Commonwealth Bank Series

[angryangy]

Yeah, totally. Pietersen is not an unstable player by any means. I'm certainly not the kind of person who complains that Ricky Ponting is too aggressive at no. 3. Plus, England should be treating their keepers as specialists. This is about as fanciful as I'll ever be with a squad, because I know England can be relied upon to pick a much lamer team.

There are two concerns: Attempting to build an attack that might inspire uneasiness in the CBAODIT camp and a batting lineup that doesn't resemble a sinking ship.

Bowling-wise, without access to anyone decent, I think they're screwed. I don't think Lewis gave a good account of himself against Australia when they last met, but Tremlett wasn't a lot better and both Plunkett and Mahmood get carted about at every opportunity. I'd lean towards Tremlett, almost solely because he's a 2 metre gargantuan and tall bowlers tend to succeed in Australia. Plunkett might be a future talent, but nothing about him says ready, except ready to carry drinks. Mahmood is just awful, but I bet he gets the gig because they think he can bat.

Batsmen are even harder to pick. It's very nice to get Vaughan back, it will improve a few things, but he's one of the worst ODI batsmen you could pick. Plus, combined with Bell, Collingwood and Dalrymple, there's a decided lack of ferocity. I'd like to include Joyce, but the team needs a fifth (and ideally, a sixth) bowler. If we determine that Vaughan, KP and Collingwood (and perhaps Bell, too) can bowl enough to cover that slot, then Dalrymple gets cut. Pietersen at four breaks up the sticklers, while Joyce at six and Freddie at seven ensures the endgame is covered.

So here it is. The team England don't want you to see!

1. Andrew Strauss
2. Michael Vaughan
3. Ian Bell
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Paul Collingwood
6. Ed Joyce
7. Andrew Flintoff
8. Chris Read
9. Chris Tremlett
10. Monty Panesar
11. James Anderson

 

[sifter132]

I think England's best approach is a rotational one - especially with their pace bowlers. To me, there is no stand outs and each of them should get 4 or 5 games so that they all get the chance to put their hand up for a bigger role in the World Cup. I know Hoggard doesn't have a great ODI record, but surely he is a better option than some of the other quicks in the squad.

With the squad they've picked it looks like they'll play with Flintoff and Read in the top 7 with 5 other batters, followed by 3 pacers and Dalrymple/Panesar. That would leave them 1 batter, 1 keeper, 1 spinner and 2 pacers on the bench so to speak.

 

[aussie1st]

Agreed about Pietersen. I'd have Vaughan opening the batting as he does handle the new ball quite well and have Pietersen at 3. England already have a basher late in the innings in Flintoff. If Pietersen continues his dominance against Australia I feel he can at least bat to the 40th over and start playing "six" shots which will ease the pressure for the lower order players like Flintoff, Dalrymple and Read.

That definitely seems to be the best way for England. KP should be given as much time as possible to get set then unleash his magic.

 

[angryangy]

I think England's best approach is a rotational one - especially with their pace bowlers. To me, there is no stand outs and each of them should get 4 or 5 games so that they all get the chance to put their hand up for a bigger role in the World Cup. I know Hoggard doesn't have a great ODI record, but surely he is a better option than some of the other quicks in the squad.

With the squad they've picked it looks like they'll play with Flintoff and Read in the top 7 with 5 other batters, followed by 3 pacers and Dalrymple/Panesar. That would leave them 1 batter, 1 keeper, 1 spinner and 2 pacers on the bench so to speak.

They'll be rotating, for sure. The trouble is who gets what gig. I reckon the matchups they make will be poor, judging by how much backing they've given Saj and how little they've given Monty, although if Vaughan is as influential on selection as he is on English fans, there might be some better decisions made.

You're very right about Hoggard, they can't just bleed experience like this. There's no Gough, Harmison, Hoggard or Jones, two of which were available. What they seek to acheive is highly questionable.

 

[Sureshot]

Paul Nixon is only eight years older than Chris Read, and England will play a minimum of eight matches in this series so I think that they can experiment with the two wicket keepers. If every team was chosen based on the future, Australia wouldn't select the likes of Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Adam Gilchrist and Stuart Clark!

Ian Bell did fairly well as an opening batsman against Pakistan earlier this year but, as I said, there is a minimum of eight matches to play so they could try both systems.

Kevin Pietersen should stay as far away from the top order as possible in my opinion, I want batsmen that are going to steady the scoring before I have sloggers coming in. I agree, maybe Jamie Dalrymple should be in the order before the wicket keeper and maybe Monty Panesar should play before James Anderson in the order.

Only 8 years? Who'll be playing in 8 years time Nixon or Read?

Those mentioned Aussies are proven players who've played international Cricket regularly whereas Nixon hasn't (has he played even?)

Bell isn't an opener, Vaughan made his name opening the innings and as Tres is going to be out of the team for a while Vaughan should get his old spot back as that's where he's best imo.

