(UTV|COLOMBO) – The final places in England’s World Cup squad could come down to the personal preference of white-ball captain Eoin Morgan, according to coach Trevor Bayliss.
Tournament hosts England, bidding to win the World Cup for the first time, have risen to the top of the one-day international rankings since their dismal early exit at the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand.
And having completed a 4-0 ODI series defeat of Pakistan at Headingley on Sunday, they appear to be confident about the bulk of their World Cup squad, with national selector Ed Smith announcing the chosen 15 at Lord’s on Tuesday.
But there still seems to be some doubt about the identity of at least one of England’s bowlers for the tournament.
Do they need a back-up slow bowler to supplement the leg-spin of Adil Rashid and the off-breaks of Moeen Ali?
If they do, is that man Joe Denly — who has spent much of his county career as a specialist top order batsman but used as a spin-bowling all-rounder against Pakistan or Hampshire left-armer Liam Dawson, who did not feature in the recent series.
Another question the selectors will have to consider is whether David Willey, the only left-armer among England’s seam-bowling options, has done enough to see off the late charge of newly-qualified Sussex quick Jofra Archer.
Willey, Denly and Dawson could all be vying for one place, with the decision facing Smith, fellow selector James Taylor and Bayliss — also a member of the panel — by no means straightforward.
But with Morgan possibly having to put his trust in one of the trio at what could be an important stage of the tournament, Bayliss said the skipper’s view could yet be something of a casting vote.
‘Big say’
“If it got down to a bit of a stalemate in discussions, in the four years that I’ve been here the captain gets a big say,” said Bayliss ahead of the final selection meeting.
“He’s got to be the one comfortable with going out on the field with the other 10 players. The captain has a very big say.”
The Australian, who will stand down as England coach at the end of a season also featuring a home Ashes series, added: “Unfortunately one or two guys have to miss out.
“That’s just the way it is in professional sport.”
Dawson was forced into an early exit from England’s off-season tour of Sri Lanka.
But while he did not play against Pakistan, Bayliss insisted he had been far from forgotten by England.
“He’s been in conversations for the last six months or more, certainly,” said Bayliss.
“He was in Sri Lanka with us and if it wasn’t for an injury he’d have probably finished that series and possibly gone to the West Indies as well. He will get a good hearing at the selection meeting.
“The decision we have got to make is that Denly covers a few positions. His batting is obviously his strength and obviously a bowls few leg-spinners as well.
“With Dawson, he’s not a bad batter either, but he’s been selected in previous squads, like in Sri Lanka, as a third spinner.
“You would have to say he’s the next best spinner. That’s the decision we have to mull over, discuss and see which way we go.”
AFP
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