does he? wow already?
okay. on a serious note, he already has one, so hes playing for MBE number two cos he knows in england you get MBES for your superheroics.
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*Official* Fourth Test at the MCG
- Thread starter GIMH
- Start date
okay. on a serious note, he already has one, so hes playing for MBE number two cos he knows in england you get MBES for your superheroics.
vcs
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AWTA. From what (little) I've seen, just seems to be the kind of guy who'd respond very positively to the responsibility and lead from the front by lifting his own performance levels.
GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
You'll last long
Woodster
International Captain
Yes on form you would say he shouldn't be in this side, and where do you draw the line from being loyal to a player that has done plenty for the side in the last few years, to persevering with a player for far too long to the detriment of the team's performance ? I'm slightly biased towards Collingwood on the basis I love his fighting qualities, his innings against SA when he made a ton under extreme pressure gave me such pleasure, and I am still hoping he can pull something out before he loses his place. If that is to happen now it looks inevitable it's going to have to be at Sydney.
He certainly should be at number six, I think the possibility of him batting with the tail may see him produce more positive innings, in his one-day style, nurdle the ball around, run hard, and take the odd calculated chance. He could possess the ideal style for the number six, imo.
Maybe sentiment would play a part for me should we win this game, allow him to remain in the XI for Sydney and give him a chance to resurrect his career because should he get dropped it's unlikely he will be recalled at his age. Maybe a Hussey style recovery.
His fielding is exceptional, we all know that, but that alone is not going to keep his place in the side, he needs a performance no question.
As for replacements, I like Eoin Morgan, I like his attitude, how he scores his runs, and again would not be fazed by batting with the tail with his innovative style. There are obviously question marks over his Test playing capabilities, but I believe he has the game to overcome those doubts in time and given the chance, but I hope Colly gets given a good enough opportunity to prove his worth, some may say he has already had that, I hope he gets the Sydney Test at least, and then assess where he's at.
Woodster
International Captain
Thought Trott was outstanding today, looked a real class act at number three. Right from the start of his innings his timing and intent looked spot on. The way he works the ball to the legside gives the opposition some real problems if they are slightly off line or length. If it's back of a length he showed today, even if the line is slightly outside off he can still work it through his favourite area.
Have always got the feeling that many people would have looked to leave Trott out a few Tests ago, that he really wasn't cementing his place in the side, but he has gone some way to quietening those critics. I've not always been his biggest fan either, but his innings today was composed and solid. One particular short-arm pull he played was phenomonal.
Prior's game looked in much better order towards the end of the day also. He had to scrap today, he rode his luck, struggled with his timing and strokeplay through his favourite offside, but is sitting overnight 75 not out and will feel so much better for that.
Australia didn't bowl as badly today. Siddle was a constant threat, but Johnson was all over the place at times, typically. His two wickets was down to poor execution from Bell and Colly, and England will look to get after him again tomorrow.
Have always got the feeling that many people would have looked to leave Trott out a few Tests ago, that he really wasn't cementing his place in the side, but he has gone some way to quietening those critics. I've not always been his biggest fan either, but his innings today was composed and solid. One particular short-arm pull he played was phenomonal.
Prior's game looked in much better order towards the end of the day also. He had to scrap today, he rode his luck, struggled with his timing and strokeplay through his favourite offside, but is sitting overnight 75 not out and will feel so much better for that.
Australia didn't bowl as badly today. Siddle was a constant threat, but Johnson was all over the place at times, typically. His two wickets was down to poor execution from Bell and Colly, and England will look to get after him again tomorrow.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
I would like to see James Taylor blooded in the Sri Lanka series, provided he starts the season for Leicestershire in form.
Collingwood's been a good servant to England, but he's not in the same boat as Ponting, Hussey or Clarke when it comes to being patient during a poor run of form. Ponting is an ATG who's possibly in terminal decline, and Hussey and Clarke have both had sustained periods of excellence before dropping off in form. Collingwood has never been anything more than a steady performer who's barely averaged above 40 for the majority of his Test career, and IMO doesn't deserve to retain his place for the home summer based on his last 18 months as a Test batsman.
Collingwood's been a good servant to England, but he's not in the same boat as Ponting, Hussey or Clarke when it comes to being patient during a poor run of form. Ponting is an ATG who's possibly in terminal decline, and Hussey and Clarke have both had sustained periods of excellence before dropping off in form. Collingwood has never been anything more than a steady performer who's barely averaged above 40 for the majority of his Test career, and IMO doesn't deserve to retain his place for the home summer based on his last 18 months as a Test batsman.
No sentimentality for me, if Collingwood doesn't make a 50 in the second innings (unlikely considering he may not even get the opportunity to bat) then he should make way for Morgan. I don't care whether we are 4-0 up or 4-0 down, you should always pick the best team for a test match.
Colly has been a good servant for England, a decent test batsman and an excellent one day player. But if you are no longer one of the best XI in the country you have no special privileged right to play.
Colly has been a good servant for England, a decent test batsman and an excellent one day player. But if you are no longer one of the best XI in the country you have no special privileged right to play.
