Harmy excluded as Strauss considers a rest

The winter cricket season has begun. England travel to South Africa before facing off against Bangladesh in a test series, one which captain Andrew Strauss has said he will consider missing to "have a break" from the cricket scene. Despite a humiliating defeat in the one-day series against Australia after our Ashes victory, the one-day team bounced back to show some impressive performances in the ICC Champions Trophy, however we were knocked out by the Aussies in the semi-finals.

Strauss has always been a cricketer I've admired. Not just his captaincy but his all round play in the field and most importantly with the bat. Seeing him crunch boundaries through the covers sends shivers down my spine, because there is no thought process, he just does it. He connects beautifully, and on form is arguably the best batsman in the cricketing world. Not only that but over the past years he's been considered the first name on the team sheet, playing 67 tests and scoring over 5000 test runs so far during his illustrious career. Okay yes I may sound somehwat biased, as he can never be compared to the batting talents of Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, but England now need that player to idolise in absence of Andrew Flintoff. With Pietersen's form inconsistent and Jimmy Anderson a more intrinsic player, Strauss is, to some extent the player who can fill the entertainment boots of 'Freddie' Flintoff through the responsiblity of captain.

So with the skipper considering taking a break in February, who will be the ideal man to temporarily replace him in the side. There are many options. Pietersen, if back to full fitness, will no doubt regain his spot and Ravi Bopara retaining some form during the one-day form of the game, he has a point to prove after losing his number three spot during the Ashes. The impressive 2009 form of Warwickshire's Jonathan Trott was greatly admired by many all over the land, and his county teammate Ian Bell returned during the series against Australia to fill the void left by the then-injured KP. All are fantastic candidates to replace Strauss in the series against Bangladesh, but there is one man who shouldn't be forgotten. Kent opener Joe Denly made his international debut during the ODI series against Australia, and despite getting out for a golden duck to arguably the most intimidating bowler on the planet in Brett Lee, Denly recovered and played some well constructed innings', even if the side did lose the series 6-1.

Again feel free to question my bias, after all I am a Kent-boy myself, so nothing would please me more than to see our very own young-gun play (and succeed) against some of the finest cricketers on the planet. Denly's domestic success has been largely helped by Kent captain Rob Key who's had differing experiences at international level himself, but the combination of youth and experience has lifted Kent back into the Division 1 County Championship and led the side to three 20/20 finals days (one of which they lifted the trophy), and a Friends Provident trophy final.

Is Denly ready for the international stage? In my opinion, and the opinions of many cricketing greats like Sir Ian Botham, Michael Atherton and Bob Willis, he is. I think it's time to give him a chance like Alistair Cook was. Especially in a series against a Bangladesh side, who quite frankly must be expecting defeat after losing 4 consecutive times on English soil, Denly should and must be given the chance. Credit to the selectors for choosing him the one-day internationals, a form of the game which Denly blossoms in, but his experience on the Test arena is vital to the future of English cricket.

As for the bowling department, I'll keep this short and sweet. I rate Harmison highly, but the selectors (the apparent experts) do not. I think if somebody like Onions or Anderson were on awful form then the Durham seam bowler would be England's main strike bowler, but as it goes, Anderson is ranked in the top 10 bowlers in the world and Onions has been taking wickets for Durham all year. I don't think it's the end for Harmison, he needs to keep plugging away and his chance will come again. There have been arguments that he's lost his pace and aggression (mainly during the 06/07 Ashes in Australia). What do i say to those critics? Rubbish! Harmison was influential in the 2005 Ashes victory and it was Harmison who effectively gave the advice to dismiss hot prospect Phillip Hughes from the Australian test side. During the England Lions' match against Australia, Harmison claimed Hughes' wicket in both innings and then advised the England selectors who passed this message onto the England bowlers to dismiss Hughes when it mattered.

I said I'd keep the bowling department short, but one piece of sad news is that former England bowler Matthew Hoggard is now a free agent after being released by Yorkshire after 13 years at the club. Piece of advice to any clubs interested in him this winter, "Sign him up!"
His England days may be over, but domestically he's still a huge threat and if Hoggard was to quit the game in the same year as Vaughan and Justin Langer then cricket is losing the legends that once were. Something which cannot afford to happen, not yet anyway.

Many Thanks, Gman!