South Africa in England
- Thread starter Sureshot
- Start date
m_vaughan
Chairman of Selectors
Yes but they did make it difficult.
RoboRocks
Chairman of Selectors
England's batting is fragile to say the least and it needs to tighten up. There will be pressure situations in India with a packed house in the grounds cheering for the home team, with Kumble and Harbhajan bowling on a wearing pitch.
Strauss is the one that concerns me since he hasn't looked convincing at all. He made runs against NZ, who aren't the greatest test side. I feel we need an opener who is going to be more aggressive against the new ball like Trescothick was 3 years ago. Rob Key would be the ideal replacement experience wise.
Ambrose has to go as keeper. Personally I would look at Davies or Foster, who are good and exceptional keepers respectively. We shouldn't have Prior, who's keeping, isn't up to standard at test level.
I think in the batting line-up I would like to see Pietersen at three since he is the key player for England and is going to be a captain who leads by example and captains who do that bat higher in the order. Plus Bell hasn't go a Test century at 3 and is clearly happier in the middle order so Iw uld move him down one.
The bowlers will be interesting. Do you play Harmison, your hit the deck bowler or Sidebottom, the swing bowler? I would probably go for Harmison just since we need someone to bowl quickly at the Indian batsmen with the new ball.
Broad will improve in time but not enough wickets to warrant a place in the side and I would choose the second spinner, which would be Swann duo to experience.
My side (selectors won't agree though):
Alastair Cook
Rob Key
Kevin Pietersen (c)
Ian Bell
Paul Collingwood
Andrew Flintoff
James Foster (wk)
Graeme Swann
Steve Harmison
Jimmy Anderson
Monty Panesar
Strauss is the one that concerns me since he hasn't looked convincing at all. He made runs against NZ, who aren't the greatest test side. I feel we need an opener who is going to be more aggressive against the new ball like Trescothick was 3 years ago. Rob Key would be the ideal replacement experience wise.
Ambrose has to go as keeper. Personally I would look at Davies or Foster, who are good and exceptional keepers respectively. We shouldn't have Prior, who's keeping, isn't up to standard at test level.
I think in the batting line-up I would like to see Pietersen at three since he is the key player for England and is going to be a captain who leads by example and captains who do that bat higher in the order. Plus Bell hasn't go a Test century at 3 and is clearly happier in the middle order so Iw uld move him down one.
The bowlers will be interesting. Do you play Harmison, your hit the deck bowler or Sidebottom, the swing bowler? I would probably go for Harmison just since we need someone to bowl quickly at the Indian batsmen with the new ball.
Broad will improve in time but not enough wickets to warrant a place in the side and I would choose the second spinner, which would be Swann duo to experience.
My side (selectors won't agree though):
Alastair Cook
Rob Key
Kevin Pietersen (c)
Ian Bell
Paul Collingwood
Andrew Flintoff
James Foster (wk)
Graeme Swann
Steve Harmison
Jimmy Anderson
Monty Panesar
I agree with you on Foster but I think that Key would be a step backwards. The batting is definitely fragile with only 4 specialists (one of whom is Strauss). I can see the temptation to play Broad on those grounds as a/ the experience will do him good b/ he can score runs down the order. I certainly wouldn't play Swann.
I think England's best side for me is:
Vaughan/Newman
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Foster
Broad
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar
I don't think Vaughan will tour which is a shame as, for me, he is still one of the most technically gifted batsmen in the team. In which case I'd give his place to Scott Newman (!) who I reckon is due a shot at test cricket (and before everyone laughs I was tipping Ambrose and Prior to do so way before they got into the side). One spinner in the side, as I said before, and Broad rather than Hoggy or Siders to strengthen the batting since all three are going to be pretty poor on Indian pitches.
I think England's best side for me is:
Vaughan/Newman
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Foster
Broad
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar
I don't think Vaughan will tour which is a shame as, for me, he is still one of the most technically gifted batsmen in the team. In which case I'd give his place to Scott Newman (!) who I reckon is due a shot at test cricket (and before everyone laughs I was tipping Ambrose and Prior to do so way before they got into the side). One spinner in the side, as I said before, and Broad rather than Hoggy or Siders to strengthen the batting since all three are going to be pretty poor on Indian pitches.
