England in Sri Lanka

[RoboRocks]

Dropping Hoggard would be mental, he hasn't done anything wrong and only missed a summer, despite missing this summer he's still ranked as the 9th best bowler in the world and he was ranked 6th before injury hit. He's Englands best bowler imo, Monty obviously has to start though but for me Sidebum and Hoggard have to be in the side.

I'll be difficult to resist not picking the side that won the ODI series. The warm up matches will be interesting to watch to see how Hoggard goes in the warm up matches. Anderson could be a better pick because he can bowl with pace if the ball is not swinging.

As I said the 2nd seamer slot is up for grabs.

 

[Sureshot]

Well let's pick our definites. It'll be a 4 man attack, agreed?

Sidebottom
Panesar

I don't think anyone has those out of their team?

Next 2 is out of Broad, Anderson, Hoggard and Harmison.

If we want a Number 8, then Broad plays, I don't think he's a weak link at all, not the best, but wouldn't say he's going to let us down.

Hoggard? He's just too good imo to drop, knows his game, we know what he'll do, does he ever let us down?

Hoggard plays then.

1 more.

Harmison? No, although he's a wicket taker. He's too unreliable, I don't want the Sri Lankans to have a pressure release, he's weak in the field too, not to mention a bit injury prone.

Anderson?

Excellent couple of months for England, a shoe in for our ODI team, bowled well vs India in the tests, not a 100% shoe in but is close.

Broad?

Can bat, vibrant bowler, feel he can get you a wicket at any time.

I don't think any of those 3 would let us down if picked. My inkling is Broad.

So....

8. Broad
9. Sidebottom
10. Panesar
11. Hoggard

 

[Leicester Fox]

Exactly wht I'd go with SS except Hoggard above Monty, I can't see Monty nailing Brett Lee for 4.


Broad will be a fantastic test matc bowler I reckon, it's his consistency of putting the ball on the spot that I loved. Obviously he needs to learn how to cope with things going wrong like against Yuvraj but he's good enough. Tremlett should never have been picked ahead of him in the summer imo

 

[irottev]

I'd pick

8. Broad
9. Sidebottom
10. Anderson
11. Panesar

I believe Hoggard and Sidebottom are too alike to have both in the line up. I'd rather have someone a bit different, like Anderson or Harmison. Hoggard hasn't really played in a long time. I'd stick to those as they played in the last test series I think.

 

[charith]

Hopefully will be a good tour. Reckon they might play panesar and swann at the SSC and in Galle. Especially in galle it turns square even on day one coz its so dry.

Hoping that SL will do well. Want to see the top order making big hundreds. Sangakkara needs a hundred against England to complete 100s against all test nations. Should be awesome.

 

[Sureshot]

Exactly wht I'd go with SS except Hoggard above Monty, I can't see Monty nailing Brett Lee for 4.


Broad will be a fantastic test matc bowler I reckon, it's his consistency of putting the ball on the spot that I loved. Obviously he needs to learn how to cope with things going wrong like against Yuvraj but he's good enough. Tremlett should never have been picked ahead of him in the summer imo

I can't see Hoggard sweeping Murali for 6...

Hoggard and Sidebottom opening partnership excites me, people refer to them being similar, I think they are a bit different actually, Sidebottom is more reliant on guile and accuracy as opposed to curivng swing. People said Tevez and Rooney couldn't work together. Just because two are a like I don't think that means they can't play together, after all they are our two best bowlers.

 

[RoboRocks]

Well let's pick our definites. It'll be a 4 man attack, agreed?

Sidebottom
Panesar

I don't think anyone has those out of their team?

Next 2 is out of Broad, Anderson, Hoggard and Harmison.

If we want a Number 8, then Broad plays, I don't think he's a weak link at all, not the best, but wouldn't say he's going to let us down.

Hoggard? He's just too good imo to drop, knows his game, we know what he'll do, does he ever let us down?

Hoggard plays then.

1 more.

Harmison? No, although he's a wicket taker. He's too unreliable, I don't want the Sri Lankans to have a pressure release, he's weak in the field too, not to mention a bit injury prone.

Anderson?

Excellent couple of months for England, a shoe in for our ODI team, bowled well vs India in the tests, not a 100% shoe in but is close.

Broad?

Can bat, vibrant bowler, feel he can get you a wicket at any time.

I don't think any of those 3 would let us down if picked. My inkling is Broad.

So....

8. Broad
9. Sidebottom
10. Panesar
11. Hoggard

Well Shouldn't we play Swann? It will be a spinny pitch so I would play Swann as the second spinner. That would leave the one pace bowling place left.

 

[Sureshot]

I'm not convinced by Swann, he did well in the ODIs, tests is a different kettle of fish.

 

[evertonfan]

Swann's a no go. ODI's only methinks. Just look at Ian Blackwell.

 

[RoboRocks]

Swann's a no go. ODI's only methinks. Just look at Ian Blackwell.

I don't rate Ian Blackwell as a spinner. He's batsmen who bowls a few overs.

If Swann has the wicket taking ablity he showed in the ODI's then surely he can do the same.

 

[Vcassano]

I don't rate Ian Blackwell as a spinner. He's batsmen who bowls a few overs.

If Swann has the wicket taking ablity he showed in the ODI's then surely he can do the same.

Blackwell's ODI bowling was very, very good against some quality batsmen versus spin.

However Swann's FC average is 33.13. He is not good enough.

 

[irottev]

Well, Swann only bowled as bad as anyone else in the warmups. I guess no body really performing makes it a tough job.

If the ball isn't swinging, why would you want both Sidebottom and Hoggard in the side? I'd rather have someone more aggressive or different for the dead pitches.

 

[RoboRocks]

Well, Swann only bowled as bad as anyone else in the warmups. I guess no body really performing makes it a tough job.

If the ball isn't swinging, why would you want both Sidebottom and Hoggard in the side? I'd rather have someone more aggressive or different for the dead pitches.

Sidebottm proved in the ODI's that he does have the aggression when the ball is not swinging.

He's is a certainty.

 

[evertonfan]

Anderson
Panesar
Hoggard
Harmison

I'd go with that. I really want to play Sidebottom but I just don't see him and Hoggard together working well.

 

[rabeta]

Anderson
Panesar
Hoggard
Harmison

I'd go with that. I really want to play Sidebottom but I just don't see him and Hoggard together working well.

Then Sidebottom plays over Hoggard, you have to have consistency in selection and he throughly deserves to keep his place. I would play Broad, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar. Strongest attack imo, Harmy is a no go, still hasn't proved that he's lost the waywardness, he won't build up any pressure.