Anno domini, I suppose - at the risk of slipping into blindingly obvious mode, he's not getting any younger.Yes, it would be strange to see two reliable bowlers in tandem for England.
Will Hoggard stay fit for the duration of the 3 tests though?
After seeming like Captain Scarlet for 5 years, he now seems to resemble Mr Bump!
Yes, it would be strange to see two reliable bowlers in tandem for England.
Will Hoggard stay fit for the duration of the 3 tests though?
After seeming like Captain Scarlet for 5 years, he now seems to resemble Mr Bump!
David's post corrected.Anno domini, I suppose - at the risk of slipping into blindingly obvious mode, he's not getting any younger.
To think that a couple of years ago, we were celebrating the best batch of English bowlers since the late 1970's (or as some would have had us believe, since the 1950's). Right now, with H & H increasingly injury prone, Jones gone, Fred rarely available and the youngsters looking horrible, we're actually looking at the worst I've seen at any time apart from the late 1980's. Depressing times.
Thats because the radio hosts and their merry band of "knock the winers" syndrome have been let loose atm. We should never have won the series apparently and someone that rang up to defend the Black Caps got shouted down and told not to drink in the mornings. Our talkback radio is so dire.Whats Papps doing in FC? No one talks about him anymore
Does he seem to have a chance to make the team?Thats because the radio hosts and their merry band of "knock the winers" syndrome have been let loose atm. We should never have won the series apparently and someone that rang up to defend the Black Caps got shouted down and told not to drink in the mornings. Our talkback radio is so dire.
Papps has being doing well in List A, FC is just starting up again shortly so we'll know then.
Doubt it, after his failure in SA the public want him flayed alive.Does he seem to have a chance to make the team?
And Tremlett has been called into the squad... for the warm-up matches... after Harmison found some twinge or other.Who are the replacements if the English attack gets injured again? Anderson would be one, Broad another, Swann for Panesar if MSP gets injured?
As I've gone through more than once, the two sides' attacks are remarkably similar: the potentially best bowler (Bond and Flintoff) is gone, perhaps forever; in Hoggard and Franklin there are two good, but recently injury-prone, long-form (and crap at OD) performers; in Sidebottom and Mills, there are two seamers who've recently started their Test careers late and confounded all expectations; in Martin and Harmison two distinctly average bowlers who bowl above themselves more often than they should; and in MSP and Vettori two excellent left-arm fingerspinners. And two tall, naturally-short-in-length bowlers who bat left-handed (one rather better than the other) right-arm seamers who need something in the pitch to be effective, Oram and Broad. Even two wholly average (in the longer form, despite their reasonable one-day credentials) right-arm fingerspinners, Patel and Swann. Even stretches to Mason and Tremlett, two decent, very tall right-armers who've been very unfortunate to miss-out.Another topic I want to get onto is the pitches: How should we prepare them? If we take seam bowling out of the equation therefore negating the Hoggard/Sidebottom threat to our top order then Chris Martin and Kyle Mills will struggle, prepare some lower, slower ones so the likes of Vettori, Patel, Oram, Mills (slowish bowler and as proved in the last ODI, can bowl on slowish pitches effectively) and even bring Ryder into the equation with his dibbly dobblys. It'll make Panesar very dangerous but Harmison and Sidebottom will struggle and Hoggard, whilst still accurate, will have a bit of sting taken out of him. Also the English historically struggle against spin whilst Fleming, the man we need to fire, revels in it.
Don't worry, he doesn't hit form over a whole series often, or indeed a whole game terribly often. One of only 2 occasions he did previously was against... yes, New Zealand.If Harmison actualy hits form this series I'll be furious.
And Tremlett has been called into the squad... for the warm-up matches... after Harmison found some twinge or other.