Simbazz
Chairman of Selectors
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2005
- Online Cricket Games Owned
I'd take a replacement for Colly and Broad, but apart from that, i'd stick with the side Colin posted.
Except for the opening position. I'd like Strauss in the side, because if he's on form, he can play spin well, if not, throw Shah into the No.3 spot, and have Bellio opening with Cook. They'd contrast each other well, rather like Tresco and Strauss.
Except for the opening position. I'd like Strauss in the side, because if he's on form, he can play spin well, if not, throw Shah into the No.3 spot, and have Bellio opening with Cook. They'd contrast each other well, rather like Tresco and Strauss.
Highlander999
ICC President
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2006
- Location
- London
You see I disagree with Colin's batting line-up but Rob's bowling line-up. I do think if Prior performs well in the ODIs he should be given a chance again. This is how I feel the XI in India should look:
Key
Cook
KP
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior (wk)
Broad
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar
Key
Cook
KP
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior (wk)
Broad
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar
Simbazz
Chairman of Selectors
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2005
- Online Cricket Games Owned
Actually, Am i the only one who is suspect about Harmison. One good game does not make an International grade player!
My side would be,
Strauss
Cook
Bell
KP
Colly
Shah
Prior/Foster
Flintoff
Sidey/Broad
Anderson
Panesar,
Or if you wanted the extra bowler, which has worked well,
Strauss,
Cook,
Bell,
KP,
Colly,
Flintoff,
Prior/Foster
Broad, (I'd take Swann, he's the best we've got in a spinner who can bat)
Sidey,
Anderson,
Panesar.
My side would be,
Strauss
Cook
Bell
KP
Colly
Shah
Prior/Foster
Flintoff
Sidey/Broad
Anderson
Panesar,
Or if you wanted the extra bowler, which has worked well,
Strauss,
Cook,
Bell,
KP,
Colly,
Flintoff,
Prior/Foster
Broad, (I'd take Swann, he's the best we've got in a spinner who can bat)
Sidey,
Anderson,
Panesar.
Highlander999
ICC President
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2006
- Location
- London
I think your XI at the top would struggle to take 20 wickets on an Indian pitch. The bottom one does look slightly better. I'll admit I was not too sure about Harmison and I know one match doesn't prove anything but he does look a changed man
Simbazz
Chairman of Selectors
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2005
- Online Cricket Games Owned
He might be ok with Flintoff in the side. But he doesn't do touring, and I think Sidey would find that swing early on, and late on. He'd be most probably ineffective in the day BUT saying that, he keeps it tight usually.
My big worry is Rahul Dravid, these bowlers make batsmen play at shots to get thier wickets, Dravid doesn't play, he sits on his arse and bores his way to a century, so mistakes will be few and far between.
My big worry is Rahul Dravid, these bowlers make batsmen play at shots to get thier wickets, Dravid doesn't play, he sits on his arse and bores his way to a century, so mistakes will be few and far between.
evertonfan
Chairman of Selectors
Paul Horton to open. He's the answer to England's problems and he's been one of the best openers in the country over the last two years. I'd imagine Matt Prior will be the wicket keeper for India unless we get another selectors wildcard pick and they go for some unkown Victorian again.
Horton
Cook
Shah
Our Kev
Collingwood
Prior/Foster
Flintoff
Broad
Harmison
Our Jim
Panesar
I do think Monty needs to start pulling his weight though. His fielding and batting standards have dipped over the least year and his bowling hasn't improved as much as i'd i've liked since his debut in 06. He needs to develop a ball that goes the other way and he is very fortunate that there's no other spinner to fight him for his place. Barring maybe Swann, but I don't think he's quite what we need at Test level.
Are there any good Victorian spinners?
Horton
Cook
Shah
Our Kev
Collingwood
Prior/Foster
Flintoff
Broad
Harmison
Our Jim
Panesar
I do think Monty needs to start pulling his weight though. His fielding and batting standards have dipped over the least year and his bowling hasn't improved as much as i'd i've liked since his debut in 06. He needs to develop a ball that goes the other way and he is very fortunate that there's no other spinner to fight him for his place. Barring maybe Swann, but I don't think he's quite what we need at Test level.
Are there any good Victorian spinners?
Last edited:
evertonfan
Chairman of Selectors
I'm still convinced that Strauss has been found out at Test level now. He was never that good at playing spin anyway.
