Trescothick
Club Cricketer
- Joined
- May 26, 2004
- Online Cricket Games Owned
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... for the Ashes test matches, what would it be? and explain why
The questions for me are, should Pietersen get in the test side right now? and, which bowling attack is the strongest?
I think you've got to pick your best players, and at the moment Pietersen is England's best batsman. I wouldn't worry about him playing test cricket, he was originally called up to the test squad and not the one-day squad. There is an obvious flaw in his technique, quality bowlers will take advantage of his stride across the stumps, particularly on English wickets. He does seem to have an incredible eye, but I think he needs to work on it.
If one of the current batsmen had to make way, it would be Mark Butcher, with Vaughan moving up to #3 and Pietersen at #4.. To be honest I think Vaughan should be opening, he's an opening batsman. But I wouldn't disturb the Trescothick/Strauss partnership while it's going so well. I think Strauss is the perfect man to drop down the order and hold the innings together after Thorpe's time.
It was either going to be Thorpe or Butcher making way. The short version of how I decided is - Thorpe is a better player. The longer version is - Butcher is a great batsman on his day, and his strokeplay is wonderful to watch. The trouble is, his days just don't happen often enough. With Vaughan out of form, if the openers fail, Butcher has to play the rock, and he just hasn't been reliable enough, often enough.
The other factor is that Thorpe is so reliable. I've lost count of the number of times England have been in trouble and Thorpe has stepped up and played a huge innings to save or win a match. His career average is 44. Trescothick, Vaughan and Strauss have had the luxury of only being around relatively recently, enjoying England's success, but Thorpe maintained that average in a much poorer side, whilst losing matches.
If we take him out of the side, who do we rely on in a crisis? He's proven himself time and again to be England's most valuable test player, and I'm praying he doesn't retire after the Ashes, I'm sure he's got at least two years in him yet.
As for the bowling, Hoggard and Harmison pick themselves, irrespective of current form. It is admittedly a biased view, but in my opinion there is no finer opening partnership in the world. I'd pick Jones over Anderson and everyone else, but I'd use him a lot more, particularly in the first innings.
Whilst I have never been Ashley Giles' biggest fan, I've never been one of his detractors. He's always done a great job for the team, and is almost an all-rounder with his batting. I just question whether we need a full-time spinner on English wickets. Michael Vaughan is a much better bowler than he thinks he is, and could be the part time spinner. If he worked more on his bowling I'd leave Giles out and pick an extra batsman. Four full-time seemers plus Vaughan and Trescothick is more than enough bowling. That would allow Butcher back into the side.
So relying on Vaughan bowling more, my ideal XI would be - Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Butcher, Pietersen, Thorpe, Flintoff, Jones, Hoggard, Jones, Harmison.
After the Ashes however, I'd like to see Ian Bell in the test side. I also don't believe that Collingwood should only play one-day cricket, he's good enough to be a test match all rounder. My long-term line-up would be - Trescothick, Vaughan, Bell, Pietersen, Strauss, Flintoff, Collingwood, Jones, Hoggard, Jones, Harmison.
Top 8 capable of regular 50's.
Four front-line seemers, plus at least three capable p/t bowlers.
The questions for me are, should Pietersen get in the test side right now? and, which bowling attack is the strongest?
I think you've got to pick your best players, and at the moment Pietersen is England's best batsman. I wouldn't worry about him playing test cricket, he was originally called up to the test squad and not the one-day squad. There is an obvious flaw in his technique, quality bowlers will take advantage of his stride across the stumps, particularly on English wickets. He does seem to have an incredible eye, but I think he needs to work on it.
If one of the current batsmen had to make way, it would be Mark Butcher, with Vaughan moving up to #3 and Pietersen at #4.. To be honest I think Vaughan should be opening, he's an opening batsman. But I wouldn't disturb the Trescothick/Strauss partnership while it's going so well. I think Strauss is the perfect man to drop down the order and hold the innings together after Thorpe's time.
It was either going to be Thorpe or Butcher making way. The short version of how I decided is - Thorpe is a better player. The longer version is - Butcher is a great batsman on his day, and his strokeplay is wonderful to watch. The trouble is, his days just don't happen often enough. With Vaughan out of form, if the openers fail, Butcher has to play the rock, and he just hasn't been reliable enough, often enough.
The other factor is that Thorpe is so reliable. I've lost count of the number of times England have been in trouble and Thorpe has stepped up and played a huge innings to save or win a match. His career average is 44. Trescothick, Vaughan and Strauss have had the luxury of only being around relatively recently, enjoying England's success, but Thorpe maintained that average in a much poorer side, whilst losing matches.
If we take him out of the side, who do we rely on in a crisis? He's proven himself time and again to be England's most valuable test player, and I'm praying he doesn't retire after the Ashes, I'm sure he's got at least two years in him yet.
As for the bowling, Hoggard and Harmison pick themselves, irrespective of current form. It is admittedly a biased view, but in my opinion there is no finer opening partnership in the world. I'd pick Jones over Anderson and everyone else, but I'd use him a lot more, particularly in the first innings.
Whilst I have never been Ashley Giles' biggest fan, I've never been one of his detractors. He's always done a great job for the team, and is almost an all-rounder with his batting. I just question whether we need a full-time spinner on English wickets. Michael Vaughan is a much better bowler than he thinks he is, and could be the part time spinner. If he worked more on his bowling I'd leave Giles out and pick an extra batsman. Four full-time seemers plus Vaughan and Trescothick is more than enough bowling. That would allow Butcher back into the side.
So relying on Vaughan bowling more, my ideal XI would be - Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Butcher, Pietersen, Thorpe, Flintoff, Jones, Hoggard, Jones, Harmison.
After the Ashes however, I'd like to see Ian Bell in the test side. I also don't believe that Collingwood should only play one-day cricket, he's good enough to be a test match all rounder. My long-term line-up would be - Trescothick, Vaughan, Bell, Pietersen, Strauss, Flintoff, Collingwood, Jones, Hoggard, Jones, Harmison.
Top 8 capable of regular 50's.
Four front-line seemers, plus at least three capable p/t bowlers.
