England in Australia

[aussie1st]

This changes things a bit now, Cook has been quite good on the tour so far and could prove difficult to get out. Bell would go to 3 I suspect and Collingwood 4 unless they want KP there.

 

[Skater]

Marcus Trescothick leaving means I can put Paul Collingwood into my ideal starting eleven...

1. Andrew Strauss
2. Alastair Cook
3. Paul Collingwood
4. Ian Bell
5. Kevin Pietersen
6. Andrew Flintoff (captain)
7. Geraint Jones (wicket keeper)
8. James Anderson
9. Steve Harmison
10. Monty Panesar
11. Matthew Hoggard

 

[evertonfan]

Based on Fletcher's recent signs of incompetence, I wouldn't rule out Bell opening to be honest.

 

[MUFC1987]

Based on Fletcher's recent signs of incompetence, I wouldn't rule out Bell opening to be honest.

Are you serious? The guy took us from the doldrems to beating the best side in the world yet you still complain.

 

[Stephen Bailey]

Are you serious? The guy took us from the doldrems to beating the best side in the world yet you still complain.

He's been brilliant for English cricket, but some of his recent decisions/comments have been questionable to say the least.

 

[evertonfan]

Are you serious? The guy took us from the doldrems to beating the best side in the world yet you still complain.

I am serious or I wouldn't have said it. Have you seen our ODI side recently? Have you seen his complete blind devotion to players such as Giles?

 

[Simbazz]

Im a SLA, and although everyone see's Giles cant spin a ball, plus he holds the ball and has a technique worse than me at fast bowling!

Ashley Giles is a proper number 8, and i think to be in the squad we would need Monty in at 11, with Harmison and Hoggard in as the quicks, id even chuck out Harmy, as ive totally gone of the guy, id say Jimmy/Plunkett and Hoggy

 

[evertonfan]

Im a SLA, and although everyone see's Giles cant spin a ball, plus he holds the ball and has a technique worse than me at fast bowling!

Ashley Giles is a proper number 8, and i think to be in the squad we would need Monty in at 11, with Harmison and Hoggard in as the quicks, id even chuck out Harmy, as ive totally gone of the guy, id say Jimmy/Plunkett and Hoggy

Drop Harmison in Test matches? I think that would be suicidal. He should stay as far away from ODI's as possible, but he should always be a certain starter in Test matches. How can you play Plunkett when he hasn't played since August and hasn't featured in any of the warm-up games either?#

It'll be Anderson, Hoggard, Harmison and Giles at Brisbane methinks.

 

[Simbazz]

It'll be Anderson, Hoggard, Harmison and Giles at Brisbane methinks.

Of course it will be : Its Fletch for gods sakes, why does he like the King of Spain so much?

Fletch has this thought that every player in his 11 should be able to turn thier arm over, bat and be able to field.

I understand the Fielding part is vitally important in the modern day cricket, but to be able to bat? Some teams have genuine number 11's, Glenn Mcgrath for example, when he started playing for Australia, he was alot like Panesar in the batting department, you learn, as Glenn Mcgrath has shown.

I think Fletcher's mind is bad for England, he is a class coach, best in the world for what he has done, but to expect every player to bat, bowl and field to a Fletcher standard is harming English cricket in some ways.

Regarding Harmison, i have totally fallen out of favour for him, he needs a big game to revert me

 

[BigCrickNan]

Here is probable team for the gabba:

Cook
Strauss
Bell
KP
Collyflower
Freddie
Jones
Giles
Harmison
Hoggard
Anderson

Here is our best team:

Cook
Strauss
Bell
KP
Collyflower
Freddie
Read
Hoggard
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar
Davie


Fletch needs to sort out his bitandpieces players from his quality cricketers. Players like Giles were need a couple of years ago as we had to play more defensive cricket being a poorer side back then. Read and Panesar > Jones and Giles.

 

[MUFC1987]

I am serious or I wouldn't have said it. Have you seen our ODI side recently? Have you seen his complete blind devotion to players such as Giles?

Wow, you're right, I must have missed the bit where we were the best in the World at ODI's before he took over and that now we've declined that much. :

Blind devotion won us the Ashes, blind devotion kept Bell in the side and helped make him into the batsman that he has become. I'll take Fletcher over your ideas for selection anyday.

 

[BigCrickNan]

We actually had an ok ODI side back then we won Sharjah .

 

[MUFC1987]

We actually had an ok ODI side back then we won Sharjah .

Well you can blame Mike Atherton for that.

 

[aussie1st]

That seems to be the way with some coaches, they totally devote everything into one form of the game while the other falls apart. NZ is another, good at ODIs not so good at test although that was the opposite before Bracewell. Looks like the same for the English.

 

[manee]

And the West Indies, but they are cool .

Back on topic: I have Vcash on Aussies winning, but I hope I do not win this bet, but I will (if you get me).

The Aussies are a disciplined unit which gives them higher consistancy and level of performance. England are a shambles and a fight for spinners over who can spin it from off to middle and off stump, sheer mediocrity if you ask me.

It will be a miracle if England win the ashes, but miracles DO happen!