Consistent [ii]

Given the stasis in England's Test match batting order, here's a stat to toy with: Bopara and Denly were England's thirteenth opening partnership in T20 cricket. England have only played 22 T20 matches. As they both got nought on Sunday, how long before number fourteen comes along?

More consistency: England have played Ireland three times in ODIs, in 2006, 2007 and last week. Here are the teams:

2006

Trescothick

Joyce

Strauss

Collingwood

Bell

Dalrymple

Jones

Chapple

Plunkett

Mahmood

Harmison

2007

Joyce

Vaughan

Bell

Pietersen

Collingwood

Flintoff

Nixon

Bopara

Mahmood

Anderson

Panesar

2009

Bopara

Denly

Trott

Prior

Collingwood

Shah

Wright

Rashid

Swann

Bresnan

Sidebottom

Number of players who appeared in all three games: one. Number of opening batsmen: five. Number of wicketkeepers: three. Number of years between fixtures: three.

NB: England have one tactic right: pick Ireland's best player and then let him disappear. 

Update: Thanks to Rob for pointing out Bopara got one on Sunday - should keep him in the team for today at least. The times today has a good piece on the awarding of central contracts, currently bringing IR Bell and Monty out in fear-sweats. The current list of incremental contract holders has a couple of half-remembered names too: Tim Ambrose and Samit Patel. Don't wait by the phone, boys...