Hoggard, Simon Jones(if fit)/Stuart Broad,James Anderson,FlintoffAfter a winter of awful seam bowling, and with some bowlers making a comeback who should be in the England pace attack for the First Test?
Normally I'd agree, but considering he wanted to poll it, it's not like he could have just posted it in the tour thread.Don't think we need a separate thread for this.
Yeah I was thinking the same after I posted. It is fair enough.Normally I'd agree, but considering he wanted to poll it, it's not like he could have just posted it in the tour thread.
Harmison who contributes as much as Hoggard, but gets a ridiculous amount of stick. Suggesting Anderson in particular to play ahead of him is somewhat moronic.Should be Flintoff, Jones, Hoggard, Anderson/Broad.
Harmison is an embarassment who does not deserve to walk back in.
Spot the Durhamer.Harmison who contributes as much as Hoggard, but gets a ridiculous amount of stick. Suggesting Anderson in particular to play ahead of him is somewhat moronic.
Look at their Test records, despite Harmison being used as a workhorse and Hoggard just bowling when the new ball or conditions suit him.Spot the Durhamer.
No doubt that Harmison is a very good bowler when he's on song, but that only happens spazmodically. He has been completely dire for a while now, although he did have a good first Championship match. If he can keep up that sort of form in county cricket, I'd have no problem with him being picked for the first test, but at this stage I wouldn't have him there ahead of Jones, Hoggard or Panesar. Suggesting that Broad should be selected in front of him is indeed a bit much, but it's far from moronic to suggest that Anderson should be selected in front of him. A lot IMO will depend on early season to county form - lots of bowlers are in with some chance of getting that last place (or places, depending on the balance that ends up being opted for).Look at their Test records, despite Harmison being used as a workhorse and Hoggard just bowling when the new ball or conditions suit him.
The first Test is in 3-4 weeks not tomorrow. Harmison is typically much better when he's had the chance to get some proper rhythm going, which he will have for the first Test. Anderson's Test record is dire and the things that make him effective in ODIs aren't there for him in Tests.No doubt that Harmison is a very good bowler when he's on song, but that only happens spazmodically. He has been completely dire for a while now, although he did have a good first Championship match. If he can keep up that sort of form in county cricket, I'd have no problem with him being picked for the first test, but at this stage I wouldn't have him there ahead of Jones, Hoggard or Panesar. Suggesting that Broad should be selected in front of him is indeed a bit much, but it's far from moronic to suggest that Anderson should be selected in front of him. A lot IMO will depend on early season to county form - lots of bowlers are in with some chance of getting that last place (or places, depending on the balance that ends up being opted for).
Which is exactly why I said that early season county form would play a big part in selection. We can't really predict what will happen in that regard though, so at this stage, the best we can do is say who we'd have now, all things remaining equal. As I said, if Harmison keeps up his early season county form (which currently consists of one game), then I'd have no problems with his selection, but if I had to pick the team now, he wouldn't be in it.Scaly Piscine said:The first Test is in 3-4 weeks not tomorrow.
So swing and pace don't exist in tests? I'm a firm believer that Anderson will eventually be a good test bowler. I'm not saying he should be picked for the first test because there are better candidates at this stage, but there is no intrinsic reason to suggest that he can't be a good test bowler in time.Scaly Piscine said:Anderson's Test record is dire and the things that make him effective in ODIs aren't there for him in Tests.