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Listed below are comments made by 6andOut between Tuesday, 29th July 2008 and Wednesday, 11th March 2009.

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Strauss's nearly-men have work to do 1:59pm on 11 Mar 2009 I disagree entirely with everything Wiggleswanderer says in 3. Classic hindsight punditry in my opinion.

Not enforcing the follow on in the 3rd test was widely accepted because his bowling attack was not fit.

Strauss didn't bat too long - the reason so few run chases are made is because difficult targets are set. If captains declared earlier many more would be made.

The review system needs some fine tuning but the problem has been in interpretation of the procedures, the accuracy of decisions was significantly improved.
Who'd make your Ashes starting XI? 7:53pm on 23 Dec 2008 KP and Fred aside there isn't much between many of the players. If the Ashes were in January I would go for:

1. Strauss
2. Cook
3. Shah
4. Pietersen
5. Collingwood
6. Prior
7. Flintoff
8. Swann
9. Sidebottom
10. Anderson
11. Harmison

assuming fitness, but depending on form most of the players being talked about could justify their selection by the summer given the chance. I am hoping Panesar regains form for the Ashes in which case he would replace Swann and Broad could come in for Harmison for balance.

I've just spotted with these two ammendments my proposed team matches the TMS selection! I think the bigger challenge faces the players than the selectors; I expect KP to have a brilliant Ashes (big man, big occassion) but ultimately for the Aussies to win as they have a stronger batting line up, better wicket takers and a better keeper. That said with the old guard either retired or short of form I think it will be close.
Ask Bearders #182 11:59pm on 01 Dec 2008 Bill,

Have you ever created a statistically greatest test team of all time? (Come on - you must have!) If so what rationale did you use for selection?

Matt

Bristol, England
Ask Bearders #182 11:57pm on 01 Dec 2008 Is there any record (even if only in part) of Don Bradman's batting strike rate in test matches?

Matt

Bristol, England
Beware a wounded Australia 4:56pm on 10 Nov 2008 Don't get too carried away! Australia will be favourites for the Ashes 2009 for 3 very good reasons: they will be rated higher as a team, they will be rated higher as a collection of individuals and they have a phenomenal record against England.

It is true that the enormous boots left in the Aussie dressing room by Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist have not been filled and the current Aussie side is beatable, as shown in India, but Pietersen's England have a long way to go if they want to be the best Test team in the world.

Bear in mind also that if England lose in India the Ashes is perhaps only a silver medal play off at best; maybe even a bronze medal playoff if S'Africa can win down under.
Farewell to a model professional 08:03am on 23 Sep 2008 I remember flicking on the TV and seeing the end of a county one day game where this young english chap came tearing in and skittled the tail with inswinging yorkers. I thought "Wow, get this lad in the England team!" I didn't have to wait long and the rest is history.

I started following England cricket in earnest in 1991 when Gooch was slaughtering India and a certain 17 year old Sachen Tendulkar appeared on the scene. Gough is for me, far and away the best bowler England have had since then.
Ask Bearders #176 11:55am on 20 Aug 2008 Bill,

In the last Test between England and South Africa I noticed all 5 front line bowlers took at least one wicket in each innings. Has this happened before?

Have more than 5 bowlers ever taken at least one wicket in each innings of a test before?
Outstanding Smith deserves his success 08:17am on 03 Aug 2008 Raise your bat and take a bow Mr Smith, that was the greatest knock chasing down a score to win a test match I can recall! I'm sure the statisticians would delight in telling us that England were favourites setting 281 in the second innings - but they didn't recon on the positive, determined and methodical Smith who seemed to have missed the England fight back script.

For me England actuallt turned a corner in this match. Starting on the afternoon on of day 2 with Freddie, continuing in the morning on day 3 with Sidebottom and Anderson, and then in the evening with Pietersen and Collingwood. It all went down to who could win the evening session on the 4th day, and to their credit it was the South Africans.

In contrast to many of the above comments I think England played their best team in this match and but for a poor Day 1 showed the sort of cricket that wins tests against big sides. People will point the finger at Vaughan's batting in particular but anyone can misjudge their first ball like he did in the first innings and few calling for his head will have played a shot as good as the cover drive which surely must be considered a little unlucky in the second. Bear in mind also that he looked fluent and confident in his brief second innings knock which shows good mental strength considering the position his team and he personally were in.

Those who would have us make changes constantly until we find a team that can beat Australia may have a long wait...
Pietersen fails to complete rescue operation 08:09am on 02 Aug 2008 Fantasic effort from both Collingwood AND Pietersen! Sure, being caught in the outfield when your team is in trouble isn't great but it was Pietersen's positive attitude and his class which began the fightback and I think you have to take the rough with the smooth. We all celebrate with him when it comes off (Oval 2005!) so lets enjoy Pietersen for what he is - the most exiting and best English batsman for a VERY long time.

As for Collingwood - amazing! We all knew KP could pull off an innings like that but I think most of us thought Collingwoods days like that were behind him, at least for now.

I do hope the countless other posters who like me queried his selection will join with me in congratulating him and the selectors for getting it right and not ignore the fact thet our team selections would probably already have lost us the match by now!

Fair play Mr Collingwood - great knock!
Pressure mounting on the England captain 5:25pm on 29 Jul 2008 I have come up with this team based on all the comments above:

1. Strauss
2. Cook
3. Key
4. Pietersen
5. Bell
6. Flintoff
7. Broad
8. Foster
9. Sidebottom
10. Anderson
11. Panesar

Key in for Vaughan
Broad for Collingwood
Foster for Ambrose
Strauss or Key to captain

Are we better than the selectors or would this team get stuffed?

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