Posted by 
Paul Collingwood!
When a bowling attack’s a bit fast-medium, people always hanker after “genuine pace” – but what about genuine medium-pace? That brings variety too.
If Paul Collingwood were to play instead of Jake Ball say, they’d not only benefit from some devastating dibbly dobbly military medium, they could also bat Jonny Bairstow at seven, Moeen Ali at eight and Chris Woakes at nine.
You’re pretty much guaranteed a run-out with Colly as well and as that seems to be the only real way to dismiss Steve Smith, they could probably justify picking him for that alone.
More on the campaign to get Paul Collingwood into England’s Ashes squad here. There’s a petition and everything.
Everyone agrees a red-headed all-rounder from Durham is the solution, but for some reason the media is focussed on the one who isn’t even in Australia.
As if more fast-medium’s going to help them.
They need out-and-out medium.
He had a decent summer too. I wonder what odds you’d have in an injury crisis him being asked to join up with the team?
Would not be the worst shout by a long stretch.
This is basically what we miss – the idea that this could happen. With Lions tours and shadow squads and net bowlers there’s almost no chance nowadays and there’s something a little sad about that.
Sadly the days of Bob Taylor being called out of the hospitality tent to keep for England are behind us.
I’m wondering if there is a different reason for Stokes to be in NZ. Do they have an extradition treaty with the UK?