Were we watching the same game?
I dread to think where the ball might end up with an England attack comprising of Harmison, Plunkett and Anderson...
On the other hand I hear that SiJo is on the comeback trail yet again...
West Indies in England
- Thread starter andrew_nixon
- Start date
Were we watching the same game?
I dread to think where the ball might end up with an England attack comprising of Harmison, Plunkett and Anderson...
On the other hand I hear that SiJo is on the comeback trail yet again...
All 19 overs of it...
It seems that Harmison bowls some deliveries ok if he bowls from the Nursery End and round the wicket. I think 0 wickets in the second innings speaks for itself and 3 between them in the whole match.
evertonfan
Chairman of Selectors
I'm willing to put up with Harmison until the Old Trafford Test at least. If he can't bowl well on that pitch then he can't bowl well anywhere.
evertonfan
Chairman of Selectors
He only took two wickets in the Old Trafford Test in the Ashes!
He was outstanding there against Pakistan last year though.
He was outstanding there against Pakistan last year though.
I personally don't think Harmisons attitude is up to it. But with Hoggard, Flintoff and SiJo out we have little experience. There will come a point when he has to take wickets and it probably has to be in this series (Ie, if he ends up averaging 70 odd). A draw but we were the better team imo, lacked penetration in the bowling - bar Monty - Plunkett improved but still needs some improvement on his accuracy.
England ratings:
Cook - Got the man of the match award (CricInfo) and he did really well, 9/10.
Strauss - His captaincy lacked urgency but perhaps that was due to being a bowler down. His batting was okay but he could be a fall guy for if Vaughan and Fred return. 6/10
Shah - Only 10 runs, his fielding was better than what it normally is. Didn't look comfortable and looked nervous. 2/10
KP - Excellent second innings hundred, including some excellent attacking play. 8/10
Collingwood - Mr Consistency, two important innings, good catch and 11 good overs including wicket of Bravo 9/10
Bell - Another hundred batting at 6 (his best position?), nothing in the second innings and looked out of depth when we looked to press on. 8/10
Prior - No faults at all, excellent behind the stumps - and he sure got tested - wonderful 126* from 128 balls in the first innings and a good cameo of 21 from 9 balls in the 2nd innings. 9.5/10 (
)
Plunkett - Didn't see much of his batting, silly looking dismissal in the 2nd innings. His bowling seemed to improve towards the end of spells, still needs to work, but I think there is something to work on. 6/10
Harmison - Wayward but did gradually improve, this summer will define his career, if he fails he might just lose it mentally (ie Test retirement) 3/10
Hoggard - Only bowled 10 overs, a little off colour, almost certainly out of the Headingley test match which is a blow to us. Hard to rate him, 5/10
Panesar - The pick of the bowlers by a country mile, his fielding was good too, no howlers and I think only 2 misfields. Would've liked to have seen him bowl 30 overs today on a sunny day but it wasn't to be. 9/10
So overall a decent performance, certainly from a batting perspective, the bowling needs work on it though.
What'll happen on Friday? Well we get the squad tomorrow which will be a big help obviously. Can we risk Flintoff?
My team:
Cook
Strauss
Vaughan
KP
Colly
Bell
Prior
Plunkett
Harmison
Panesar
Anderson
England ratings:
Cook - Got the man of the match award (CricInfo) and he did really well, 9/10.
Strauss - His captaincy lacked urgency but perhaps that was due to being a bowler down. His batting was okay but he could be a fall guy for if Vaughan and Fred return. 6/10
Shah - Only 10 runs, his fielding was better than what it normally is. Didn't look comfortable and looked nervous. 2/10
KP - Excellent second innings hundred, including some excellent attacking play. 8/10
Collingwood - Mr Consistency, two important innings, good catch and 11 good overs including wicket of Bravo 9/10
Bell - Another hundred batting at 6 (his best position?), nothing in the second innings and looked out of depth when we looked to press on. 8/10
Prior - No faults at all, excellent behind the stumps - and he sure got tested - wonderful 126* from 128 balls in the first innings and a good cameo of 21 from 9 balls in the 2nd innings. 9.5/10 (
)Plunkett - Didn't see much of his batting, silly looking dismissal in the 2nd innings. His bowling seemed to improve towards the end of spells, still needs to work, but I think there is something to work on. 6/10
Harmison - Wayward but did gradually improve, this summer will define his career, if he fails he might just lose it mentally (ie Test retirement) 3/10
Hoggard - Only bowled 10 overs, a little off colour, almost certainly out of the Headingley test match which is a blow to us. Hard to rate him, 5/10
Panesar - The pick of the bowlers by a country mile, his fielding was good too, no howlers and I think only 2 misfields. Would've liked to have seen him bowl 30 overs today on a sunny day but it wasn't to be. 9/10
So overall a decent performance, certainly from a batting perspective, the bowling needs work on it though.
What'll happen on Friday? Well we get the squad tomorrow which will be a big help obviously. Can we risk Flintoff?
My team:
Cook
Strauss
Vaughan
KP
Colly
Bell
Prior
Plunkett
Harmison
Panesar
Anderson
evertonfan
Chairman of Selectors
I would have given Prior the MOTM to be honest. His keeping was flawless and let's face it, he had a bloody hard task against Harmison and Plunkett.
wolf
International Cricketer
Pity he is injured then...
evertonfan
Chairman of Selectors
It's also a pity that he's completely out of his depth at Test level...
Anderson in for Hoggard; Simple enough.
Anderson in for Hoggard; Simple enough.
evertonfan
Chairman of Selectors
Second spinner eh? Keedy is in electric form at present. Or we could 'Do a Schofield' and call Rashid up.
