England v India Series

Having called these players up you have to play them. That'll make it an interesting looking side but not convinced whatever the make up it'll be enough. I think the batsmen have a lost look about them
 
on what basis? players get called up to squads/tours as cover all the time and dont play

On the basis that clearly the management has decided a change is needed to freshen the batting/bowling. One thing being named in a touring squad and only playing the odd warm up game or not at all, but it seems strange, to me at least, to call players in with the chance to draw the series hanging thinly and then not bother to use them. Why not simply stick with what you've had so far?
 
Good start from England, Keaton Jennings playing well on debut.

Disappointing neither Cook nor Root could capitalise on their starts though.
 
Tongo - Do you feel a little bit dirty with England picking yet another S.African to play? It just doesn't sit right with me. This lad was still playing for S.Africa at U19 level.
 
Boycott is really doing my head in now. He is full of compliments for Moeen Ali taking it to the Indian spinners by being aggressive and then when he gets caught doing it, he rants for half an hour about playing a stupid shot. He is just the ultimate second-guesser and an absolute buffoon.
 
Tongo - Do you feel a little bit dirty with England picking yet another S.African to play? It just doesn't sit right with me. This lad was still playing for S.Africa at U19 level.

Not really. Jennings is another example of how teams these days are made up of transient players. Look at the German and Belgian squads from Euro 2016. The days of international teams being comprised solely of players born in that particular country are long gone. People moving about, both demographically and for sporting reasons, is the new norm.
 
I know he has served his residency and yes his mum is English but he grew up in S.Africa and spent most of his life there. The mouth opens and a S. African voice comes out. I felt the same about Pietersen, Caddick et al. I know the gates are open, it is too late etc. It just feels like a matter of convenience, a business decision, and playing for a country should never be that. I'll take my fogey views and sit down now.
 
I know he has served his residency and yes his mum is English but he grew up in S.Africa and spent most of his life there. The mouth opens and a S. African voice comes out. I felt the same about Pietersen, Caddick et al. I know the gates are open, it is too late etc. It just feels like a matter of convenience, a business decision, and playing for a country should never be that. I'll take my fogey views and sit down now.

I wouldnt say its a business decision but a career decision. There was obviously a reason why he decided to stop playing in SA domestic cricket in 2012 and joined Durham. He obviously made that decision because he believed it to be the best for his career. From what i understand SA cricket and who is selected still has some politics attached to it.
 
I know he has served his residency and yes his mum is English but he grew up in S.Africa and spent most of his life there. The mouth opens and a S. African voice comes out. I felt the same about Pietersen, Caddick et al. I know the gates are open, it is too late etc. It just feels like a matter of convenience, a business decision, and playing for a country should never be that. I'll take my fogey views and sit down now.

I'm with you LT. For me, it devalues 'international' sport. It's supposed to be between nations, not groups of individuals who have gamed lax residency rules to their own advantage. I think that cricket has tightened up a bit on residency, and that Jennings would no longer qualify on that basis. Not sure where his Mum would fit into the rules though...

Just because it's the new norm doesn't mean old gits need to like it.
 
I'm with you LT. For me, it devalues 'international' sport. It's supposed to be between nations, not groups of individuals who have gamed lax residency rules to their own advantage. I think that cricket has tightened up a bit on residency, and that Jennings would no longer qualify on that basis. Not sure where his Mum would fit into the rules though...

Just because it's the new norm doesn't mean old gits need to like it.

The question then is where is the line drawn?

For instance, where do you draw the line between Nasser Hussain (born in India but moved to England as young child) and Jennings? (Born in SA, moved to England as an adult)

Admittedly, the issue of representing one country at u19 level and then playing for another at test level clouds the issue but Ryan Giggs did the same thing in Football.
 
What where your thoughts on Hick, Lamb and R.Smith?

Different times, SA were excluded from world cricket, Zimbabwe were not on the international scene. However, I did still feel the same. I felt an understanding for why those guys moved to England as it was the only way for them to play international cricker whereas the current crop do it for other reasons. Fundamentally they were not English though so yes, I did not feel the same afinity for them as I did other players of that era.

Just because it's the new norm doesn't mean old gits need to like it.

Sometimes you just need that little bit of reassurance :D

Tongo, pick an age, any age. Perhaps 11? The point when you move to high school. It is an arbitrary figure and you can argue any way you like regarding that but as you get past 11 you start to be more grown up and be more aware of yourself and who you are. I think that is a fair age to pick. I certainly think once you have represented your country at any level that is game over.
 
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Ha ha. Very nice bloke from the interviews I've seen. He chanced his arm to play for England, same as Eoin Morgan, as it gave him a chance to play international test cricket, something neither of them could do with Ireland. I understand that, it was a professional decision. It doesn't mean either of them should have been picked though and I respect Joyce wanting to go back to play for Ireland when it didn't work out.

We can pick names going back a few years and the answer would be the same. I may have enjoyed watching non English people play for England, I enjoy the game so I appreciate any good player, but it doesn't mean that I thought they should be part of the team.
 
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