Re: South Africa in England
Not a bad side Ed, England are a batter short at the moment in the current test, only five specialist bats plus Ambrose and then Flintoff. I think England are relying on Broad to make runs as well whereas he's more of a bowler who has a little bit of batting ability.
I don't think five bowlers has worked, Broad is out of form, Flintoff is returning from injury, Pattinson is on debut so that leaves Anderson to lead the attack along with Panesar and that's too much pressure for two players to carry. There's also the fact that the conditions aren't suiting Monty that well although he did okay to clean up the tail.
I'd like to see this side,
Strauss
Cook
*Vaughan
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood/Shah
+Prior
Hoggard
Sidebottom
Harmison/S. Jones
Panesar
Four specialist bowlers with Collingwood to send down a few mediums when required. Alternatively Owais Shah could bowl a few off-breaks if he goes in ahead of Collingwood. Either one of Harmison or Simon Jones to could take one spot, Jones' excellent average is hard to ignore even if it is in division two, it's not his fault his county plays in the grade.
Noticeably, Flintoff isn't there although the English selectors would never drop him because it is Freddie we are talking about. I've also got Matt Prior in there, Ambrose looks pretty fumbly with his keeping and Prior's keeping can be very clean, I don't know why he was dropped in the first place.
That's a better balanced side than the one that's playing now.
eddiesmith;227263 said:Ultimately I would like to see the team as
Cook, Strauss, Bell, KP, Colly, Vaughan, Flintoff, Keeper, Jones, Sidebottom, Panesar
But for the next test it should be
Cook, Strauss, Vaughan, KP, Bell, Colly, Flintoff, Ambrose, Hoggard, Sidebottom, Harmison/Panesar
Would like to see Monty dropped, out of form and the pitches aint suiting him anyway, depends what the next pitch is like otherwise give Harmison one last shot, the test is at home so a higher chance of success from him
Broad stays in if 5 bowlers is required, Hoggard for Anderson is a like for like swap, even though Jimmy has been bowling as well as you might expect from Hoggy, may as well try something
Although I would also be tempted to leave Flintoff out but thats unlikely
Not a bad side Ed, England are a batter short at the moment in the current test, only five specialist bats plus Ambrose and then Flintoff. I think England are relying on Broad to make runs as well whereas he's more of a bowler who has a little bit of batting ability.
I don't think five bowlers has worked, Broad is out of form, Flintoff is returning from injury, Pattinson is on debut so that leaves Anderson to lead the attack along with Panesar and that's too much pressure for two players to carry. There's also the fact that the conditions aren't suiting Monty that well although he did okay to clean up the tail.
I'd like to see this side,
Strauss
Cook
*Vaughan
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood/Shah
+Prior
Hoggard
Sidebottom
Harmison/S. Jones
Panesar
Four specialist bowlers with Collingwood to send down a few mediums when required. Alternatively Owais Shah could bowl a few off-breaks if he goes in ahead of Collingwood. Either one of Harmison or Simon Jones to could take one spot, Jones' excellent average is hard to ignore even if it is in division two, it's not his fault his county plays in the grade.
Noticeably, Flintoff isn't there although the English selectors would never drop him because it is Freddie we are talking about. I've also got Matt Prior in there, Ambrose looks pretty fumbly with his keeping and Prior's keeping can be very clean, I don't know why he was dropped in the first place.
That's a better balanced side than the one that's playing now.
