Will England learn from IPL?

At a time when there is talk of multi-million dollar winner-take-all matches and the increasing possibility of being allowed to take part in future Indian Premier League tournaments, it is hardly surprising that England players want to hang onto their places in the one-day squad.

But selectors do not have to concern themselves with the financial considerations of players - their job is a straightforward one, namely to try to pick teams capable of achieving consistent success in all forms of the game.

The squad announced for next month's Twenty20 international and 50-over matches against New Zealand is basically the same one beaten by the Kiwis earlier this year - except for the replacement of Phil Mustard with Tim Ambrose as keeper.

Loyalty is appreciated by players - perhaps less so by supporters - but some decisions are downright baffling.

If the England selectors have been watching the TV coverage of the IPL, they have clearly learnt nothing.

Among the highlights have been Brendon McCullum's 158 not out off 73 balls, Sanath Jayasuriya's 114 not out off 48 balls, Adam Gilchrist's 109 not out off 47 balls and, most recently, Shaun Marsh's 115 off 69 balls.

What those innings have in common is that they were all played by openers able to bat in a manner which mixed skill, power supreme confidence and audacity.

Those are the qualities needed at the top of the order in Twenty20 cricket, and if England are to have a chance of winning the ICC World Twenty20 when they host it next year, they have to find batsmen capable of taking the bowling apart right from the outset.

All of that brings me to Alastair Cook.

I have nothing but praise for the way he has established himself as a top quality, reliable Test match opening bat.

He certainly has plenty of skill (or talent or natural ability, call it what you will). But does he have the power for big hitting from the start of an innings? Does he have the supreme confidence to look for sixes in the opening over of a match? Does he have the audacity to attempt shots which would leave the authors of old-time coaching manuals weeping into their handkerchiefs?

Cook's two Twenty20 international appearances and four Twenty20 Cup matches for Essex have so far brought him a grand total of 59 runs - and in 50-overs cricket for England, his strike rate of 68 is hardly that of a dasher (McCullum's, by contrast, is 88).

Should he really be part of England's one-day plans?

Luke Wright will, presumably, continue at the top of the order in the Twenty20 side, having done the job in New Zealand. But who will partner him with Mustard out of the equation?

Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara are perhaps the most likely choices - but which England batsmen best fits the criteria I set out earlier. No, I'm not talking about Dimi Mascarenhas, although he certainly has power and audacity - I'm talking about KP.

Pietersen needs to bat as many overs as possible in the shortest form of the game and if he comes off, why not let him keep the job for the 50-overs games as well?

I am concerned that his current habit of shuffling in front of his stumps makes him a prime lbw candidate with the white ball swinging about but he, more than any other England batsman, has the talent to adapt.

Come on England - be bold!