England in Sri Lanka

[FreddieFan]

My team would have to be:

Vaughan
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Mustard/Prior (can't decide, don't know enough about Mustard)
Swann
Hoggard
Anderson
Sidebottom
Panesar

My only worry with this team is the long tail, but to get around that the options would be:

a) Drop a seamer - don't want to do this because none of them deserve to be dropped, and I wouldn't want to rely too much on part timers
b) Drop Panesar - one of England's best bowlers in the last couple of years in Tests, we'll need him in Sri Lanks
c) Drop Swann. This is the most attractive of the options but picking him means we effectively have 5 bowlers, which I like when it's available, without giving us 5 No.11s. I'd like to see what he can do in partnership with Panesar, could give England a useful option in years to come.

 

[Skater]

On the subject of teams for the first Test, this would be my personal choice:

1. Alastair Cook
2. Michael Vaughan (captain)
3. Ian Bell
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Paul Collingwood
6. Owais Shah
7. Matt Prior (wicketkeeper)
8. Matthew Hoggard
9. Stuart Broad
10. Ryan Sidebottom
11. Monty Panesar

I think it's balanced well. All eleven of those players can bat.

 

[edgefan007]

My England Lineup :-

1)A. Cook
2)M. Vaughan (Capt.)
3)I. Bell
4)K. Pietersen
5)P.D. Collingwood (Vice-Capt.)
6)R.S. Bopara
7)P. Mustard (W.K)
8)S. Broad
9)R. Sidebottom
10)J. Anderson
11)M.S. Panesar

12th:M. Hoggard [too erratic in is Fitness]
13)O. Shah
14)G. Swann
15)M. Prior [Reserve W.K]
16)C.T. Tremlett [to be added to the Squad insetad of "200-Man" Harmy.]

 

[manee]

My England Lineup :-

1)A. Cook
2)M. Vaughan (Capt.)
3)I. Bell
4)K. Pietersen
5)P.D. Collingwood (Vice-Capt.)
6)R.S. Bopara
7)P. Mustard (W.K)
8)S. Broad
9)R. Sidebottom
10)J. Anderson
11)M.S. Panesar

12th:M. Hoggard [too erratic in is Fitness]
13)O. Shah
14)G. Swann
15)M. Prior [Reserve W.K]
16)C.T. Tremlett [to be added to the Squad insetad of "200-Man" Harmy.]

I don't understand how people can drop Hoggard. He has been England's most consistant seamer for a good 2-3 years. 'Too erratic in is Fitness' is a poor reason. If that is a valid reason, I guess England should never pick Flintoff again.

I hope Hoggard has amended the closed off foot position of his action. If he has, it may be bye-bye to his bucketloads of swing but he could add 5-10mph of pace. Ideally, he could open up the foot position later on when the ball isn't swinging but it may be hard to adjust. Mark my words, with the action he has now, he will have a major breakdown injury in the next 2 years.

 

[dikon]

Sidebutt.

Touch choice in the end but Tremlett edged it with his pace and bounce after most critics wrote him off for not been agressive enough.

 

[Sureshot]

On the subject of teams for the first Test, this would be my personal choice:

1. Alastair Cook
2. Michael Vaughan (captain)
3. Ian Bell
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Paul Collingwood
6. Owais Shah
7. Matt Prior (wicketkeeper)
8. Matthew Hoggard
9. Stuart Broad
10. Ryan Sidebottom
11. Monty Panesar

I think it's balanced well. All eleven of those players can bat.

Hoggard at 8 and Broad at 9? :boxing

Also, dikon, how can you even consider playing Tremlett ahead of Sidebottom? Tremlett did alright in the tests and he has quite a lot of potential imo, but Sidebottom knows his game, is very accurate, bowls at a decent pace in the mid 80s and swings it.

 

[RoboRocks]

Sidebottom can also be able to change from someone who swings the ball to someone who can hit the pitch likewise Jimmy Anderson so they both deserve their spot with the two spinners. We know Hoggard is a good bowler but he can't adapt to hitting the pitch like Sidebottom and Anderson can and after the ODI series has proven. Broad might be up the pecking order as well considering the ODI performances and with his batting to boot, he might be considered before Hoggard.
As for Tremlett he's a decent bowler but he's got a predictable line and length and batsmen set themselves up for that and its no good for England in Sri Lanka were you need to target the stumps and Sidebottom, Anderson and even Broad will hit the stumps more often than Tremlett.

 

[aussie_ben91]

When are these Tests going to be played? Aren't Sri Lanka in Australia right now? What's going on?

 

[surendar]

Aren't Sri Lanka in Australia right now? What's going on?

Yes. The first test between SriLanka and Australia is starting from November 8.

Thu 8 - Mon 12
10:00 local, 00:00 GMT 1st Test - Australia v Sri Lanka
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane

 

[RoboRocks]

When are these Tests going to be played? Aren't Sri Lanka in Australia right now? What's going on?

Yeah, these tests are after that one.
I don't see the point to be honest.

 

[Sureshot]

Wasn't it due to India touring Australia? and they didn't want a clash.

 

[jordox]

heres my pommy team:

Cook
Vaughan
Bell
Pieterson
Collingwood
Shah
Prior
Hoggard
Anderson
Plunkett (is he injured though?, if he is, Sidebottom)
Panesar

 

[Sureshot]

Plunkett isn't injured, but isn't touring.

 

[evertonfan]

Sidebottom
Hoggard
Panesar
Anderson

Long tail, but that's a match winning attack.

 

[rabeta]

1. Alastair Cook
2. Michael Vaughan (captain)
3. Ian Bell
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Paul Collingwood
6. Owais Shah
7. Matt Prior (wicketkeeper)
8. Stuart Broad
9. Matthew Hoggard
10. Ryan Sidebottom
11. Monty Panesar

My side, I like having the batting at 8 with Broad even though I think this would be a harsh deal on Tremlett, as he has played well in the Tests that he has played. They are similar bowlers though, so Broad batting edges it. I like having Shah in there, deserves another chance and I believe he will take it. Swann misses out, due to a longer batting line-up in the guarantee of a collapse.

Sidebottom
Hoggard
Panesar
Anderson

Long tail, but that's a match winning attack.

I've decided to leave Anderson out, maybe harshly. Just think that we need somebody that can extract bounce out of a pitch that may be dead, to give something extra to the attack and give us the ability to break partnerships.