So far so good. The Village Cricketer’s masterplan to win the next cricket world cup has been validated (at least in part) by the appointment of Paul Collingwood as captain of the ODI side. The rest of our proposed squad does include a number of the players included in the England group to face the Windies. These include Prior, Bell, Pietersen, Broad, Anderson and Panesar. It is also fair to say that Bopara and Flintoff would also be in the side but for injury.

Although some of the TVC’s hot picks have been ignored, TVC is confident that Benning, Godleman, Pettini and Wright will also feature at some stage for England over the next four years and will have opportunities to secure a place. Am prepared to give Cook and Mascarenhas a chance, but am surprised by the selections of Trott and Yardy. Prove me wrong!

Squad for one-day series against West Indies: 
Collingwood (Durham capt), Prior (Sussex, wkt), Cook (Essex), Bell (Warwickshire), Pietersen (Hampshire), Shah (Middlesex), Mascarenhas (Hampshire), Trott (Warwickshire), Plunkett, Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Broad (Leicestershire), Anderson (Lancashire), Panesar (Northamptonshire), Yardy (Sussex).

Speaking of Paul Collingwood, remember this?