Hopefully this is the last we see of Rashid, Moeen, Malan and Willey entirely and of Woakes and Root in one day cricket internationally. It will almost certainly be the last we see of Stokes in ODI cricket as well. Time for a complete rebuild. England's next ODI series is in the West Indies I think in December. Perfect opportunity to blood some youngsters. England clearly rate John Turner as they've given him a Development Contract and he would have made his IT20 debut if a side strain hadn't ruled him out. Give him a shot. Build the team around the likes of Jacks, Salt alongside Buttler, Livingstone, Topley and Sam Curran. There's lot of talent out there. This ****show of a World Cup should mark the end of an era and the start of a new one.
I do find it easier to deal with being knocked out in the most car crash way possible, as opposed to (say) a tight NRR elimination. No regrets. No if only's. Just a total catastrophe. I'm sure Moeen won't play ODI cricket again after this WC, and I highly doubt that Rashid, Willey or Stokes will either (albeit in Ben's case that will be his choice). I suspect that Bairstow, Malan, Wood and Woakes must all be possibilities too. All 11 players were in their 30s, which says a lot. Curran, Atkinson and Book on the bench today are basically ready made replacements for Willey, Wood and Stokes. And then you could say Ahmed for Rashid, Jacks for Moeen, Salt for Bairstow/Malan. Personally I'd like to see Root remain, but if he was to move on too, then Hain is the ideal replacement for him.
Am I misremembering or did Stokes put off having surgery on his troublesome knee to take part in this tournament?
Obvious selection issues going in to this really. The lack of integration of new players to the squad has been bizarre. Understand the loyalty to quality players but having the youngest player being over 30 today was a weird one. Need to transition from generation to generation not have wholesale changes in eras.
