posted Jun 7, 2008

You always need a good squad as the Aussies have proven. With Sidebottom, Anderson, Broad, Jones and Hoggard, you have the perfect set. There will even be pitches and games where 4 of them should play at the expense of Panesar. Broad is like Johnson for Australia - great ability, handy with the bat, and just needs a bit more time to adjust to the big stage. Both will be top 10 bowlers within 3 years if the selectors keep faith. Forget Flintoff, he isnt fit and would be a backward step. He's not as good as he was and never will be, nor is he professional enough. His captaincy was also the worst I have ever seen. He might have been a brilliant "big-hearted" cricketer, but he isnt a clever one.
Collingwood should go, and go now. Bell on the other hand - maybe one more test or back to the County scene to get back his form which is effecting his technique. Bell is still an important part of the England team but perhaps needs some time away to get it right again.
NZ would have been the ideal time to bring in one or two new guys and the ECB has missed a trick here. Saying that, maybe throwing then in at the deep end against SA will be a better judge of their test credentials.

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posted Jun 7, 2008

It is not likely that a winning team will be changed. That so rarely happens in cricket unless someone gets injured.

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posted Jun 7, 2008

Yesnay, Hayden had an obscene run of about 15/16 innings with only 2 fifties to show for it and that was GOING INTO the Ashes 2005. I was one of the people yelling for his head. They stuck with Hayden because his average was still more than Collingwood could ever dream of getting.

They are not really a good comparison.

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posted Jun 7, 2008

Good point Old Regret. Hayden was a different class to Collingwood and knew what it was like to have to earn your spot over many years. From the last test in 2005 Ashes he went on an extrordinary run of centuries as well. Cant see Collywobbles doing that even if England played Kenya.

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posted Jun 7, 2008

What sort of word is "PROFLIGACY" your use of the word in your report Lillywhite is stupid !

See..and the left-handers made the tourists pay for the profligacy.
Or have you swallowed a dictionary LOL !

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posted Jun 7, 2008

Discombobulation.

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posted Jun 7, 2008

How good can KP become?

Can he ever get close to records set by Sachin and the like?

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posted Jun 7, 2008

City,

H'mmm take a deep breath son???

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posted Jun 7, 2008

it wos just a general question asking for peoples opinion thats all

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posted Jun 7, 2008

Sachin started playing international cricket when he was 10 so it is doubtful that KP can get up to his stats in the years left to him.

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