IMPENDING ODI SERIES.

As England prepare to take on Pakistan in the first ODI, one cannot help but wonder how much of a contest these matches will really be. Depleted of two of their best bowlers and with the allegations of spot-fixing continuing to linger (everyday it seems brings some new revelation), it is not surprising that Pakistan got hammered in the two Twenty20 matches. All the turmoil of the last few weeks must - and this has to be a fact - have affected their mental state. When coupled with a team short in the batting department and even shorter in the fielding stakes, there realistically, can only be one outcome of this series.

Yet, England should not be complacent nor should English fans look on nonchalantly. As this series is one of the last before the ICC World Cup in February of next year - and I for one (and I’m sure many of you share my sentiment) not only expect England to do well (but dare I say it!), expect them to win. This series then is an opportunity for England to have a look at players, try something different or even just cement that winning feeling.

One of the key questions, on this miserable Friday morning then, is Luke Wright or Ravi Bopara? With Yardy, who has proved himself to be such a reliable and effective cricketer, surely cemented at number seven there is not enough room for both. Bopara and Wright bring to England similar qualities in that they are both medium paced, all-round pinch-hitters. So the question, inevitably, is who does it better? Looking at the averages one would have to argue that Wright is the better bowler, while Bopara is the better batsman. Not that helpful then! It may be, therefore, that the England selectors need to look beyond actual cricketing ability and turn towards their mental attitude. From what I’ve seen in the past, I would have to say that Wright just edges it. A selfless player, willing to fit in wherever and do whatever, Luke is exactly the kind of guy needed within a team. In contrast, Ravi seems a bit lazy, scatter-brained and well, just too relaxed. Forgetting his kit for a recent Essex match was laughable. Yet, it was also in that very same game that he played one of his most memorable innings - blasting the ball all around the Chelmsford fortress. And that’s the ambiguity of Ravi - so much potential, yet lacking something. If he can get his head screwed on he could become such a player as that the England selectors have no choice but to pick him. Whether he will get his chance in this series, however, remains to be seen.