*Official* Bangladesh in England

[Burgey]

Just watching the highlights here.

I stayed up very late last night so I'm very tired and my eyes are probably playing up, but surely Matt Prior didn't get out in the 90s in a test match playing a reverse sweep?

 

[Uppercut]

Looking at the highlights I thought England were just too good rather than Bangladesh contributing to their own downfall particularly. Obviously the odd batsman is going to get themselves out somewhat in any innings, but I think England would have knocked over 6-7+ wickets in that session against any side.

Hmm it was rather a trademark instantaneous transformation into brilliance.

 

[Athlai]

God Tamim is so good and the rest of Bangers are so dire.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Ha, wow. Collapseamondo. Left for the pub with the score on 125/1 and entertaining serious thoughts about conceeding a first innings lead.

Tamim waaaay too good for the Banglas. If only another test side was receptive to playing overseas-born plaeyers...hang on...

 

[Prince EWS]

Watching the final session of the day ATM and am loving Shahzad's spell. We've been looking for someone capable of bowling with pace and reverse swing, and this lad is capable of that. Generally bowls around 86mph and gets the ball to reverse, he looks a genuine prospect, can see why Flower rates him now. He doesn't have a great FC record, but he looks slightly raw, and it's been mentioned that he's been working on his fitness since his early days at Yorkshire. Enjoyed watching him bowl a lot tonight, maybe resting Broad wasn't such a bad thing after all. The youngsters have stepped up with the ball in this series. Finn has bowled beautifully and now Shahzad's looking good. Delighted they went for him ahead of Sidearse for this Test.

Maybe we could go with 5 bowlers now too? Broad, Swann, Shahzad, Anderson and Finn provides us with some depth in the batting as those first 3 are more than handy and also depth and variety in the bowling. Definitely worth thinking about for the tour to Australia.

Don't really care what he looks like in a game against Bangladesh; there's no way you can justify picking a specialist quick against Australia who doesn't have a First Class five-for to his name.

 

[social]

Looking at the highlights I thought England were just too good rather than Bangladesh contributing to their own downfall particularly. Obviously the odd batsman is going to get themselves out somewhat in any innings, but I think England would have knocked over 6-7+ wickets in that session against any side.

It helps when your opponents have one test quality batsman (who, btw, thrashed the bowling again) and 10 club cricketers

England's attack looked exactly what it is until Tamim threw his wicket away

 

[King Pietersen]

Don't really care what he looks like in a game against Bangladesh; there's no way you can justify picking a specialist quick against Australia who doesn't have a First Class five-for to his name.

Michael Holding? Best of 3-37 in his career prior to going on a tour to Australia, but the selectors clearly saw the raw potential in him, and the experience he gained going to Australia basically made his career. Now I'm not saying that Ajmal looks as good a bowler as Holding, but it appears that everyone that's seen Shahzad for extensive periods of time rate him highly. He clearly has something about him. He supposedly has the right attitude, he works hard on his game, he's enthusiastic and he looks to have a lot of potential with the ball. He's quick (averages around 86mph but capable of hitting 90), moves the ball both ways, has a decent bouncer and can reverse swing the old ball at pace, which is a skill we've been looking for since Jones and Flintoff left the side. AFAIC he looks a better option to be on that plane than wheeling out Sidebottom or Harmison for another go.

 

[Hurricane]

If I was Tamim I'd be pissed the **** off right about now.

I hope it doesn't damage his batting with him beleiving that he has to do everything by himself.

 

[Polo23]

Looking at the highlights I thought England were just too good rather than Bangladesh contributing to their own downfall particularly. Obviously the odd batsman is going to get themselves out somewhat in any innings, but I think England would have knocked over 6-7+ wickets in that session against any side.

What?!

 

[King Pietersen]

Interesting discussion going on on Sky about the One Day selection coming up. Nasser wants to stick with the exact same side that won the ODi side, so that they keep the free-spirited method they used in the T20 WC. Gower on the other hand is arguing that Strauss should come back in and they should pick a side that works for 50 over cricket, not 20 over cricket. Thoughts?

