We're never going to be able to pick four bowlers for the purpose of taking wickets and knock sides over, the balance has to be a lot more 'subtle' than that. Anderson seems to be more consistent, Bresnan and Broad look unlikely to ever be that consistent, and you simply can't guarantee even with your best four bowlers that they'll take wickets.
Last five ODI performances
Anderson : 2/51 (10), 3/30 (10), 2/65 (10), 3/31 (9), 1/34 (8)
Broad : 0/67 (8.1), 1/35 (10), 2/56 (9), 2/38 (9), 1/69 (9)
Bresnan : 0/63 (10), 2/45 (10), 2/27 (8), 0/73 (10), 0/36 (9.5)
Finn : 2/57 (9.3), 3/27 (9), 1/33 (10), 1/54 (10), 2/27 (10)
I can easily see a strong case for ditching one of Broad or Bresnan for Finn who averages 26.61 in ODIs and at an ER of 4.65. Finn's worst figures in his last five ODIs are 1/54 off 10, compared to Bresnan's 0/73 off 10 and Broad's 0/67 off 8.1 overs.
So how do they compare in terms of averages etc in the past five?
Anderson : 11 wkts @ 19.18 (SR 25.64, ER 4.49)
Finn : 9 wkts @ 22.00 (SR 32.33, ER 4.08)
Broad : 6 wkts @ 44.17 (SR 45.17, ER 6.14)
Bresnan : 4 wkts @ 61.00 (SR 71.75, ER 5.10)
So in their past 10 ODIs combined Broad and Bresnan have picked up 10 wkts at a staggering average of 50.90, ER 5.47 which isn't massive but not great if they're meant to be two of your front three bowlers and contributing 2/109 off 20 overs.
That would leave a lower order of Broad/Bresnan, Swann/Tredwell, Anderson, Finn, but it shouldn't come to Broad or Bresnan making a lot of runs, not that they do very often anyway. If neither Broad nor Bresnan could bat would they be so fixed in the line-up?
I think the problem is the World Cup isn't so far away and we're still nowhere near a balanced line up. Sure the Bopara/Root 5th bowler approach will work from time to time, more often when our other bowlers turn up and we have a decent score on the board. When the pressure is on it won't though, and you don't win world cups by performing half the time.
I think we definitely need a shake up from the Test > ODI selections, I would not have 7-8 Test players in the side as often as England do.
Last five ODI performances
Anderson : 2/51 (10), 3/30 (10), 2/65 (10), 3/31 (9), 1/34 (8)
Broad : 0/67 (8.1), 1/35 (10), 2/56 (9), 2/38 (9), 1/69 (9)
Bresnan : 0/63 (10), 2/45 (10), 2/27 (8), 0/73 (10), 0/36 (9.5)
Finn : 2/57 (9.3), 3/27 (9), 1/33 (10), 1/54 (10), 2/27 (10)
I can easily see a strong case for ditching one of Broad or Bresnan for Finn who averages 26.61 in ODIs and at an ER of 4.65. Finn's worst figures in his last five ODIs are 1/54 off 10, compared to Bresnan's 0/73 off 10 and Broad's 0/67 off 8.1 overs.
So how do they compare in terms of averages etc in the past five?
Anderson : 11 wkts @ 19.18 (SR 25.64, ER 4.49)
Finn : 9 wkts @ 22.00 (SR 32.33, ER 4.08)
Broad : 6 wkts @ 44.17 (SR 45.17, ER 6.14)
Bresnan : 4 wkts @ 61.00 (SR 71.75, ER 5.10)
So in their past 10 ODIs combined Broad and Bresnan have picked up 10 wkts at a staggering average of 50.90, ER 5.47 which isn't massive but not great if they're meant to be two of your front three bowlers and contributing 2/109 off 20 overs.
That would leave a lower order of Broad/Bresnan, Swann/Tredwell, Anderson, Finn, but it shouldn't come to Broad or Bresnan making a lot of runs, not that they do very often anyway. If neither Broad nor Bresnan could bat would they be so fixed in the line-up?
I think the problem is the World Cup isn't so far away and we're still nowhere near a balanced line up. Sure the Bopara/Root 5th bowler approach will work from time to time, more often when our other bowlers turn up and we have a decent score on the board. When the pressure is on it won't though, and you don't win world cups by performing half the time.
I think we definitely need a shake up from the Test > ODI selections, I would not have 7-8 Test players in the side as often as England do.