As I've gone through more than once, the two sides' attacks are remarkably similar: the potentially best bowler (Bond and Flintoff) is gone, perhaps forever; in Hoggard and Franklin there are two good, but recently injury-prone, long-form (and crap at OD) performers; in Sidebottom and Mills, there are two seamers who've recently started their Test careers late and confounded all expectations; in Martin and Harmison two distinctly average bowlers who bowl above themselves more often than they should; and in MSP and Vettori two excellent left-arm fingerspinners. And two tall, naturally-short-in-length bowlers who bat left-handed (one rather better than the other) right-arm seamers who need something in the pitch to be effective, Oram and Broad. Even two wholly average (in the longer form, despite their reasonable one-day credentials) right-arm fingerspinners, Patel and Swann. Even stretches to Mason and Tremlett, two decent, very tall right-armers who've been very unfortunate to miss-out.
QUOTE]
Good analysis that. When you break it down there isn't really much of gap between the bowling attacks especially if you add Franklin into the mix. England definately have the stronger batting lineup which is why the will quite rightly start as solid favourites.
73 posts/match you're interested in, RichDicko 366
Flem 107
KN 102
SP 1
Disagree. He had a rough series in South Africa but it was only his first series and its a difficult place to start. He has shown application in his odi centuries and is a genuine talent. He should be on the plane to England imo(as it doesnt look like he will be selected for the first test at least here). Perhaps over the next few series, I hope the test middle order will eventually get to Vincent/Fulton, Taylor, Ryder, and Oram at six. I do hope Fulton does well in this series.(I don't care what Crowe thinks, Taylor is no test player)
Ross Taylor PositivesDisagree. He had a rough series in South Africa but it was only his first series and its a difficult place to start. He has shown application in his odi centuries and is a genuine talent. He should be on the plane to England imo(as it doesnt look like he will be selected for the first test at least here). Perhaps over the next few series, I hope the test middle order will eventually get to Vincent/Fulton, Taylor, Ryder, and Oram at six. I do hope Fulton does well in this series.
Isn't Franklin injured for the series? read something about him hoping to be fit for the tour of England.As I've gone through more than once, the two sides' attacks are remarkably similar: the potentially best bowler (Bond and Flintoff) is gone, perhaps forever; in Hoggard and Franklin there are two good, but recently injury-prone, long-form (and crap at OD) performers; in Sidebottom and Mills, there are two seamers who've recently started their Test careers late and confounded all expectations; in Martin and Harmison two distinctly average bowlers who bowl above themselves more often than they should; and in MSP and Vettori two excellent left-arm fingerspinners. And two tall, naturally-short-in-length bowlers who bat left-handed (one rather better than the other) right-arm seamers who need something in the pitch to be effective, Oram and Broad. Even two wholly average (in the longer form, despite their reasonable one-day credentials) right-arm fingerspinners, Patel and Swann. Even stretches to Mason and Tremlett, two decent, very tall right-armers who've been very unfortunate to miss-out.
Someone shoot Matt Gunn please FFS!!!Thats because the radio hosts and their merry band of "knock the winers" syndrome have been let loose atm. We should never have won the series apparently and someone that rang up to defend the Black Caps got shouted down and told not to drink in the mornings. Our talkback radio is so dire.
Papps has being doing well in List A, FC is just starting up again shortly so we'll know then.
1. His domestic record is fairly good compared to other FC batsmen we have. We have, what, maybe 3 - 4 established players who average over 40 (Sinclair, Fleming, Fulton and Harris) and not many average 36-40. A fair amount average 28-32.Ross Taylor Negatives
-Domestic average of 36 is fairly average compared to other FC batsmen we have, suspect it would drop considerably if his double century is taken out.
-still quite rusty around the edges in terms of technique. He is still developing as a cricketer.
-His best FC position is number five, that spot is taken by Jesse Ryder
-If he were to move up the order we would have to leave out one of Fulton, Flemng, Sinclair who are all better at 3-4 in FC matches than Taylor. Not to mention Hay, Todd, Nicol are better at 3-4 as well.
I just don't think he is ready yet I'm afraid.