Ravi dropped

[galboy]

WTF???

Has to be because of injury surely? No mention why at all yet from the selectors.

[JasonP]

It's very strange.  Having the coach of Middlesex, pretty much worst one day team in the country as one of the selectors seems a joke.

On the plus side it means he can play in the quarter final.  Tendo is out for 10 to 12 days so will probably miss the game.

[DT]

I'm shocked, totally shocked.  He was picked to bat at 3 in the Lions series with success and because they wanted him to bat 3 in the ODI's and now he's not even in the squad - I don't get it?!  The only thing I can think of is that they've made a late call on Hales thus he'll open with Cookie and Bell will go down to 3 and they prefer Root, Morgan, Ballance in the middle order.  I don't think he's injured although odd he didn't bowl at Swansea.

Anyway, at least he can play for us in our 50 over and promotion challenge so not all bad eh?!

[nat]

Must be injured. Didn't bowl at Swansea when everyone else got a bowl... even Saj.

[galboy]

I'm shocked, totally shocked.  He was picked to bat at 3 in the Lions series with success and because they wanted him to bat 3 in the ODI's and now he's not even in the squad - I don't get it?!  The only thing I can think of is that they've made a late call on Hales thus he'll open with Cookie and Bell will go down to 3 and they prefer Root, Morgan, Ballance in the middle order.  I don't think he's injured although odd he didn't bowl at Swansea.

Anyway, at least he can play for us in our 50 over and promotion challenge so not all bad eh?!

He was never going to bat at 3.

[DT]

I'm shocked, totally shocked.  He was picked to bat at 3 in the Lions series with success and because they wanted him to bat 3 in the ODI's and now he's not even in the squad - I don't get it?!  The only thing I can think of is that they've made a late call on Hales thus he'll open with Cookie and Bell will go down to 3 and they prefer Root, Morgan, Ballance in the middle order.  I don't think he's injured although odd he didn't bowl at Swansea.

Anyway, at least he can play for us in our 50 over and promotion challenge so not all bad eh?!

He was never going to bat at 3.

Surely they were looking at him to bat 3 in the ODI's hence giving him a go there for the Lions??

[Perov]

Didn't bowl much against Hants in 50 over game - I guess he is injured, unable to bowl, so that's why he is out.

[galboy]

I'm shocked, totally shocked.  He was picked to bat at 3 in the Lions series with success and because they wanted him to bat 3 in the ODI's and now he's not even in the squad - I don't get it?!  The only thing I can think of is that they've made a late call on Hales thus he'll open with Cookie and Bell will go down to 3 and they prefer Root, Morgan, Ballance in the middle order.  I don't think he's injured although odd he didn't bowl at Swansea.

Anyway, at least he can play for us in our 50 over and promotion challenge so not all bad eh?!

He was never going to bat at 3.

Surely they were looking at him to bat 3 in the ODI's hence giving him a go there for the Lions??

I dont think so no. I have no idea why Ravi was even playing in those matches. He has batted every number from 1-8 for England I believe but seems to be seen as a middle order/finisher. Ballance has done ok at 3 but isn't a patch on Ravi if you ask me.

What I dont get is that they explained why Broad wasnt in the squad, having an operation possibly, but no mention of Bopara at all. So if he is injured why didn't they mention that?

If he has been dropped on merit then what was the point in playing him in the 'A' ODI triangular series recently? Afterall he scored a ton and bowled well so what was he supposed to do in those matches score a 150 and get a 5-fer?

[DT]

I'm shocked, totally shocked.  He was picked to bat at 3 in the Lions series with success and because they wanted him to bat 3 in the ODI's and now he's not even in the squad - I don't get it?!  The only thing I can think of is that they've made a late call on Hales thus he'll open with Cookie and Bell will go down to 3 and they prefer Root, Morgan, Ballance in the middle order.  I don't think he's injured although odd he didn't bowl at Swansea.

Anyway, at least he can play for us in our 50 over and promotion challenge so not all bad eh?!

He was never going to bat at 3.

Surely they were looking at him to bat 3 in the ODI's hence giving him a go there for the Lions??

I dont think so no. I have no idea why Ravi was even playing in those matches. He has batted every number from 1-8 for England I believe but seems to be seen as a middle order/finisher. Ballance has done ok at 3 but isn't a patch on Ravi if you ask me.

What I dont get is that they explained why Broad wasnt in the squad, having an operation possibly, but no mention of Bopara at all. So if he is injured why didn't they mention that?

If he has been dropped on merit then what was the point in playing him in the 'A' ODI triangular series recently? Afterall he scored a ton and bowled well so what was he supposed to do in those matches score a 150 and get a 5-fer?

Exactly and if he was injured he wouldn't have played at Swansea and Essex would have mentioned something in the match report like they did with Tendo - or so you'd think?!

[IanS]

Makes you wonder how Morgan has kept his place. In the 5 match ODI series v Sri Lanka, he scored marginally fewer runs than Bopara, at a slower strike-rate despite coming in ahead of him. I suppose he is the fall back captain but if Bopara has been dropped for cricketing reasons, I can't see why Morgan has been retained?

[squarelegumpire]

Very odd. Agree that it was also odd he didn’t bowl at Swansea, given the effect of a similar bowler on their side.

[tonk]

Think I would be pretty unhappy in his position unless he has been told he will play in the winter and it's the likes of Hales/Morgan/Cook that are on trial?

[Perov]

Makes you wonder how Morgan has kept his place. In the 5 match ODI series v Sri Lanka, he scored marginally fewer runs than Bopara, at a slower strike-rate despite coming in ahead of him. I suppose he is the fall back captain but if Bopara has been dropped for cricketing reasons, I can't see why Morgan has been retained?

I don't get the clamour for Morgan as captain.
Taking over as the Middlesex one day skipper this season, in T20 they won TWO out of fourteen games, and in 50 overs won TWO out of seven.

[DT]

Makes you wonder how Morgan has kept his place. In the 5 match ODI series v Sri Lanka, he scored marginally fewer runs than Bopara, at a slower strike-rate despite coming in ahead of him. I suppose he is the fall back captain but if Bopara has been dropped for cricketing reasons, I can't see why Morgan has been retained?

I don't get the clamour for Morgan as captain.
Taking over as the Middlesex one day skipper this season, in T20 they won TWO out of fourteen games, and in 50 overs won TWO out of seven.

Probably more to do with a poor team but I hear what you're saying!

[LeedsExile]

I agree with Perov about Morgan's so called captaincy credentials. It seems people think that just because he bats in an unusual way he will be a genius captain. No evidence to date. Not sure he merits a place as a batsman either so expect him to dominate this series to prove me wrong