Woodster
International Captain
I appreciate Collingwood will never be regarded as a world class player, and has always been renowned as steady eddie, but he has certain qualities that every side needs and desires.
Colly's form in 2009 was very good, averaging just under 50, despite playing testing opposition such as Australia at home and SA away. WI away not so testing, and he did excel on those docile pitches.
Taylor looks a very good prospect, but personally I'd be in favour of Morgan or if you're looking at impressive domestic form, then James Hildreth is in great form, has matured as a batsman and is at a good age to be in line for selection, imo.
Woodster
International Captain
I appreciate that, but as Australia did with Hussey despite his wretched form, they stuck with him, I know it's different situations, but they have been repaid. Older players I suppose generally get a longer chance as it is very unlikely they'll ever get re-selected.
Smudge
Hall of Fame Member
The other tools in the shed are doing a whiparound so they can get you a free sharpening.
Well Hussey is a world class player, so I think he gets a bit more leeway. Plus Hussey's below standard two seasons weren't as poor as Collingwood's form over the last year or so, which is pretty desperate.
As for Collingwood replacements I'd have Morgan and Hildreth ahead of Taylor at the moment, and possibly Carberry too. Taylor is obviously very talented and a nailed on test player barring any mishaps, but he's still only 20 and whilst he's had two very good seasons a) others have been performing better (namely Hildreth and Carberry) and b) they've both been in Division 2. I think Morgan should have the first shot and then Hildreth the second.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
Difference is that Hussey had 3 years of ATG form at the start of his career. Not decent, good, or great, but ATG. Up until the tour of India in 2008 his average was 70 in Test cricket.
Collingwood has never been that good. He's always been a steady eddie, low-mid 40s average sort of bloke. He hasn't had a peak which if he was to re-hit (like Hussey in this series) would make him indispensable.
Woodster
International Captain
Problem with Carberry is he's been doing his best work as an opener as it's unlikely he's going to get another shot there for a while, barring injuries to Cook and Strauss. You could possibly go with him at three, but Trott has nailed that spot for some time.
Look, I'm a Collingwood fan and what he brings to the England side you cannot always appreciate based on his statistics, so I am probably going to be a little biased. If they don't consider him to be good enough to be in the Test XI anymore, then they'll have to look elsewhere. I think Colly has more in him at the level yet. They have to be sure that when they drop him, he is no longer good enough at this level, because in effect it will be the end of his Test career.
I agree Hussey is a top player, but his form has been much worse than Colly's in 2008 and 2009.
Woodster
International Captain
Absolutely, I agree, they are very different players to compare them. Hussey was awesome at the start and that rightly bought him some time when his form diminished.
Like I said previously, I think Colly gives us much more than what his stats say.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
I'd blood Taylor against Sri Lanka to give him some good Test experience. Unless he performs outstandingly, I wouldn't be looking at him to nail down a middle order berth for the next 10 years just yet, but one thing that does concern me is that unlike the bowling attack, where we're developing a good unit who all have some decent Test match experience (a potential attack of Broad, Onions, Finn and Panesar have 299 Test wickets between them, which isn't bad for a potential 2nd string attack), in the batting stakes we have pretty much no backup beyond the 6 incumbents. Unless Trescothick could be persuaded to come out of international retirement, the most experienced batsman we have outwith the side is Ravi Bopara, and the best qualified candidate to come in (ie the guy outwith the team with the most runs) is Rob Key.
JBH001
International Regular
Interesting analysis with Sir Geoffrey regarding Australia's batting on day one of the current test, Trott's batting and Colly's troubles. He comes down on the side of Colly in that he regards this as a poor series for Colly rather than terminal. I also lol'd when he said that he wouldn't have played Haddin's shot if he had been 200 not out.
Geoffrey Boycott: Australia batted poorly | Cricket videos, MP3, podcasts, cricket audio at ESPN Cricinfo
Geoffrey Boycott: Australia batted poorly | Cricket videos, MP3, podcasts, cricket audio at ESPN Cricinfo
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Woodster
International Captain
We do have good options around in terms of batting depth. As you mention, Ravi Bopara is not done with Test cricket yet, would like to see him give the IPL a sideswerve and focus on CC cricket, especially when so many four-day games are played during the IPL period. Rob Key had a very poor season in 2010 for Kent to extinguish any lasting hopes he had I suppose.
But there are still the likes of Hildreth, Taylor, Morgan, Carberry, possibly Owais Shah if his Essex move revitalises his career. I know what you're saying about experience though.
Halfpast_Yellow
U19 Vice-Captain
It's started to absolutely belt down in NZ, and probably will be for days. Pity for the Aussies the game wasn't being played here.
MW1304
Cricketer Of The Year
A lot of people talking about blood for some reason.
Not sure about that analysis of Collingwood, though. This hasn't just been a bad series, its been a pretty bad year for him in Tests (runs against Bangladesh aside), and he's been poor in ODIs recently, too. He says, 'if you have two bad series, then maybe you can question his place', well he has had two very bad series and surely can't play past Sydney.
I really hope he goes out with a bang at Sydney, scores a typical Colly innings, but then he'll probably get another run in the team which he doesn't really warrant. He's so out of form I can't really imagine him producing a big score but then that is what he does best.