posted Aug 17, 2009

I quite agree with Aggers. I would have thought that a week would have been sufficient for any selector to see the light. Its difficult to know where to begin really. Bell looked appalling at Headingley after having been dropped. Therefore, the new response to promote him to number three in a match of such magnitude beggars belief. This aside, Bell has never looked like a Test number three. I applaud the inclusion of Trott but wonder whether number five might have made more sense for a new boy. I've said all along that to include Flintoff will be a mistake and nothing I've seen or heard has altered my view. I hope that Panesar and Harmison are only there for the ride and that common sense prevails. Firstly, Harmison holds no fears for the Australians any more. He proved this at Headingley. Panesar has been worked out by their batsmen which is why he was dropped after Cardiff. Although he batted stoically, it is his ability to take wickets which is needed and I'm not even remotely convinced. Sidebottom has to play and I'd open with him and Anderson assuming the right Anderson turns up for the Oval! Broad has to play as his bowling gets better by the hour and his batting continues to shame the so called batsmen above him in the order. Finally, Swann has to play. If we have any chance of winning, we will need Sidebottom, Swann and Anderson on the top of their games with Broad continuing to improve. I wouldn't bank on many wickets from Flintoff but if they insist on playing him, I hope he proves me wrong. My eleven:

Strauss
Cook
Bell (It feels odd to write Bell here)
Trott
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Sidebottom

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posted Aug 17, 2009

CB:
Have you not noticed what happens to the side when Flintoff plays? No, he's not the greatest cricketer of all time, no, he's not the new Botham and no, he hasn't even got particularly good stats but he just lifts the team so much that it would be complete folly to leave him out of this test even if he were in a wheelchair.

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posted Aug 18, 2009

With regard to most of the above comments- i would like to see bell, cooks,collys batting ave split between the good teams (AUS, SA, SRI,IND,PAK) and the rest of the teams that i think are weak bowling attack.

I would'nt be supprised if there is a diff of 15+ between the two averages.

I was pointless to pick ramps as unless he scored 200 no one was going to remember his innings, Key on the other hand should bat at 3 instead of Bell (How many times can someone who fails be given another chance!

I fancy ENG have to bat first and post 500+ otherwise the ashes are a gonna.

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posted Aug 18, 2009

"With regard to most of the above comments- i would like to see bell, cooks,collys batting ave split between the good teams (AUS, SA, SRI,IND,PAK) and the rest of the teams that i think are weak bowling attack.

I would'nt be supprised if there is a diff of 15+ between the two averages."


Take out the highest averaging "Pietersen" from each of the other countrys 3-5 and it would even things up.

When hes there Englands middle order (4-7) is as strong as it ever has been and is competitive with all the big boys.
The problem is with 3, when the openers are rarely putting on solid starts, and a lack of depth after Pietersen.


I hope recent events shut up the "he shouldve been dropped" crowd for a while at least.

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posted Aug 18, 2009

Unfortunately I was correct and we lost at Headingley due to a revival by a good Australian team.

This does not excuse the performance of our 3,4,5 batsman who were abysmal.

So I commend the selectors for the first time. It was essential to rest Flintoff. If he had played the performance of the batsman would still have lost the match.

So how do we win at the Oval.

Well I hope part B of the selectors plan was to give Harmison a game before the Oval.

To deploy him in the last game would have been nonsense.

This guy needs management.

The ground staff have indicated that the pitch will be a fast batting wicket with the bowlers having to work hard for their wickets. So a rested Flintoff and Harmison on a fast wicket with bounce.

So yes Trott to the rescue and do not expect much from the swing bowlers.

If we want a defensive bowler with a draw in mind then Sidebottom is a possible but we need 20 wickets.

So my prediction is if England win the toss we have a 30% chance of winning. If we lose the toss then we need a great performance from Harmison or Ashes lost.

So England to win the toss and Trott to score a hundred and the big England pacemen to take 20 wickets with assistance form Swann in the second innings.

So England to extract a victory in a very close match

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posted Aug 18, 2009

I think Geoff Miller is no longer on this planet. How can he stay in a job after the massive backward step that England have taken in this series. He has killed off anything decent about English international cricket. How much did the Aussies pay him.

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posted Aug 18, 2009

It has been reported that the final makeup of the England team was decided by flowers and strauss. IMHO the captain should have the last say on the players he takes on the field and they should know it.
However the lineup of the bowlers is probably crucial. the weather looks as if it will be a typical August with a mix of sun, cloud and rain showers.
If they get it right maybe the detractors will be surprised.

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posted Aug 19, 2009

Would recommend the following website www.testmatchstats.com player analysis, if you look at Cook and Bell's stats since April 2007 they look pretty sorry for frontline batsmen.

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posted Aug 24, 2009

Saved by another South African.

England should change their name to "The reest of the World or anyone who other countries don't want"

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posted Aug 24, 2009

Would you like some cheese with your whine? Some lemonade with your bitter?

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