South Africa in England

[Themer]

Just heard that Steyn is to miss out of the final test slight blow for the South Africans but its noot like it matters too much.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/south_africa/7539811.stm

 

[Ollie_H]

Pietersen wasn't really hard done by. He was either out caught or lbw..So It doesn't really matter.

If vaughan doesn't contribute with the bat in the second innings with a big score I can see people calling for him to be replaced. Could we see it aginst SA again? Will history repeat itself? 2003 tour Vaughan and just taken over as ODI captain and then Hussain resigned and Vaughan became Test aswell. Could we see KP becoming Test captain?


Yes I know KP's ODI captaincy is temporary but who knows if Collywobbler can't hit the ball of the strip.

Well what did I say?

 

[Ollie_H]

I is well lookin forwrd to the namin of da squad. Me thinks it shld look like dis;

Ali Cooky Wook
Second Innings Hundred
Oasis
Hedgehog (c)
Class but farce
Da Nitty Gritty
Oww Mi Ankle
Short Stuff
Can't Pitch it on the strip
Not a normal Swinger
Can't bat, C'ant field? He certainly can't fix it!

 

[Skater]

What time is the squad going to be announced?

 

[evertonfan]

1 o'clock. Should be a good watch.

 

[Ollie_H]

I would imagine around 11:00. Isn't that when they normally are?

holdenator added 1 Minutes and 34 Seconds later...

Ahh okay, evo corrected me.

 

[Themer]

This is the most anxious and kinda excited about a team selection I have been to think as to what the team and who the captain will be. If they get this wrong we can forget the Ashes its of that importance the decision they make in my opinion. They should opt for Pietersen as he's the only one who plays in both the Test Team and the ODI and seem to have the temprament for the job but for some reason I have a recurring though in my mind that it could be Bell. When you look at the stats they have both played in the same amount of tests and Bell has played more FC games. I think he could do it and to be honest they both have the same amount of captaincy experience, none pretty much.

 

[irottev]

I'd get Strauss to captain. He's done it before and was impressive. They need the same captain in both forms preferably, so probably will go to Pietersen.

 

[RoboRocks]

I think we can now afford to make a few changes. For me I would bring Shah in for Vaughan, I would bring Simon Jones in for Sidebottom who still doesn't look fit after the last game and I would look at giving Monty a rest since he's bowled a lot of over in this series, although Smith has played him really well in this series he hasn't bowled to his best and he has an important tour of India next where he'll play a key part. I would look at either Swann or Rashid, I would like to look at Rashid in tests since we need to look at our options for the tour of India, where we need to play two spinners on a regular basis. On the captaincy issue I would go for Strauss since he's a better and more experienced captain than Pietersen and it won't effect the way he plays as history shows that.

RoboRocks added 7 Minutes and 59 Seconds later...

Here is my squad:

Alistair Cook
Andrew Strauss (c)
Kevin Pietersen
Ian Bell
Paul Collingwood
Owais Shah
Andrew Flintoff
Tim Ambrose
Adil Rashid
Simon Jones
Jimmy Anderson

Not the squad that would be selected or what people would agree on. It's debatable whether you want to have a look at players or not but I would for the sake of the players coming in and also for the players resting.

 

[Highlander999]

Bowling attack is a bit weak. What has Sidebottom done to deserve to be dropped?

 

[RoboRocks]

Bowling attack is a bit weak. What has Sidebottom done to deserve to be dropped?

Sidebottom who still doesn't look fit after the last game.

Unless you mean we should play 5 bowlers, which I could do, that would be a decent bowling attack with Jones in.

 

[Highlander999]

Against the top 3 opposition i.e. Aus, SA, Sri Lanka, I think we need 5 bowlers, otherwise we will be lucky to ever bowl them out

 

[RoboRocks]

I suppose with two all rounders like Flintoff and Rashid, we could play the extra seamer whether that be Harmison or Broad.

 

[irottev]

What has Sidebottom done to deserve to be dropped?

Nothing. He's been England's best bowler this series. However, he's carrying a niggle and I think England would be better off not playing him in a dead rubber. Lets face it, England can afford to bring someone new in. Some new energy and some backup for the future. Currently if Sidebottom/Anderson were injured, there are no obvious replacements. England need to build depth. Also Sidebottom will be an important part of the Champs Trophy. Even if England are crap at ODI cricket, they want to field their best team and give it a good crack. You never know.

I would drop Vaughan, Ambrose and Sidebottom for 3 new players. I don't know a hell of a lot about English players, but Shah would replace Vaughan and maybe Prior for Ambrose. Maybe Simon Jones for Sidebottom. But yeah, I don't know all the domestic performers.

 

[Stephen Bailey]

Yes, let's pick Adil Rashid, a 20 year old leggy who averages 36 with the ball (36 career average) and 20 with the bat this season (32 career). He may have talent and yes the final game may be a "dead rubber", but it's still a test match against what is possibly the best side around right now. Rashid has a long, long way to go before he should be considered for England.