a massive zebra
International Captain
Are the England selectors right to select unreliable players who have not even proved themselves at county level, but have pace (Harmison, Jones etc), above slower bowlers who have proved themselves to be consistent reliable performers in that form of the game (Bicknell, Kirtley, Saggers etc)?
Kirtley and Bicknell did far better against South Africa than Harmison and co, but it was the latter who got selected for the winter tours. Saggers has been bowling well for 2 years and was not selected. It seems if you do well but are not that fast they drop you and if you get smacked but have pace they keep you in. Just not fair! :!(
Harmison and Jones do have pace but that alone is not enough to win you matches (eg Brett Lee, Mohammed Sami), and they are likely to be hit around the park.
Shoaib has been devastating recently but he is in a completly different league and generally the most effective pace bowlers are not the fastest but the most accurate (McGrath, Pollock etc).
Kirtley and Bicknell did far better against South Africa than Harmison and co, but it was the latter who got selected for the winter tours. Saggers has been bowling well for 2 years and was not selected. It seems if you do well but are not that fast they drop you and if you get smacked but have pace they keep you in. Just not fair! :!(
Harmison and Jones do have pace but that alone is not enough to win you matches (eg Brett Lee, Mohammed Sami), and they are likely to be hit around the park.
Shoaib has been devastating recently but he is in a completly different league and generally the most effective pace bowlers are not the fastest but the most accurate (McGrath, Pollock etc).