5th Test: England vs Australia at the Brit Oval

[sifter132]

I think the idea that Ramprakash cant the pressure of test cricket is outdated. Firstly, he is a different, more confident and more mature to the player who last played test cricket 7-8 years ago. You dont average over 100 in county cricket if your a bad player; thats even better than what England's current test players average.

Secondly, a major reason why he wasnt up to the pressures of test cricket was because of the pressures imposed on him by the English selection policy of the 1990s-early 2000s. Those were the dark days of English test cricket where they chopped and changed their teams like crazy. I can forgive alot of players from that era to an extent for performing badly because many of those players, in particular batsmen, were constantly looking over their shoulders to see who would get the chop next. I think the English set up today is totally different and would see Ramprakash benefit.

I agree with point 1, but not point 2 although I see where you're coming from.

But I think there will probably be just as much pressure on him for this Test than he ever felt back 10 years ago. Just think, if England pick him, he's 'The Messiah', the desperation call that has to work, the man in irresistible form, and the Ashes may rest on his bat. He will get one shot to succeed, he probably won't be picked again. The expectation on him will be very high and it would take a strong mind not to feel that pressure.

 

[woodzy]

He is 39 years old...

It would be a worse decision then playing Paul Nixon. :sarcasm

Many people keep saying that without providing any substantial reasons why it is relevant.

woodzy added 9 Minutes and 47 Seconds later...

But I think there will probably be just as much pressure on him for this Test than he ever felt back 10 years ago. Just think, if England pick him, he's 'The Messiah', the desperation call that has to work, the man in irresistible form, and the Ashes may rest on his bat. He will get one shot to succeed, he probably won't be picked again. The expectation on him will be very high and it would take a strong mind not to feel that pressure.

Well thats going to the risk with his selection. There are risks associated with every selection that you make in test cricket when it comes to picking new players. However, I get the feeling that he will excel. He has played well against Australia in the past. It just that after England lost the series' and players around him were getting dropped, that he sort of froze up and feared for his position. Thats just my opinion. Only he knows what went through his head back then.

 

[smssia0112]

Very disappointing to see Hilditch showing his idiocy once again by suggesting Clark will be dropped. It is just amazing how much they underrate the guy. He adds control and discipline to an attack that already has pace, aggression and swing. Without that control, we'll see Johnson slip back into old habits and Siddle will probably go back to being unlucky not to take more wickets.

Getting tonked in the second innings is irrelevant really - Broad was getting tonked by Clark so he returned the favour. Sometimes the intensity of the side just falls when the game is in the bag.

Hauritz has done alright but we're better off picking the 4 pacemen. I'd drop Johnson before I drop Clark anyway. He is useless without someone holding down the other end for him, too fragile.

 

[Inbox24]

Agree with this. A wise man once said Clark lifts the bowling attack by building pressure, this was certainly true in the first innings as Siddle probably wouldn't have taken 5 if Clark hadn't dislodged the top and middle.

 

[Hooper]

Many people keep saying that without providing any substantial reasons why it is relevant.

woodzy added 9 Minutes and 47 Seconds later...


Well thats going to the risk with his selection. There are risks associated with every selection that you make in test cricket when it comes to picking new players. However, I get the feeling that he will excel. He has played well against Australia in the past. It just that after England lost the series' and players around him were getting dropped, that he sort of froze up and feared for his position. Thats just my opinion. Only he knows what went through his head back then.

Because 39yos don't play test cricket. He is too old. If he is picked it would be for only one match...

Not ideal at all.

 

[Hooper]

Haven't been on for a few days - but hahahahahahahahhahahahhaahha! Stuey Clark mate!

@ King Peitersen - Marcus North aye? Did something special again. Going to get off his back yet?

@ evertonfan - Stuey Clark mate, we were right. Get him in the side and look what happens.

@MasterBlaster76 - Yeah mate, thats right. Your beloved team is a bunch of useless hacks. Bowlers hopeless, batsman fragile

Have to reiterate this. Thoughts KP, evo, MB?

 

[woodzy]

Because 39yos don't play test cricket. He is too old. If he is picked it would be for only one match...

Not ideal at all.

I find that a rather spurious statement. First of all 39 is just a number, as long as he can run between the wickets and is physically capable of playing the game, then there is no reason why 39 yr olds cant play.

As for it being for only one test, well England are in one of those 'here and now' situations where their number one priority is to win the test match and regain the Ashes. Blooding youngsters can come later. However in saying that this is what I would do. Id select him for The Oval test and then worry about his future after the game. After the game, if I were the England selectors Id sit down with him and ask him what his plans for his cricketing future are. If he says something along the lines of "Ive only got a year or so left in me" then move on. However if he says "Id like to play another 3 or 4 years of test cricket" then it would be worth considering him for future tests. Basically, given his age I think the selectors are entitled to some sort of idea about what his cricketing future is. I think because he is 39 it is something that needs to be clarified and I think the England selectors need some sort of assurance that hes going to be around in the future for some time. Asking players to clarify their future to such an extent isnt normally common practice but in this case I think it would be extremely necessary.

 

[King Pietersen]

If you'd bothered to read my posts from the 4th Test, you'd have seen that I praised North..........

 

[Howsie]

I'll listen if asked about recall - Trescothick | Cricket News | The Ashes - England v Australia 2009 | Cricinfo.com

So how many wheelchairs will England need?

 

[King Pietersen]

Thought he said the other day that he wasn't the right man to help England out? =/ Seems England want to replace bottlers with bottlers, get Bell and Bopara out, and get 2 mentally tough guys like Ramprakash and Trescothick in. Genius.

 

[Howsie]

Thought he said the other day that he wasn't the right man to help England out? =/ Seems England want to replace bottlers with bottlers, get Bell and Bopara out, and get 2 mentally tough guys like Ramprakash and Trescothick in. Genius.

Harsh on Trescothick TBF.

 

[King Pietersen]

Possibly. But he's gone home from 2 tours because of mental issues, which indicates to me that he's no longer mentally tough enough to play Test cricket. Plus the fact he's retired. I'd rather see Key in the side personally. I'd love Tresco back in the ODi and T20 sides, but not for Test cricket.

 

[Sureshot]

I'll listen if asked about recall - Trescothick | Cricket News | The Ashes - England v Australia 2009 | Cricinfo.com

So how many wheelchairs will England need?

He's younger than Ponting...Tres has never had any physical problems.

 

[Howsie]

He's younger than Ponting...Tres has never had any physical problems.

Except Ponting hasn't retired from international cricket.

 

[aussie1st]

It was obvious Clark would be the fall guy if Hauritz was to return. Siddle and Johnson were persisted with despite the poor form during the series, they both got 5 fers in the 4th match so they definitely won't be dropped for the 5th match.

I hope we stick with the 4 man attack but if the Oval is flat I can see the selectors bringing in Hauritz putting pressure on Siddle and Johnson again.