I personally wouldn't go with Strauss at the top of the order, but it wouldn't be Lumb I'd be playing, it'd be Steve Davies. So I'd probably end up going with:

Craig Kieswetter
Steven Davies +
Kevin Pietersen
Paul Collingwood *
Eoin Morgan
Luke Wright
Michael Yardy
Tim Bresnan
Graeme Swann
Stuart Broad
Ryan Sidebottom/James Anderson

Basically the same side that won the T20 WC, just with the more consistent OD batsman opening with Kieswetter. I like Lumb a lot, but he hasn't really done enough to force his way into the ODi side. Davies has been magnificent for several seasons now, is in magnificent form and deserves a go. He's a better keeper than Kieswetter too, so could be given the gloves and take a bit of pressure off Kieswetter's batting.

 

[Jarquis]

I'd look at Trott ahead of Yardy in that side.

 

[Hurricane]

rain sucks.

 

[Stapel]

What?!

The latter two Shazad wickets would most certainly have troubled some proper batsmen. And Swann's bowling on this deck would be good for some wickets anyway. Maybe 6 or 7 is too much, but I thought there was some great bowling!

 

[grecian]

Interesting discussion going on on Sky about the One Day selection coming up. Nasser wants to stick with the exact same side that won the ODi side, so that they keep the free-spirited method they used in the T20 WC. Gower on the other hand is arguing that Strauss should come back in and they should pick a side that works for 50 over cricket, not 20 over cricket. Thoughts?

I personally wouldn't go with Strauss at the top of the order, but it wouldn't be Lumb I'd be playing, it'd be Steve Davies. So I'd probably end up going with:

Craig Kieswetter
Steven Davies +
Kevin Pietersen
Paul Collingwood *
Eoin Morgan
Luke Wright
Michael Yardy
Tim Bresnan
Graeme Swann
Stuart Broad
Ryan Sidebottom/James Anderson

Basically the same side that won the T20 WC, just with the more consistent OD batsman opening with Kieswetter. I like Lumb a lot, but he hasn't really done enough to force his way into the ODi side. Davies has been magnificent for several seasons now, is in magnificent form and deserves a go. He's a better keeper than Kieswetter too, so could be given the gloves and take a bit of pressure off Kieswetter's batting.

Well Bres wont be fit, but long-term, yes, for this series I'd imagine we'd play both sidarse and jimmeh, and Strauss and Trott will play. I'd love Davies to play but it won't happen, the selectors don't seem to fancy him

I hope Yardy and Lumb drop out, don't see them being viable options at the longer form.

Oh and BTW, Sunny Manchester living up to its rep........

 

[Uppercut]

I promise it's been fantastically sunny here for weeks until today.

See location though.

 

[Scaly piscine]

The latter two Shazad wickets would most certainly have troubled some proper batsmen. And Swann's bowling on this deck would be good for some wickets anyway. Maybe 6 or 7 is too much, but I thought there was some great bowling!

Anderson bowled well in his last spell without picking up a wicket, Finn was decent enough. Swann has before and will again take 5-fers against anyone, but particularly bowling well against lots of left-handers on a spinning pitch.

England's bowlers have these golden spells against teams, once they get the ball moving around they can take a hatful against any side in the world. Obviously if it's not doing anything they can look very innocuous as well.

 

[PhoenixFire]

How did Shazhad do? Missed the highlights on 5 and saw that he had decent figures, but how well did he actually bowl?

 

[Stapel]

Is there any news on Strauss' decision to ask Bangladesh to follow on?

Anderson bowled well in his last spell without picking up a wicket, Finn was decent enough. Swann has before and will again take 5-fers against anyone, but particularly bowling well against lots of left-handers on a spinning pitch.

England's bowlers have these golden spells against teams, once they get the ball moving around they can take a hatful against any side in the world. Obviously if it's not doing anything they can look very innocuous as well.

Copy that!

 

[Stapel]

How did Shazhad do? Missed the highlights on 5 and saw that he had decent figures, but how well did he actually bowl?

He had reverse swing!

 

[flibbertyjibber]

How did Shazhad do? Missed the highlights on 5 and saw that he had decent figures, but how well did he actually bowl?

Got tap in early spell but when he came back for the 2nd spell he was superb.Got the ball reversing well and caused them all sorts of problems.Very promising debut.