posted Jul 25, 2008

Let's pick a keeper based on his ability to keep wicket. A tin gloves like Geraint Jones or Prior almost certainly costs more runs from dropped catches and byes than they can hope to score with the bat. Put Read at 8, Broad at 7, Freddie at 6. And pray to all that is divine that the 2004/05 Flintoff walks to the crease.

Top 5 unchanged - who really would come in for Vaughan - bowlers Freddie, Anderson, Sidebottom, Broad, and one from Monty or Simon Jones depending on the pitch

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posted Jul 25, 2008

Before the series some thought the two teams were about, possibly with SA having the edge. An interesting excercise - what would your composite Eng/SA team be? Mine follows.

Like for like replacements, i.e. batsman for a batsman, buit no need for direct swaps i.e. number three (Bell v Amla), as I have ABDV opening.

G Smith (c)
AB deVilliers
I Bell
J Kallis
K Pietersen
A Prince
M Boucher (wk)
A Flintoff
M Morkel
D Steyn
M Panesar

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posted Jul 25, 2008

I have no bloomin' idea.

Given that, as of today, Jones proclaims himself fit, he has to play.

The top 5 picks itself.

I'm a big Freddie fan.

I've argued all year that Anderson and Monty are our best bowlers.

So it's looking like

Cook
Strauss
Vaughan*
KP
Bell
Fred
Ambrose
SiBo
Anderson
Jones
Monty

which isn't great, battingwise, but arguably is the best bowling attack we have had since 2005.

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posted Jul 25, 2008

sorry.

about *even*.
and (Vaughan v Amla).

its been a long day.

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posted Jul 25, 2008

Bang on silk. If I keep on agreeing with you this much, I might stop posting in these boards. Seems kinda pointless really

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posted Jul 25, 2008

GHBRich - What I meant was

Key (*)
Bell
KP
Prior (batting)
cook (Needs to drop down)
Read (good number six)
Broad
Tredwell
SiBo
Shreck
Flintoff

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posted Jul 25, 2008

Simon Jones brings more to the English team than any other bowler.He probably has more to bring to the Tests than any of the bowlers on eithr side. As long as he is Test match fit,he has to play in next two Tests. He brings more pace than Flintoff and can swing the ball both ways.

If England want to win this series they have to bring Jones back;if they are concerned only for future they can leave him out but that will mean losing a seies they might otherwise win.

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posted Jul 25, 2008

I love the idea of bringing Key back from the wilderness after 4 years and making him captain immediately. Nothing like a bit of pressure. All the people suggesting that should probably begin preparing their applications for the Chairman of Selectors job.

Just a word of warning, I really rate Jones, and hope he comes back into the side. He aint the Messiah, though, and is unlikely to walk back into the side after 3 years out and start skittling out the likes of Smith and Kallis. Let's try not to put too much pressure on the boy...

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posted Jul 25, 2008

I'd agree with your teamasthemost effective bowling line up - with Sid at 8 and Anderson at 9,Jones 10, Panesar 11. With a collective average of 53 its statistically as good as the Ashes 05 bottom 4.

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posted Jul 25, 2008

For all Andersons success against the Kiwis, they were an appallingly weak side. Its amazing how many people think that seems to entitle Jimmy to now be just as successful against the Saffers! It aint gonna happen. Jimmy is the ultimate 'horses for courses' bowler and if the weather stays as it is currently (thank god!) I can see no reason to have 2 (sibo and Jimmy) swing bowlers in the side. Drop Jimmy, go with the accuracy of Sibo and bring in Jones to reverse it....!!

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