coaches to familiarise themselves with some of England's talented youngsters. For example, Overton may not actually play in this series but it seems to be regarded that having him on board here is more useful than him playing in the Championship, where he has enjoyed most of his success this year.
"I like to see how they think about the game," says Saker, "and get to know how they think they can get wickets, how they work out batsmen, how they talk about things. Overton has been picked very young. He has been performing really well for Somerset, has a lot of characteristics that we want at this level and it is good to find out what he's about even if he doesn't play. He gets to know how we work and we get to know how he works; so it's a win-win for us."
"Jamie has a little bit more height than Chris [Jordan]. But Chris is quite skilful; he can continually bang out a really good area and looks to be able to bowl a very good yorker as well, which is a big plus in limited-overs cricket".
Stokes, a genuine all-rounder, will be given more responsibility with the ball. "With our attack we have two recognised seamers plus Ben," says Saker, "so whether it be in the powerplay or at the end he is going to have to bowl. It's a really tough ask now with the limitation of fielders outside the circle but he's good enough to do it."
England's batting line-up is more recognisable. The only newcomer is the second-oldest man in the team, Michael Carberry, who will be 33 at the end of the month. His ODI debut in Dublin was inauspicious. He dropped two catches, bowled a hapless over with the method, but not the accuracy, of Bomber Wells and was firm-footed at the crease when lbw to Trent Johnston. It is still possible to be really nervous at the age of 32. England need more positive evidence if they are to take him to Australia.
Carberry's opening partner is likely to be the oldest in the team, Kevin Pietersen, restored to the top of the order in the absence of Alastair Cook and Ian Bell. So turn up on time. And bring a hat.
*England* (probable): Carberry, Pietersen, Trott, Root, Morgan, Bopara, Buttler, Stokes, Tredwell, Finn, Rankin.
*Australia* (possible): Finch, Marsh, Watson, Clarke, Bailey, Voges, Wade, Faulkner, Johnson, McKay, Fawad Ahmed. Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 days ago.
After the wash-out at Headingley this series needs a sun-powered kickstart to capture the imagination but there is no more certainty about there being sunshine in Manchester on Sunday than about the personnel in England's line-up for the match against Australia. An unfamiliar captain, Eoin Morgan, will be taking charge of an unusual side.
In fact the forecast for Old Trafford is not too bad. There should be a game and a glimpse of the unfamiliar faces on both sides. For Australia there is Aaron Finch, the "Finch-hitter" who humbled England's bowlers in the first of the T20 matches to the tune of 156, and Fawad Ahmed, the wrist spinner with a newly acquired Australian passport.
Fawad's inclusion has caused a bit of a stir at home. A devout muslim, Fawad was uncomfortable wearing a shirt with a VB (Victoria Bitter) logo on the collar. So he has been allowed to wear a shirt without the logo. This seems a mature response by Cricket Australia and its sponsors. Indeed this little episode has probably given more exposure to Victoria Bitter (there it is again) than would otherwise be the case. Recently Hashim Amla has been given a similar dispensation by the South African Cricket Board.
However, some Australians are unhappy about the situation. "Doug Walters tells Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed: if you don't like the VB uniform, don't play for Australia. Well said, Doug. Tell him to go home," tweeted David Campese, the former rugby union star. Such a reaction is, as they say, "disappointing" as well as myopic. Clearly some Australians have yet to come to terms with Fawad in their team. England's batsmen are also unfamiliar with him and this might give him a little leeway at Old Trafford. Batsmen like to have a good look at a new bowler before deciding how to attack him.
By the same token there are new bowlers, unfamiliar to the Australians, in the England squad. Steven Finn and James Tredwell are suddenly the senior citizens, now joined by Boyd Rankin, Chris Jordan, Ben Stokes and Jamie Overton.
England's fast bowling coach, David Saker, enjoys the presence of the new boys like a kid with new toys. "You can start coaching again, I suppose. With the Jimmys and Stuarts you probably have done all you can, so to get new guys is exciting, especially when they're bigger guys."
Saker obviously likes his fast bowlers big. Both Rankin and the 19-year-old Overton, who will become the youngest England cricketer since Brian Close in 1949 if he gets a game, are over six feet six.
Saker gives an interesting insight into the selection criteria for this series. There is an element of creating a training camp, which enables the coaches to familiarise themselves with some of England's talented youngsters. For example, Overton may not actually play in this series but it seems to be regarded that having him on board here is more useful than him playing in the Championship, where he has enjoyed most of his success this year.
"I like to see how they think about the game," says Saker, "and get to know how they think they can get wickets, how they work out batsmen, how they talk about things. Overton has been picked very young. He has been performing really well for Somerset, has a lot of characteristics that we want at this level and it is good to find out what he's about even if he doesn't play. He gets to know how we work and we get to know how he works; so it's a win-win for us."
"Jamie has a little bit more height than Chris [Jordan]. But Chris is quite skilful; he can continually bang out a really good area and looks to be able to bowl a very good yorker as well, which is a big plus in limited-overs cricket".
Stokes, a genuine all-rounder, will be given more responsibility with the ball. "With our attack we have two recognised seamers plus Ben," says Saker, "so whether it be in the powerplay or at the end he is going to have to bowl. It's a really tough ask now with the limitation of fielders outside the circle but he's good enough to do it."
England's batting line-up is more recognisable. The only newcomer is the second-oldest man in the team, Michael Carberry, who will be 33 at the end of the month. His ODI debut in Dublin was inauspicious. He dropped two catches, bowled a hapless over with the method, but not the accuracy, of Bomber Wells and was firm-footed at the crease when lbw to Trent Johnston. It is still possible to be really nervous at the age of 32. England need more positive evidence if they are to take him to Australia.
Carberry's opening partner is likely to be the oldest in the team, Kevin Pietersen, restored to the top of the order in the absence of Alastair Cook and Ian Bell. So turn up on time. And bring a hat.
*England* (probable): Carberry, Pietersen, Trott, Root, Morgan, Bopara, Buttler, Stokes, Tredwell, Finn, Rankin.
*Australia* (possible): Finch, Marsh, Watson, Clarke, Bailey, Voges, Wade, Faulkner, Johnson, McKay, Fawad Ahmed. Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 days ago.