While I agree with you that the blame for the Hundred is overblown to the point of ridiculousness, I do think the Kohli comparison is flawed.
A decade ago, Kohli was already an established all format international with a World Cup winners medal. It's one thing for him (and players such as Bairstow, Root, Stokes and Buttler) to maintain a high level without playing domestic List A cricket.
But where the concerns are valid is where you talk about succession planning. Is it realistic for someone like Harry Brook to have an understanding of how to build an innings in 50 over cricket when he's barely played that format? You ask what more the likes of Duckett and Hain could do - how about 3 seasons of dominating a high standard domestic List A set-up?
Of course, it's perfectly possible that England would continue to favour their legacy players - and it isn't as though Duckett and Hain lack List A experience or pedigree - but it does give them another excuse to overlook them.
The Hundred is not the reason this group of players isn't performing, but it may be part of the reason England haven't refreshed an aging squad.
While I agree with you that the blame for the Hundred is overblown to the point of ridiculousness, I do think the Kohli comparison is flawed.
A decade ago, Kohli was already an established all format international with a World Cup winners medal. It's one thing for him (and players such as Bairstow, Root, Stokes and Buttler) to maintain a high level without playing domestic List A cricket.
But where the concerns are valid is where you talk about succession planning. Is it realistic for someone like Harry Brook to have an understanding of how to build an innings in 50 over cricket when he's barely played that format? You ask what more the likes of Duckett and Hain could do - how about 3 seasons of dominating a high standard domestic List A set-up?
Of course, it's perfectly possible that England would continue to favour their legacy players - and it isn't as though Duckett and Hain lack List A experience or pedigree - but it does give them another excuse to overlook them.
The Hundred is not the reason this group of players isn't performing, but it may be part of the reason England haven't refreshed an aging squad.