England in Sri Lanka March-April 2011/12

[StinkyBoHoon]

The thing is that you can't strategise yourself into a great performance. If the wicket is flat, big individual scores are crucial. You can't just pick an extra batsman and bank on everyone getting 50.

I know what you're saying but at the same time I've seen the psychological impact of having that extra man in either department play a big factor.

I would say it's more about partnerships than simply individuals, and an extra man just gives you another shot at putting an effective pressure building partnership together.

that said I am confused why england would want to play another bowler given their batting has struggled so much and their bowling has been excellent.

 

[barmyarmy]

In which case you end up with Bopara as a specialist batsman.

 

[swacker]

Despite Monty having an ineffective game here, he was brilliant in the UAE and you need two spinners out there.

Don't need seamers on these pitches really, only briefly with the new ball, bowling on plasticine.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

is bopara really the next in line? like even if trott or pietersen got injured?

grim, it's sort of ironic that it's the repeat injuries to the pace bowlers that has helped build that into englands best feature.

 

[puddleduck]

In an interview the groundsman basically said it's going to be a road. Bat, bat, bat and nothing else.

I don't know how Ravi is next in line. He's really never done anything to deserve the spot. He only ever seems to score runs when he gets a few lifes, and even when he gets 50's he looks as scratchy as anyone.

 

[barmyarmy]

At this stage it's meaningless anyway as this is the final test before we go back to English conditions. Mind you I think it's possibly over-optimistic to talk about the batsmen thriving in English conditions. SA have a seriously good pace attack.

 

[puddleduck]

And I think the Windies have a spinner.

 

[MUFC1987]

A win needed and according to Cricinfo, England are thinking about dropping Panesar. That's beyond belief for me. If anything, I'd rather see us bring Bresnan and Finn in for Broad and Patel, if they're desperate for 5 bowlers. Bresnan probably offers as much with the bat as well.

 

[puddleduck]

I'd drop Monty. He's not going to play all summer, and hopefully by the next time we tour on the sub-continent there's at least someone who offers more.

Not a good enough spin bowler for what he brings to the team... Although, let's not start this again

 

[barmyarmy]

I'm on the fence about this one. I'm not sure I would drop Panesar as we need the overs he can put in. I reckon I would go:

Strauss
Cook
Trott
KP
Bell
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Panesar

My other option would be the same top 5 and then:
Bopara
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Anderson
Finn/Panesar

 

[MUFC1987]

I just think that even roads turn a bit eventually, cos they wear away. So it's a case of having Patel getting through a lot of overs, or Panesar and that for me is a no-brainer. If the top 6 don't score runs we're going to be screwed either way, so Patel's batting doesn't matter a lot in this context, especially if you can have Bresnan in there.

 

[barmyarmy]

Oh and I worry the ECB will go: (straight swap Finn for Broad)

Strauss
Cook
Trott
KP
Bell
Prior
Patel
Swann
Anderson
Finn
Panesar

 

[puddleduck]

I do agree to be honest MUFC, would rather see Monty in a 4 man bowling attack ahead of Patel. Although I wouldn't object to 3 seamers, Swann and Patel (well ideally someone better, but he's there so sod it).

It seems to be consistently ignored that our seamers keep taking wickets wherever they are taken in the world, strange that we've abandoned playing 3 of them for the first time in years and have promptly not won a test match.

Obviously, the batting has failed in that time, but still, at least Patel has the chance of surprising a Sri Lankan batsman. I don't think Monty could surprise a feinting goat heh

 

[barmyarmy]

Oh c'mon there is no way you pick Samit Patel ahead of Monty as a spin option.

I'm a great believer in bowlers who can keep it tight - that's the reason I supported dropping Finn in the last Ashes series. 14 wickets but at 5rpo. Patel might get the odd wicket from a skied slog but Panesar can send down 40 overs for 2rpo whereas Samit bowls a 4-ball every over.

 

[puddleduck]

I can if I think neither of them will take wickets, and that Monty will probably go at about half-a-run less an over (maybe a whole run) than Samit. If they bowl 30 overs, then that extra 30 runs probably won't have made much difference.

I can pretty much predict any Monty spell. He'll bowl 6 balls that pitch on middle and leg and as the days wear on will eventually turn. Sometimes he'll drop it short outside off and get cut for four. He'll bowl almost every ball at the same speed, in the same spot and if he doesn't get early wickets, will be milked without even the sniff of a chance.

At least Samit bowling might be interesting And no, I didn't did I? I said in a 5 man attack, sod it take Patel and he can bowl some overs along with anyone else who fancies an over or two. In a 4-man attack, Monty would have to play alongside Swann and 2 seamers in these conditions.