Gus Atkinson not allowed to play in first CC game

The ECB have said that Gus Atkinson cannot be considered for at least this first CC game due to "workload management" reasons. This is a complete disgrace. Although he ended up on the Indian tour, he didn't play a single game and from the pictures in the papers, it looked like he had an all expenses paid holiday to India. How can he possibly need resting for the start of the season? Surely he needs to get some overs under his belt if he is going to be seriously considered for England status.

The "two Dicks" need to get a grip of Rob Key and whoever else is making these decisions. England players should be playing county cricket when they are not on active duty for England. Literally the only exception should be the national treasure who is Jimmy Anderson.

The ECB at some point agreed Atkinson could join the IPL, as well as the Pakistan T20 series that preceeded it, so how has joining up with India Tour increased that workload, If its air miles rather than overs, surely the travelling around India during the IPL campaign is significantly more than someone plodding along as 12th man on a 5 test series?
The IPL auction I believe was after the India squad was selected so its not like Atkinson wasn't in Englands plans when he signed up for the IPL.
Atkinson withdraws from IPL

Also just look at the weather forecast, he's hardly going to bowl 100 overs up at Old Trafford in a 5 man Surrey bowling attack is he!

Have they looked into their policy of rotating and resting pace bowlers over last 4 or 5 years, and assessed whether its improving the injuries to our fast bowlers, because we seem to be having just as many if not more missing for England.

The 2 dicks are traitors. When they were at Surrey oh the championship is the most important.
They clear off to the ECB and they suddenly like the 100 and do f**k all to help Surrey.
Money talks absolute traitors and I hope they get dogs abuse every time they visit the Oval.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/68740765

Jofra fit enough for white ball but not Test cricket!!!!

Who's that?

VicNorth wrote:Who's that?

It impacts on Gus Atkinson if the player who he is effectively deputising for is not being considered for Test selection.

Seems we are relying on our pace bowlers all in their mid to late 30s, Wood, Woakes and Anderson while anyone younger than 30 seems incapable of playing 2 first class matches in a row.

On the positive side if Jofra Archer is going to the T20 World Cup in June, pressumably either Gus Atkinson or Jamie Overton won't be?

I think it's extremely unlikely Archer will play any meaningful red ball cricket again. He'll be another Tymor Mills. Horribly over bowled by Root and test career ruined.

It's a shame for Sussex. Archer and Robinson for half the season would be some prospect.

Duckett playing for Notts. Crawley not for Kent. Root not for Yorkshire. Pope for us ( Strange) You would’ve have thought Gus Could’ve done with a Few Overs under he’s Belt.

I think they want Gus to play in the World T20, and with Archer and Wood not fully at top whack, you can see why they'd want to wrap him up in cotton wool.

I think Gus is more highly regarded at England than he is at Surrey.

Jhe10077 wrote:Duckett playing for Notts. Crawley not for Kent. Root not for Yorkshire. Pope for us ( Strange) You  would’ve  have thought Gus Could’ve done with a Few Overs under he’s Belt.

But some Test players don't play any county cricket like Bairstow, its not always down to the ECB making them unavailable, this management in the bazball era doesn't seem to value playing matches at all as practice, they're only seen as sapping players energy, nothing positive coming out of them.

I think as the weather forecast was so bad there was never going to be the opportunity for a bowler in a 5 man attack to bowl a lot of overs. Surely England could have stipulated we can play Atkinson if he only bowls short bursts of 4 or 5 overs and then rests, eg like Overton yesterday.

The ECB surely has to accept we will be losing a large arsenal of bowlers to England for this T20 World Cup, with Topley and Sam Curran certain picks already.

RB the world T20 is not until June 2 months away! Stop making excuses for these twats.

Too much bull in cricket, Stewie should be asking them why Gus cant play and tell us what the reply is.

Someone on TMS podcast observed that we have nine World Cups in 12 years.

Steve wrote:RB the world T20 is not until June 2 months away!  Stop making excuses for these twats.

Too much bull in cricket, Stewie should be asking them why Gus cant play and tell us what the reply is.  

There is a white ball international series in a few weeks' time.

VicNorth wrote:Someone on TMS podcast observed that we have nine World Cups in 12 years.

Having the T20 World Cup every two years is ridiculous.

So what he can still play. Stop sucking the ECB off for petes sake!!!

Vauxhall wrote:

VicNorth wrote:Someone on TMS podcast observed that we have nine World Cups in 12 years.

Having the T20 World Cup every two years is ridiculous.

The ICC's answer to the growing problem of franchise cricket is more tournaments as they do not believe players will give up tournaments for franchise cricket. Therefore there is an ICC event EVERY YEAR from now on.

2023: World Cup
2024: World T20
2025: Champions Trophy
2026: World T20
and repeat.

It is truly a "race to the bottom"....more franchise tournaments and more international tournaments= less quality, more dilution of ability, less impact and meaning.

Slight tangent, but I wonder if Surrey ever approached Ryan Higgins.