The England Thread

[Perm]

Gbh?

 

[PY]

Used to be Grevious Bodily Harmison but that nickname is out-of-date as he couldn't harm a fly at the moment.

 

[Prince EWS]

I feel Bell's best position for the meantime is #6. He has done well their in the past, most notably against Pakistan last year and won't find the pressure as great compared to if he was coming in at 0/1 in the first over. In the future I think he'll develop into a #3 batsman, but not just at the moment. If England play 6 batsman then I would put Collingwood at #4, but if they weren't playing that many and Flintoff was at #6 then I would drop Colly down one and move Pietersen.

I'd probably bat Bell at 4 before I would Collingwood, to be honest. Collingwood is a gutsy player but I fell Bell is more of a top order player. The downside to that is the fact that Collingwood is completely dire when batting with the tail.

 

[Perm]

Used to be Grevious Bodily Harmison but that nickname is out-of-date as he couldn't harm a fly at the moment.

I see then, he did have a good game first up in the County Championship but at Test level he has been pretty poor for a while, apart from the odd spurt.

 

[Perm]

I'd probably bat Bell at 4 before I would Collingwood, to be honest. Collingwood is a gutsy player but I fell Bell is more of a top order player. The downside to that is the fact that Collingwood is completely dire when batting with the tail.

If it was a straight choice between Bell and Collingwood at #4 then I would choose Bell almost every time, however since the other batting spot available is #6 then you have to decide who is going to be better for the team. While Bell would be slightly better at #4 than Collingwood, he's a hell of a lot better #6 than Collingwood would be/is.

 

[simmy]

If it was a straight choice between Bell and Collingwood at #4 then I would choose Bell almost every time, however since the other batting spot available is #6 then you have to decide who is going to be better for the team. While Bell would be slightly better at #4 than Collingwood, he's a hell of a lot better #6 than Collingwood would be/is.

I would choose Bell. He has talented and this should be embraced. He has batted very well at test level (bar one series) and dropping him would be harsh.

Anyway... I very much doubt Tresco is coming but so this is neither here nor there.

How is Simon Jones? aka our best bowler...

 

[Perm]

I would choose Bell. He has talented and this should be embraced. He has batted very well at test level (bar one series) and dropping him would be harsh.

Anyway... I very much doubt Tresco is coming but so this is neither here nor there.

How is Simon Jones? aka our best bowler...

He was supposed to be making a full comeback for Glamorgan, but he didn't play for them in the latest round of cricket.

 

[marc71178]

If it was a straight choice between Bell and Collingwood at #4 then I would choose Bell almost every time, however since the other batting spot available is #6 then you have to decide who is going to be better for the team. While Bell would be slightly better at #4 than Collingwood, he's a hell of a lot better #6 than Collingwood would be/is.

What's wrong with Bell at 4 and Collingwood at 6 though?

With the batsmen at our disposal I don't see why we can't play 6 plus Flintoff, a keeper and 3 bowlers.

 

[Perm]

What's wrong with Bell at 4 and Collingwood at 6 though?

With the batsmen at our disposal I don't see why we can't play 6 plus Flintoff, a keeper and 3 bowlers.

Because Bell is a far better #6 than Collingwood, while he would only be marginally better at #4. Therefore, to do what is best for the team Collingwood should play a #4 and Bell should be at #6, that's the way I see it.

 

[STRAIGHT BREAKS]

How is Simon Jones? aka our best bowler...after Flintoff, Hoggard and maybe even Panesar

Fixed.

 

[Perm]

Fixed.

I would rate Jones above Panesar. It's difficult to judge him accurately because Jones has played so little Test cricket and quite obviously has immense talent, just a shame he's had so many injuries really.

 

[Richard]

If Jones bowls as he did in 2005, he > Hoggard and possibly Flintoff and certainly Panesar on a non-turning pitch.

If, however, he doesn't, he may be < all of them.

 

[Richard]

Fifth in the WC then.

Not to bad considering, we're not that good at ODIs.

Might well have been worse had not Bangladesh and Ireland beaten India and Pakistan, though.

 

[simmy]

I would rate Jones above Panesar. It's difficult to judge him accurately because Jones has played so little Test cricket and quite obviously has immense talent, just a shame he's had so many injuries really.

Yeah, England have missed him massively.

Here's hoping he is back in the reckoning for this Summer.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Because Bell is a far better #6 than Collingwood, while he would only be marginally better at #4. Therefore, to do what is best for the team Collingwood should play a #4 and Bell should be at #6, that's the way I see it.

Bell is only better than Collingwood when up against rubbish bowling and under no pressure. Generally Collingwood > Bell.

 

[marc71178]

As shown by this World Cup quite clearly.

I distinctly remember that fine knock from Collingwood against Australia when England were 2 down very early on, especially in tandem with Bell not making it past 31 against any Test-playing nation...

 

[Scaly piscine]

As shown by this World Cup quite clearly.

I distinctly remember that fine knock from Collingwood against Australia when England were 2 down very early on, especially in tandem with Bell not making it past 31 against any Test-playing nation...

You mean where he got to 77, had the opportunity to do something that would make sure England would win/post a big total by going on like Collingwood does, but instead got out as Bell always does?

 

[marc71178]

77, as in 2 and a half times what Collingwood's best against proper nations you mean?

Unless of course you think that the Australian bowling attack is the worst, and it's the Canadians that really matter?

 

[Richard]

No, no, it's clearly the Irish.

 

[FBU]

The way to the finals -

Pick -

a left arm swing bowler
a very fast right arm slingy type bowler
a mystery spinner
a tall economic right hand bowler

an attacking left handed opening batsman
a captain that leads by example

Unfortunately we couldn't even find one of these but both Australia and Sri Lanka have all of them.