posted May 9, 2008

Its such a shame about Swann. Great talent but what arrogance. Never met such a big-headed numbat in my life. He just isnt quite good enough for test cricket - would be lucky to make a State side in OZ.
As for Flintoff, unless he can prove his worth as an allrounder again, he will be more of a liability than a help. But if the ECB want to bring the crowds in, then he 's your man. He might just defy his unprofessionalism and have a good day. He might still be a great bowler but he doesnt get enough wickets and certainly cant buy a run at the moment.

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posted May 9, 2008

I think Freddie needs to come back into the team, for his bowling alone, even though it would lengthen the tail.

My team would therefore be:

Cook
Strauss
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bell
Ambrose
Broad
Sidebotham
Panesar
Flintoff

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posted May 9, 2008

As above but with Hoggard instead of Flintoff.
Hoggard gets wickets and the English pitches suit him more than any other bowler.

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posted May 9, 2008

This morning in Sport Magazine I quote Sir Ian Botham: "In a perfect world you'd have to have Andrew Flintoff in your team. Whether the selectors decide to keep him in county cricket and save him for South Africa...well, time will tell, but I'd pick him now".

The same man said yesterday on BBC Sport : "I would just hold Fred back a bit. I'd like him to play a bit more county cricket," he told BBC Sport.

"I'd like him to have plenty of overs under his belt and plenty of runs as a batsman come the South Africans (later in the summer), because I think that will be a much sterner test.

"I'd just like him to be given that time to get his confidence back; full confidence in his body and more importantly in that ankle.

This guy contradicts himself more than anyone in media history. As a pundit he is a joke and anything that comes out of his mouth should be completely discarded.

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posted May 9, 2008

Flintoff should go straight back into the side. Forget the idea that he is an all rounder, he is not! His batting has been found out at test level, however he is easily the best bowler at England's disposal and is capable of doing a job at 7 or 8.

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posted May 9, 2008

Freddie will be ok. Somebody obviously was a bit late with the paperwork. Mr Loophole will sort it out ( for a large fee )

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posted May 9, 2008

Glad to see Read being mentioned in a few posts. His treatment by England throughout his career has been disgusting; unparalleled in terms of unfairness in my memory. Didn't realise that we were so good that we could afford not to pick the best wicketkeeper in the world because his first class average sometimes falls below 50(and he's busy saving Notts single-handedly with the bat again today, not that the ECWB will give a hoot). Hope he gets picked and tells the selectors thanks but no thanks.

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posted May 9, 2008

Flintoff is bowling well at the moment and for me that is the most important thing, bottom line is that collingwood now seems to have the teams all rounder spot, so Flintoff once he has had a good run at county level should come back as a bowler.

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posted May 10, 2008

The BBC in their "possible squad" miss out Shah, interesting...

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posted May 10, 2008

Well he isn't in good form at the moment...

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