England in Australia

[genghis_khan]

One of them is a bloke called Ritchard...was at the U19 WC last summer, as far as i know hes a paceman, shared the new ball with Henriques in that tournament. White appears the sole spinner :S

 

[cricketmad09]

I would hardly even call him a spinner. He doesnt even spin the ball. Its more 90km/h medium pacers

 

[evertonfan]

I would hardly even call him a spinner. He doesnt even spin the ball. Its more 90km/h medium pacers

Still, i'd rather have him than Giles.

 

[cricketmad09]

Still, i'd rather have him than Giles.

I wouldnt. Purely as a bowler though. My old man, who has umpired him many times, says he isnt a good bowler. There are plenty better bowlers.

 

[brad352]

Still, i'd rather have him than Giles.

I wouldn't, at least Giles can land the ball on a semi-consistent basis

 

[langerrox]

I wouldn't, at least Giles can land the ball on a semi-consistent basis

And some-times turns it, White does neither.

 

[MUFC1987]

Hmm, interesting theories moving about here. The key is the amount of bowling that we need to do. Flintoff and Harmison aren't going to bowl much, Hoggard and a spinner will. The question is, do we have Collingwood and hope he gets through 15 overs and may be picks up a wicket, or go with Mahmood or can have a quick blast?

The answer of course, () is Liam Plunkett. He can bowl reasonably quickly, but also can bowl a lot of overs, plus his stock delivery is dangerous to the right handers, which I think we may struggle with. My team would be:

Trescothick
Strauss
Cook
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Jones/Read (irrelevant, down to personal choice)
Plunkett
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar.

Bell is left out as Collingwood offers some better quality bowling and a willingness to work hard and stay at the crease. Cook is in the side as the only people who can bat in the top three and do it well, are Trescothick, Strauss and Cook. If either of those gets injured, we're in trouble.

 

[Sureshot]

Leave out Bell? Nope cannot agree with that under any circumstances. Collingwood may be good with the ball (Bell isn't bad his record is ok) nor his fielding is as good, but his batting is in an unbelievable run atm.

Bell is a 100% shoe in for me.

 

[MUFC1987]

Leave out Bell? Nope cannot agree with that under any circumstances. Collingwood may be good with the ball (Bell isn't bad his record is ok) nor his fielding is as good, but his batting is in an unbelievable run atm.

Bell is a 100% shoe in for me.

I agree that it's Bell V Collingwood to get in the team.

Bell has been working in peaks and troughs. Sure he got hundreads this summer, but apart from that, he's struggled to get to even single figures. Collingwood has been getting starts, occupying the crease and grinding scores which is good in my opinion with Pietersen and Flintoff either side of him. There isn't much between them batting wise in my opinion or the stats, but Collingwoods style and position in the lineup gives him the edge. If you play Bell, then you're either moving him up the order, or playing Flintoff is an unnacustomed role. I'm not saying it's Collingwood for the whole series, but for the first game, he should be starting.

 

[aussie1st]

Still, i'd rather have him than Giles.

Lol then I should be playing for England. I am just like White, leg spin action, jack all turn.

 

[Sureshot]

I agree that it's Bell V Collingwood to get in the team.

Bell has been working in peaks and troughs. Sure he got hundreads this summer, but apart from that, he's struggled to get to even single figures. Collingwood has been getting starts, occupying the crease and grinding scores which is good in my opinion with Pietersen and Flintoff either side of him. There isn't much between them batting wise in my opinion or the stats, but Collingwoods style and position in the lineup gives him the edge. If you play Bell, then you're either moving him up the order, or playing Flintoff is an unnacustomed role. I'm not saying it's Collingwood for the whole series, but for the first game, he should be starting.

It's tight but Bell has position I have no doubt of that (And yes you can quote this come the 23rd ). Always pick the form player, surely?

Colly might struggle with the bounce of the Aussie pitches, that's his big weakness I think when batting.

 

[puddleduck]

Indeed Sureshot, he can have problems against good pace when there is some bounce. Personally I think it is near impossible position to be in, both batsman have done probably more than some of the players who will play in the last year or so, and both don't deserve to be dropped.

If they go in with 5 bowlers one of them has to make way though. I would probably go for Bell at the moment as I just feel he has more natural talent and will be a long term fixture in the side.

 

[evertonfan]

Although i'm no expert on batting technique (bowlers are more my thing) I do agree that Collingwood has a slight weakness against bounce. I saw hi twice get out to a pull shot against Pakistan in the recent home tests due to him being surprised by the bounce, and his shots being mistimed. It's no coincidence that he thrived in the sub-continent on the dead pitches, although he did score a great 100 at Lords earlier in the summer too.

I'd play Bell due to his electric form but I think that Fletcher might take into account his dire Ashes performance last year.

I'd also definitley play Cook. He'll be England's wildcard like KP was last time and I think he'll enjoy the bounce.

 

[cricketmad09]

Leave out Bell? Nope cannot agree with that under any circumstances. Collingwood may be good with the ball (Bell isn't bad his record is ok) nor his fielding is as good, but his batting is in an unbelievable run atm.

Bell is a 100% shoe in for me.

Ball? Collingwood bowls dinky medium pacers and has only taken 1 test wicket.

 

[irottev]

Collingwood is more an ODI player. It's hard to leave him out because of the few overs you could get out of him plus the fileding factor. His batting average is also pretty good.