West Indies in England

[barmyarmy]

England selectors need to go... they dont have the balls to make the big descions

One's only just arrived. One's only just come back from injury and become involved with selections again and that only leaves one more.
Plus in that time they've brought in Prior and Sidebottom which some might describe as big decisions...

 

[Griffo]

well harmison is not proving his worth he is costing england but yet they stick with him even though he isnt confident in himself. Sidebottom was only brought in because of injury and Prior a process of elimination where they have tryed Nixon Foster Read

 

[barmyarmy]

well harmison is not proving his worth he is costing england but yet they stick with him even though he isnt confident in himself. Sidebottom was only brought in because of injury and Prior a process of elimination where they have tryed Nixon Foster Read

Sidebottom was on no-ones potential list when they brought him in. Prior was a leap in the dark too - most people expected someone like Foster (who hasn't played for England since 2002) to be given another shot.
It would have been stupid to drop Harmison before an Old Trafford test because this is the kind of pitch he performs best on. Also if you look at his wickets, however badly he's bowling he's still producing wicket balls.
With Jones, Hoggard, Flintoff, Broad, Lewis, Tremlett all injured and Anderson as inconsistent as Harmison it isn't quite clear who the selectors are supposed to bring in if they drop Harmison and Plunkett.
Personally I'd drop Plunkett and bring in Onions (unless Hoggard is fit). Otherwise we're going to end up with an attack as predictable as the Windies one - all swing bowlers who can't scare a batsman with their pace or get seam movement when it's not swinging.
Just imagine an attack comprised of Hoggard, Sidebottom, Anderson, and Onions on a flat track.
We've got to keep Harmison, drop Plunkett and pray that Allan Donald knows what he's doing.

 

[Griffo]

But Donald only has a 4 week contract

 

[barmyarmy]

But Donald only has a 4 week contract

Hence the praying.

 

[Griffo]

Prior was always the best choice I dont undertand why the others were even considered. Ive had that opinion for a relatively long time now. His ability with the gloves is good and he can break a match open in an instant

 

[Skater]

James Foster for England!

That is a catch! Unlucky for Vaughan, he's been playing like his old self since he came back.

 

[JackPKDennison]

Hence the praying.

If Moores thought that bringing in Donald would solve things on such a short term basis he is very wrong. England need the new Cooley and someone long term to solve the problems because and of our pace bowlers and by pace I mean real speed have problems with radar even Mahmood and Anderson aren't the srtictist in line and length. At least one out of Harminson and Plunkett must be dropped for the next game to do something for Durham.

 

[Griffo]

but Harmison tore up the county scene and thats why he was chosen

 

[angryangy]

James Foster for England!

That is a catch! Unlucky for Vaughan, he's been playing like his old self since he came back.

Sure, 41 & 40; the media will be hailing his brilliant form.

 

[Simbazz]

The thing is about Steve Harmison is he needs a firm, stable mentor. Warne had Jennings, Steve had Troy...but obviously hes gone.

Watching analysis of Harmison his arm is cocking to the left, which is working against his wrist. His fingers are letting the ball go slightly right, wereas his wrist wants it to pull right so the ball will go anywhere but straight. The thing AD will have to do is to get Steve bowling up there in the 90's but keeping it straight. AD does know what hes doing, else he wouldnt be there, and the joy having him in the set up is immense if he can help Harmison. The most worrying this is not Harmison, but the fact Englands "pack," are nothing on the 2005 bunch, they were feared, S.Jones bowling was fierce and didnt care, he chucked the ball towards the stumps and it hit Hayden, he didnt care. Hoggard and Harmison were the equivalent of Langer/Hayden they picked up wickets on any track, God, even Ashley Giles was feared. And backed up by Flintoff it was amazingly good.

Now look at the team, Harmison spraying the ball from Liverpool to Birmingham, Plunkett getting a bit of swing but not hitting the right areas. Sidebottom - argueably the best guy out there. Panesar - much better than Ashley Giles, no complaints, but needs some back up from Harmison - last summer didnt Harmy - Monty combine to take something like 16 wickets between them?

I'd say, injuries and illnesses aside the team England need is;

Trescothick (Season form is absolutly staggering)
Cook (Seems to hit a 50 or more every innings)
Vaughan (Giving us glimpses of his former self)
KP (Needs to be at 4 ahead of Colly n Bell! Can make 100/2 to 200/2 in no time)
Colly/Bell (Its a decision for the selectors) (If its cloudy and swinging, Colly, if not, Bell)
Flintoff (Do i need to say anything?)
Prior (Best test WK - keep Nixon for ODI)
Harmison (If 100% can make batsmen so scared, its unbelievable)
S.Jones (Master of swing, bounce, quick and simple, hes Welsh, it has to be simple)
Hoggard (Swingster, opens and knows what hes doing)
Panesar (Well hes been in International for a year and a bit, and hes on of the best SLA around)

Harmison has a slot in there, if he cant do it, let Jones open, and put in Sidebottom!

 

[Griffo]

god i would love you to find a way to keep collingwood and bell both in the side

 

[Simbazz]

god i would love you to find a way to keep collingwood and bell both in the side

Ask the ICC to make it a 12 player game?

 

[angryangy]

Colly/Bell (Its a decision for the selectors)

It's a no brainer to keep both the team's two best fielders by some margin and the two most dependable batsmen. It's a fine line between a team that takes superb reflex catches and a team like the Windies, who can't even ground field let alone catch.

 

[Griffo]

but who goes to keep them both? strauss and vaughan opens?