A different England warm up before the Ashes?

Question

Okay I was thinking about this the other day and came up with an interesting thought. Instead of having Sri Lanka as a warm up for the Ashes next year (a team which will be weakened due to IPL commitments), why not have an England vs England Lions series?

The England Lions are, after all, the prelude to the England team and recently there has been a lot of call for players such as Shah, Bopara and Key among others to enter the England Test side. So why not have a match that could, in theory, act as a “trial” for the Ashes, with the best performers winning a place in the senior team to take on Australia.

I know there is much criticism to this method such as – “It would just be a glorified County game” and “It would barely be a warm up for the Aussies” but I still think it’s worth a thought.

I personally think it would be quite competitive. If we make it clear that the Lions players will be rewarded with good performances, the more comfortable players in the England team may respond very well to the threat of being dropped.

Although I must admit, it might cause more debate around team issues than is actually helpful!

So what do you think? :)

Answer 1

i think you're on to something

Answer 2

I think thats a superb idea.

India have done a similar set of matches before, they had 3 teams. India's full side, and then an Indian A side (fringe players) and an Indian B side (young players). The triangular series was very competitive and attracted large crowds in India, it also gave young players a chance to bowl to world class batsmen (Chawla dismissed Tendulkar if i remember correctly and thats how he was first put on to the world scene)

I have the same opinion as you, i believe that playing the series against a "weakened" Sri Lankan side, will be a pointless build up to The Ashes. In all likelyness playing extra county championship matches instead of the Sri Lanka series would be more competitive.

On a totally un-related note, i think England should play 6 test matches against Australia next year instead of playing Sri Lanka, and also we should play the ODI's first (playing ODI's at the end always seems anti-climatic to me)

If this "trial" series would be made, i feel that the ECB should do there best to try and replicate a test match enviroment as best they can. The ECB should sell tickets on the cheap (so that the ground is full most days). The ECB should also provide as many "fancy dress days" and other activities to get the crowd as into the game as possible so that the fringe players can feel the atmosphere of a test match.

The series would definitely be competitive, 22 players all fighting for 12 spots in the England side. The players would have to feel that they need to prove that they are good enough to the selectors, 1 wicket could make or break the players chances of making the side.

Another point would be the selection of the sides, would ODI specialists like Mascheranas and Luke Wright get to play in the test matches?

Anyway these matches are a great idea, and a great way for a player like Simon Jones to make an impression on the selectors. A 5fer in one of these matches would do more for his chances than taking 10 wickets against a weakened Sri Lanka side. These matches would surely test the players ability and desire to get into the side, whilst also not only proving to the fans and the selectors that your good enough to make it, but proving to the other players too.

Great question :)

Answer 3

I actually think that is quite a good idea. It would be like bringing back the "Test Trials".

But instead of England v England Lions, why not Probables v Possibles?

The matches would be very competitive, as each player would want to prove their worth fir selection in the Test side to face Australia.

It would be good to see two wicket keeping candidates "play off" against each other for one position. Also batsmen and bowlers on the fringe of the side could compete against each other. Owais Shah or Ravi Bopara? See how they perform in the Test Trial.

Good idea. I like it.