KP is going to be our best ODI player this series, the more overs he can bat the more likely we are going to win a game. You have to have someone scoring quick runs in the top 4. A top 4 of Strauss, Bell, Vaughan and Colly, would be silly, especially if we had a collapse and it was left for KP, Fred, JD and Read to bat 40 overs. Colly is an important cog in our team and he should bat at 5.

I think England's best approach is a rotational one - especially with their pace bowlers. To me, there is no stand outs and each of them should get 4 or 5 games so that they all get the chance to put their hand up for a bigger role in the World Cup. I know Hoggard doesn't have a great ODI record, but surely he is a better option than some of the other quicks in the squad.

With the squad they've picked it looks like they'll play with Flintoff and Read in the top 7 with 5 other batters, followed by 3 pacers and Dalrymple/Panesar. That would leave them 1 batter, 1 keeper, 1 spinner and 2 pacers on the bench so to speak.

I think Hoggys improved but he's had plenty of chances in ODIs and not done anything bar against Zimbabwe on his debut series. I'd give him another chance but the selectors won't.

 

[wolf]

The team I would pick.

AJ Strauss
MP Vaughan (captain)
IR Bell
JWM Dalrymple
PD Collingwood
KP Pietersen
A Flintoff
CMW Read (wicketkeeper)
J Lewis
JM Anderson
MS Panesar

 

[symonds_sixes]

My Aus ODI side:
Gilchrist
Hayden
Ponting
Hussey
Symonds
Clarke
Watson
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
McGrath

 

[Sureshot]

The team I would pick.

AJ Strauss
MP Vaughan (captain)
IR Bell
JWM Dalrymple
PD Collingwood
KP Pietersen
A Flintoff
CMW Read (wicketkeeper)
J Lewis
JM Anderson
MS Panesar

Swap JD and KP and that's about our best side.

 

[aussie1st]

My Aus ODI side:
Gilchrist
Hayden
Ponting
Hussey
Symonds
Clarke
Watson
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
McGrath

Watson's way too low, you may as well just play White if you're going to put Watson down there.

 

[manee]

Australia don't need batting in depth such as Watson is used in the squad. If they fall that low and need runs, they can usually count on the established batsman in and the lower order bat (Lee) to smash runs.

A team like England or India with an unreliable tail at times could do with a strong lower order bat like Watson is used there but not Australia.

 

[aussie1st]

What we need down there is a finisher hence I mentioned White as I believe he can be our next Hussey/Bevan. Watson on the other hand is a guy that needs time to get in before launching so hes better suited at 4 or above.

 

[sifter132]

Watson's way too low, you may as well just play White if you're going to put Watson down there.

I think they should and maybe will play both of White and Watson. Hayden might make the squad, but Watson would be my choice as the World Cup opener with Gilly.

If they played White, he could bat at 7 to finish the innings, moving Hussey and Clarke up to 6 and 5. Even then, I'm still not convinced Symonds is the guy for 4 - I reckon he plays best at 6 or 7, with no pressure blasting in the final overs. So possibly my favourite lineup would be:

1. Adam Gilchrist
2. Shane Watson (replaced by Hayden or James Hopes for the moment)
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clarke
5. Mike Hussey
6. Andrew Symonds
7. Cameron White/James Hopes (depending on what pitch they play on)
8. Brad Hogg
9. Brett Lee
10. Nathan Bracken
11. Glenn McGrath

Also in squad would be Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson and maybe Brad Haddin too.

 

[aussie1st]

That lineup looks much better, I suspect Symonds will be at 5 cause thats where he made a name for himself. Watson opening definitely looks to be the way to go as he can bat agressively if Gilly gets out, just needs to get rid of some of those silly shots.
Clarke definitely the 4, Hussey at 6 mainly although could move to 5 if we are in trouble.

 

[sifter132]

That lineup looks much better, I suspect Symonds will be at 5 cause thats where he made a name for himself. Watson opening definitely looks to be the way to go as he can bat agressively if Gilly gets out, just needs to get rid of some of those silly shots.
Clarke definitely the 4, Hussey at 6 mainly although could move to 5 if we are in trouble.

Yeah I can see that happening too.

If anything my preferred side is weak in batting, and heavy on allrounders (Watson, Symonds, White) and at present we don't have a middle order batter putting his hand up. Sure Jaques/Katich/Cosgrove have had their chance opening, but we could use another good middle order accumulator for the squad to replace Marto. Perhaps Voges can get a crack at 4 or 5 in some of the games.

 

[dtrain]

I wouldn't say Cosgrove has had his chance at opening. He's only had one go at it and made 74 runs at better than a run a ball. Unfortunately he hasn't been in the form he was in last year, with Ford Ranger scores of 31, 14, 19, 17, and 41 all at opener, so a position for him in our best XI looks unlikely.