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***Official*** South Africa in England

Should Freddy be included in team for the second Test?


  • Total voters
    44

superkingdave

Hall of Fame Member
Drop a bowler.

THh batting unit has just scored 600. Depth was important.

Dropping a batsman for a bowler gets rid of that depth and ****s with the balance.

If they do that they are ********.
Hey, i'm not saying what i'd do....just what i think the selectors would do
 

Scaly piscine

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
NOOOO! Was looking forward to that moment so much, feel bad for the lad. Still, an absolutely fantastic innings. If further proof were needed that Bell > Collingwood, there it is. I think we know who the man will be to depart if England decide to sacrifice a batsman for Flintoff (which they shouldn't).

Top innings by a top player, pretty confident he'll make 200 one day so I'm not too worried. Well done, son.
Because Collingwood never got a double century either did he... and it wasn't against a team that Bell would need an entire 5 match series against to score 200 runs against.

If you take out the free runs against Bangladesh Bell's record is basically the same as Collingwood's. When you factor in Bell boosts his record with soft runs and Colly's a better fielder and bowler then I know which player I'd prefer.
 

PhoenixFire

International Coach
Except Bell actually has a decent technique, unlike Collingwood, whos technique is pretty god damn awful TBH. In the long term, I know who is going to score more runs and it isn't Collingwood.
 

open365

International Vice-Captain
Fred shouldn't play in the second test, it's too soon for him and he needs to get more overs under his belt and hopefully learn to bat again before he's considered for the side. In the short term it may produce the best results (I'm doubtful of that even), but long term it is the wrong decision when you consider the injury problems he's had throughout his career.
 

SpaceMonkey

International Debutant
Fred shouldn't play in the second test, it's too soon for him and he needs to get more overs under his belt and hopefully learn to bat again before he's considered for the side. In the short term it may produce the best results (I'm doubtful of that even), but long term it is the wrong decision when you consider the injury problems he's had throughout his career.
His ankle has had months to recover now and is as good as its going to get. He only wasnt fit for the 1st Test due to other niggles which are also healed up now and he's bowling fine. I dont see why he shouldnt be picked for the 2nd Test.
 

Woodster

International Captain
Fred shouldn't play in the second test, it's too soon for him and he needs to get more overs under his belt and hopefully learn to bat again before he's considered for the side. In the short term it may produce the best results (I'm doubtful of that even), but long term it is the wrong decision when you consider the injury problems he's had throughout his career.
Well, he's got another 14 overs under his belt today which I think is roughly the right amount he should be bowling in a day, give or take a few. If we win this Test and the bowlers perform, I think there is a chance they may overlook him for the 2nd Test. It is important not to rush him such is his importance to the side, however, if they deem him to be fully fit and firing (he was said to be bowling quick today) he must play as he is our best bowler.
 

Langeveldt

Soutie
How awesome was that shot by Bell!?

How anyone could not enjoy watching him bat is beyond me. Or rather, how anyone could dislike watching him bat.
Fairly easily, okay he's a capable international batsman (although I still find him over rated), but it's like watching a little boy in amongst the likes of KP, Vaughan, soon to be Flintoff.. Kind of like watching Chanderpaul, although his technique is not a horrific one, he just does nothing for me whatsoever.. I loved the fact he got out for 199..

If Broad bowls well, a big if, I would ignore Flintoff next test and keep yet another unchanged lineup..
 
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Woodster

International Captain
I find it equally puzzling how you cannot enjoy watching Bell, but it is each to their own.

He answered a few critics in this knock, scoring an excellent 199 coming in at a tense time, not to forget the ridiculous pressure the press seem intent on putting on him regarding his place in the side. Nice to see him not give it away once set, a reasonable criticism of him in recent times, but at 26 he is still learning to a degree.
 

open365

International Vice-Captain
Poor decision though it was, it was also played very badly indeed.
What? He played it badly by missing the ball by a good 3 inches??

His ankle has had months to recover now and is as good as its going to get. He only wasnt fit for the 1st Test due to other niggles which are also healed up now and he's bowling fine. I dont see why he shouldnt be picked for the 2nd Test.
We thought this before the first NZ test, and look what happened.
 

Barney Rubble

International Coach
What? He played it badly by missing the ball by a good 3 inches??
Erm...yes. If you're playing a shot and don't hit the ball, you've clearly not played it well enough. That doesn't mean the decision was correct, but it also doesn't mean Collingwood deserves no blame whatsoever. You're giving him credit for failing to hit the ball, and that's virtually the exact opposite of the key principle of batting.
 

Woodster

International Captain
Don't personally think any blame can be attached to Colly on this one. Poor poor decision from a usually good decision maker.
 

open365

International Vice-Captain
Erm...yes. If you're playing a shot and don't hit the ball, you've clearly not played it well enough. That doesn't mean the decision was correct, but it also doesn't mean Collingwood deserves no blame whatsoever. You're giving him credit for failing to hit the ball, and that's virtually the exact opposite of the key principle of batting.
Just because he played a shot doesn't mean he had full intentions of hitting the ball or that missing the ball would mean he played the shot incorrectly. No blame can be attributed for Collingwood's dismissal, just as you can't blame Strauss for his dismisal, they were simply poor decisions.
 
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Tom Halsey

International Coach
What? He played it badly by missing the ball by a good 3 inches??
a) He didn't miss the ball by anywhere near three inches.
b) Given he clearly didn't intend to leave it, had he missed the ball by three inches, it'd have been even worse.

I was mainly referring to the technique, was a poor stroke.
 

GIMH

Norwood's on Fire
Feels strange to be gutted for a man who has just scored the highest score for England for over a year but I am. Well played though Bell, have seen highlights of his innings and he was playing beautifully.

Colly got an absolute shocker though. I hope that's not his last act as a batsman in this side, though I doubt it will be as even if he gets dropped I imagine we'd see him again.
 

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