Ashes debate thread.

[Simbazz]

I have to say the Fletch is a very worrying man, the best prospect of a spinner since maybe even Warne in Monty and he has worries about him.

I believe Monty is a cracking Slow Left Armer who really needs games and the Ashes is a great way of getting them, Ok, Giles can bat, but the thing he is in the squad to do, spin a ball, he isnt as good at as Monty.

If we need a number 8 who can bat, at the moment there is Plunkett, Harmison and Hoggard who can add a few here and there, but i believe in a couple of years Broad and Tom Smith of Lancashire will be in there as they can bat a bit and they are the young quicks who can do the biz!

 

[evertonfan]

If we need a number 8 who can bat, at the moment there is Plunkett, Harmison and Hoggard who can add a few here and there, but i believe in a couple of years Broad and Tom Smith of Lancashire will be in there as they can bat a bit and they are the young quicks who can do the biz!

Hoggard 'adding a few runs at 8' ?! Have you seen him bat?!

Plunkett hasn't done the busniness with niether bat nor ball so far in his England career, and Harmy's batting is as inconsistent as his bowling. Harmy should be no higher than 9 in my opinion.

 

[Simbazz]

lol no your not getting what i ment, i mean a line up such as

8. Plunkett (Although inconsistant he can do it)
8. Hoggard
10. Harmison
11. Monto Panesar

 

[evertonfan]

lol no your not getting what i ment, i mean a line up such as

8. Plunkett (Although inconsistant he can do it)
8. Hoggard
10. Harmison
11. Monto Panesar

Two number 8's eh?

And Plunkett isn't inconsistent, he's just somewhat out of his depth with the bat at this level. He looks completley inept against spin. Hoggard only has two shots and he should be at 11 for sure although as is often pointed out by the likes of Botham and Atherton, his confidence would take a blow if after all his years of practice and hard work with the bat, Hoggard was dropped to 11.

 

[Sureshot]

People don't give the credit Monty deserves with the bat, he's helped Bell to 2 centuries vs Pakistan iirc, and he had a good partnership with Colly in India, not to mention the many commentators who have seen him bat in the nets and say he is good enough to bat higher than 11, but until he is given a chance higher up we won't know.

You don't need a tail that can bat in Cricket (Ok, 4 Chris Martins would be unhelpful). The bowlers take the wickets, the batsman make the runs.

 

[evertonfan]

You don't need a tail that can bat in Cricket (Ok, 4 Chris Martins would be unhelpful). The bowlers take the wickets, the batsman make the runs.

My sentiments exactly. Fletcher's obsession with 'multi-dimensional cricketers' really cheeses me off. He often overlooks a player's bowling talent because their batting isn't up to scratch.

Let Monty take the wickets and KP, Bell, Colly etc, make the runs. A few runs from the tail is helpful, but at the end of the day, it's not the bowler's job to back up a top order collpase, just let them bowl.

 

[puddleduck]

Whilst I do agree that it's the batsmans jobs to score runs and the bowlers jobs to take wickets, let's not be too harsh on Fletcher here. Afterall it was these multi-dimensional players that were so key to us winning the Ashes.

 

[smssia0112]

Monty Panesar is seeing a sports psychologist. He will be lucky to take 5 wickets in the series. I'm tipping him to start the tour but Giles to finish it.

 

[Offspinner]

My ashes opinion

I find Giles to be very inconsistent with bowling and batting, and although I have no idea what Panesar is like with the bat, I think on some Aussie pitches, it might be useful for them to have both? What do you guys think?

The main worry for the spinners is being destroyed by players such as Gilchrist, Clarke and Hussey.

I don't know how Harmison is performing lately, yet with injury worries, I suspect the Aussies to win 3 - 1.

 

[aussie1st]

2 spinners is the way to go in 2 pitches in Aus but the spinners need to be of good quality. Plus England already have 5 bowlers so they would have to drop one of the pacemen which probably isn't the way to go for England.

 

[evertonfan]

Whilst I do agree that it's the batsmans jobs to score runs and the bowlers jobs to take wickets, let's not be too harsh on Fletcher here. Afterall it was these multi-dimensional players that were so key to us winning the Ashes.

And it was these same 'multi-dimensional' players which saw us lose 5-0 not so long ago.

Monty Panesar will be lucky to take 5 wickets in the series. I'm tipping him to start the tour but Giles to finish it.

And why is that exactly?

 

[kodos]

Monty Panesar is seeing a sports psychologist. He will be lucky to take 5 wickets in the series. I'm tipping him to start the tour but Giles to finish it.

You are underestimating Panesar's potential with the ball. If you watched the Eng and Pak test series, Panesar can trouble the best batsmens in the world. Also the fact is that Aus tend to struggle against quality left arm spinners. (e.g Vetorri and recently Rafique)

 

[Sureshot]

Whilst I do agree that it's the batsmans jobs to score runs and the bowlers jobs to take wickets, let's not be too harsh on Fletcher here. Afterall it was these multi-dimensional players that were so key to us winning the Ashes.

True but if Monty played and say even averaged only 35 with the ball, it would've counteracted Giles batting.

Monty Panesar is seeing a sports psychologist. He will be lucky to take 5 wickets in the series. I'm tipping him to start the tour but Giles to finish it.

That is unbelievably naive. Yes there'll be games when the Aussies get hold of him. But get him on a pitch that is spinning maybe on the 3rd day and he will be effective and will act as a spin bowler should by taking wickets. Underestimate him at your peril.

 

[smssia0112]

I find Giles to be very inconsistent with bowling and batting, and although I have no idea what Panesar is like with the bat, I think on some Aussie pitches, it might be useful for them to have both? What do you guys think?

The main worry for the spinners is being destroyed by players such as Gilchrist, Clarke and Hussey.

I don't know how Harmison is performing lately, yet with injury worries, I suspect the Aussies to win 3 - 1.

I don't think so, England's strong suit is their pacemen, their spinners are average/good at best, but nowhere near as good as their pace attack. They would be wasting their time to drop one.
As for my comment, he may have proven himself against the Pakis, but there is a difference between them and the Aussies, the best outfit in the world will not be as easy to conquer. I am not being naive, I know he is good, but he is young and seeing a psychologist shows that he is not ready mentally. If it cdomes down the point where the batsmen get on top early, he will become tired and less dangerous if he cant stamp early authority, he needs to be able to beat us before he gives up, which I think mentally he will do if he can't take some early wickets. Sydney is Test Number 5, there will be no charity pitches for him if he can't last that long. Sure he could be dangerous then, but only if he can keep up.

 

[irottev]

Have you seen Monty bowl? He is actally quite good.

This will be his real test. We will soon see. Nevermind!