***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Richard]

Well i didnt say it was fact, but that is what he himself said. Surely he knows his own game better than anyone. The same could be said for Wright, but they still deserve a chance. Its not like we have a locked down ODI side is it?

It'd be more believeable if 50 people didn't say it every time they had some sort of increased success-rate. Wright might end-up a good player (though I'm certainly not sure about him right now), but Mustard doesn't deserve a chance, not as much as at least a couple of others.

As for Read, he looked woeful when he last played for England, couldnt even rotate the strike he was struggling to get bat on ball that much. He's no better than what Prior can do imo.

Read has scored a few, which is more than Prior's ever done. So he failed to rotate the strike in 3 innings - big wow! He's done it before without great difficulty, and we all know he can hit a ball - plenty.

 

[Woodster]

For the ODI's I'd like to see this team...

Alastair Cook
Andrew Flintoff
Ian Bell
Kevin Pietersen
Paul Collingwood
Ravi Bopara
Matt Prior
Dmitri Masceranhas
Graeme Swann
Stuart Broad
James Anderson

Great batting depth and I'm starting to think seriously about Flintoff opening.

Yes I have dismissed claims in the past about Flintoff opening, now I'm also coming round to the idea. Think he can be effective in this role.

 

[Pup Clarke]

I'm just thinking he's gonna he sooooooo bogged down by the likes of Murali, Bandara, Jayasuriya etc that there's no point batting him 6 or 7, he's never, ever been a great rotater of the strike and is pretty clueless when it comes to facing cunning spinners.

 

[Richard]

I agree with your points on the keepers, too soon for Davies, haven't seen that much of him, but from reading up on him it does seem a matter of when not if, he plays for England. Just not yet.

Ambrose, as you correctly say, imo, not just on one good season. Would be sceptical about whether Pothas would be the right choice, and I am a fan of Foster. If the Essex keeper would have had a better season with the bat, think this would be a straightforward choice.

I'm still giving Prior the benefit of the doubt at the minute, regarding ODI's. Prior as an opener ? Not 100% convinced, but all will be forgiven if he blazes a hundred tomorrow.

He should certainly play tomorrow, as should Cook. Once you've played 9 games out of 10 it doesn't make much sense to change in the last one. Full credit to the selectors so far for being constant with the opening partnership - but once a convincing summer-long failure happens, change and stay with that change. Sadly, so far Cook hasn't performed either.

However, if he (Prior) doesn't do anything much I'd be in favour of dropping him, from ODIs, for the Lanka series. He's never done much in domestic cricket (except in 2004 and 2005) and shouldn't ever have been anywhere near the ODI side ITFP IMO. Either bring back Foster or bring back Read. (Though TBH I haven't followed Foster in OD this season, and if he's averaging 20, Read alone is the logical choice)

 

[Perm]

Yes I have dismissed claims in the past about Flintoff opening, now I'm also coming round to the idea. Think he can be effective in this role.

He's terrible against the moving ball, really there isn't a place for him in the ODI side at the current point in time, not until his injury concerns clear up.

 

[Richard]

I'm just thinking he's gonna he sooooooo bogged down by the likes of Murali, Bandara, Jayasuriya etc that there's no point batting him 6 or 7, he's never, ever been a great rotater of the strike and is pretty clueless when it comes to facing cunning spinners.

TBH I don't see him lasting long against Vaas and Maaaalinga either.

I think it's maybe time we just faced facts: Andrew Flintoff is not really a very good batsman. I thought this back in 2002, I changed my mind in 2004 and 2005, and now I've changed it back. Terrific bowler, but any runs from him is a bonus. Bat him seven and be done with it IMO.

EDIT: and as Ritchie said, until injury concerns look like abating - don't even touch it.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Nah, he'll do worse at number 7 than opening imo, have always thought that he loves pace on the ball and this will be provided by Malinga and Fernando who will bowl bad deliveries.

 

[Richard]

Assuming Maaalinga will bowl bad deliveries is presumptious, and I'm seriously hoping Fernando won't play, as ever.

 

[Perm]

Either bring back Foster or bring back Read. (Though TBH I haven't followed Foster in OD this season, and if he's averaging 20, Read alone is the logical choice)

Foster is averaging 27 with a strike rate of 86, decent stats for a wicket-keeper, but the case is more compelling for Read if you judge by domestic runs alone.

 

[Perm]

Nah, he'll do worse at number 7 than opening imo, have always thought that he loves pace on the ball and this will be provided by Malinga and Fernando who will bowl bad deliveries.

Fernando will definitely bowl bad balls, and plenty of them, but the fact of the matter is Flintoff doesn't have the technique to bat against pace bowlers, especially one of Malinga's class in ODI Cricket.

 

[Richard]

Foster is averaging 27 with a strike rate of 86, decent stats for a wicket-keeper, but the case is more compelling for Read if you judge by domestic runs alone.

Until we have something better to judge by, I'm happy to go with Read. The cases of Foster (back in 2001\02), Jones, Prior, etc. demonstrate all too well what happens when you think you're a better judge of the game than the game itself.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Assuming Maaalinga will bowl bad deliveries is presumptious

He will, he's not the kind of bowler to do otherwise.

 

[Richard]

I've seen him bowl with good accuracy plenty often enough.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Yeah well sometimes he does but really he offers a 4 ball every over.

 

[Perm]

Every, and I mean every bowler will bowl bad balls. It's the frequency that will be of more concern, and Malinga has had days when his radar is off, particularly the start of the innings, only to come back and mop up with his splendid yorkers.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Thing is Flintoff won't be their at the end of the innings if opening so will miss all of those yorkers that he bowls.

 

[Woodster]

So, Flintoff can't play the moving ball, can't deal with cunning spinners, on this basis where the heck can you bat him?
I don't fully agree with suggestions that Flintoff is not a decent bat, and I know his stats do not exactly support my case recently, but I think he is more than capable with the bat, a big score and some renewed confidence and he will become more consistent.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Flintoff has even struggled against Ramnaresh Sarwan's leg spin in recent times.

 

[Woodster]

Flintoff has even struggled against Ramnaresh Sarwan's leg spin in recent times.

I'm sure most batsmen have had their moments against lesser recognised bowlers. Dravid - Shah.

 

[Perm]

Thing is Flintoff won't be their at the end of the innings if opening so will miss all of those yorkers that he bowls.

He also won't be there for very long at the start of the innings after nicking out.