Over-rated

Saj Mahmood

He has pace - a good looking approach to the wicket and bowling action - height - to date he has not upset the authorities or his teammates - YES I agree with the plethora of pundits who like him, rate him on that front - but NO, I am genuinely sad to say, as things stand he does not have an international career ahead of him.

He has looked good in spells - looked really good that spell against Sri Lanka and in the Lords one day final - but you can count those displays on the fingers of one hand.

If he improves, yes, pencil him in again - but what evidence is there that he will improve? He is 25.5yrs old - it's wrong of Both to keep describing him as young / inexperienced. He was first touted for an international career as far back as the 2003 England academy squad. He has had 4 years of top coaching in which to develop consistency of line and length - and he still can not deliver this save for the odd over or two. I suspect Troy Cooley could have helped him come on and it's a pity he didn't break into the England set up prior to 2005/06.

I am sad to say this as I have warmed to the guy - he has the right attitude - but I think it's better to draw a pencil line across his name and let him return to county cricket and perhaps transform into the test-class paceman we would have loved him to be.