Sri Lanka in England/Netherlands

[puddleduck]

Remember Taunton is a reasonably small ground and the pitch is often very good for batting so Blackwell normally finds runs reasonably easy to come by. Can struggle away from home, and especially in the international arena, where his lack of technique is exposed.

Also people who think of him as a big-hitter. Yes he can hit big, but he isn't the sort of player who normally goes out and likes to hit big straight away. Often plays himself in first, and then goes for it, upping his scoring rate drastically.

Also I agree that Monty is not yet better than Giles, but has the potential to be a better bowler. If Giles was fit, another year or two in County Cricket learning to vary his flight and spin would benefit Monty greatly. Allowing him to step into the side seamlessly once Gilo retires.

 

[Sureshot]

Btw, I'm not saying he's our best option for spin infact for Tests I wouldn't consider him.

But in ODIs he'd be my main spinner.

If he can do it so succesfully (in terms of conceding runs) in India he should do it most places. Plus his batting is classy.

Taunton has 55M boundaries iirc.

Mubarak fails vs a very weakened Sussex attack. Bodes well.

 

[icyman]

Taunton also has some bad memories for the Lankans
Rewind back to ICC World Cup 1999.

 

[evertonfan]

Just out of interest, how close is Giles to returning to full fitness? Will he miss the Pakistan series as well? I think he's England's best spin option by far, and he has played some vital knocks at number 8 in the past. Safe pair of hands as well.

 

[Sureshot]

Expected to be back for Warwicks mid June iirc.

Might be end of May.

He plays an important role in our succesful team, not the best English Spinner though.

 

[Englishandproud]

Yeah Monty is not better than Giles, but Giles is injured.

End of argument then, lol

He plays an important role in our succesful team, not the best English Spinner though.

Who is then ?

 

[andrew_nixon]

Who is then ?

English players who are better spin bowlers than Ashley Giles:

Robert Croft
Gary Keedy
Gareth Batty
Jason Brown
Monty Panesar
Shaun Udal

and more. When Vaughan can be bothered to bowl, he's a better spinner than Giles too.

 

[evertonfan]

That is a little bit harsh on Gilo, he is a lot better than you are giving him credit for.

 

[cricket doctor]

Gilo is just a lollypop bower,nothing else. He's hardly ever turned a cricket ball.

 

[evertonfan]

In all fairness, neither have any of the other spinners mentioned in this thread... not much anyway.

 

[andrew_nixon]

That is a little bit harsh on Gilo, he is a lot better than you are giving him credit for.

He is not a good spin bowler apart from in the mind of Duncan Fletcher, for whom batting ability is the primary factor when looking at a spinner. All the spin bowlers I mentioned above are far better spinners than Giles. They all bowl better in county cricket than Giles.

 

[wolf]

English players who are better spin bowlers than Ashley Giles:

Robert Croft
Gary Keedy
Gareth Batty
Jason Brown
Monty Panesar
Shaun Udal

and more. When Vaughan can be bothered to bowl, he's a better spinner than Giles too.

Please do not be silly. You obviouly did not watch the Ashes? Did you see that ball that bowled Martyn? Did you remember before the series the Aussies planned to slogg Giles around the park, but never did? And Vaughn is a decent part timer, but I don't think anyone in the world would seriouly consider him better than Giles.

Live on the King of Spain.

 

[andrew_nixon]

Please do not be silly. You obviouly did not watch the Ashes? Did you see that ball that bowled Martyn? Did you remember before the series the Aussies planned to slogg Giles around the park, but never did? And Vaughn is a decent part timer, but I don't think anyone in the world would seriouly consider him better than Giles.

Live on the King of Spain.

Ah yes, the Ashes, where Giles took just 10 wickets, at an average of almost 60. Great bowling performance that one!

 

[puddleduck]

So Giles is worse than all those is he? Explain why in the brief period of County Cricket he was able to play last year, he was the leading wicket taker in the country? He is a far better bowler than most of those mentioned. He does a job for England, and get's far too much stick from so called England fans. His worth to the team has been proven on more than enough occasions. As a player he is even further ahead of them due to his ability with the bat at 8 and the fact that he has a very safe pair of hands. Anyone suggesting Vaughan is a better spin bowler than Giles can immediately have their opinion ignored in my eyes*.

* this is not to say Vaughan can't turn the ball more than Giles, but he most certainly can't bowl the same sort of accuracy as Giles.

 

[evertonfan]

Not exactly sure of this but I think Giles is the 2nd leading wicket taker of english spinners with 140. Don't moan at me if this isn't right, cricinfo won't work!