English Cricket season

[marc71178]

Even when the discussion has finished...

Erm, you just reignited it.

 

[Neil Pickup]

You can put my writing Bell over Key down to brain fade on my part.

For the 13th player/4th paceman I'm thinking that the Zimbabwe tests ought to be used with more of an eye on the future. Depending on the emphasis the selectors choose, Caddick is another possible, as is Richard Johnson, but I would be definite on the Hoggard/Anderson/Harmison pace attack and probably not bother with the 13th man who will only serve to inconvenience the county he plays for...

Two major issues for me... Flintoff's fitness - if he doesn't play I expect Stewart to with 6 specialist batsmen (there's no replacement all-rounder and Giles is not a number 7), but if he does then maybe Read will get the nod (I can't see it, but Ceefax seems to think so).

Second, the #5 and (possibly) #6 batting positions (with Read/Stewart at 7 and Vaughan/Trescothick/Hussain/Butcher as the top four). Flintoff will bat at 6 if he plays, and the other contenders in my book (in order) are:

Jamie Troughton
Robert Key
Ian Bell
Will Jefferson
John Crawley

 

[chris.hinton]

my test 14 would be this

Marcus Trescothick
Michael Vaughan
Nasser Hussain
Robert Key
Jamie Troughton
Ian Bell
Marc Butcher
Alec Stewart
Craig White
Andy Flintoff
Darren Gough
James Anderson
Andy Caddick
Ashely Giles

 

[marc71178]

Quite bizarre, but I'm about the only English person not selecting Troughton or Bell!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Liam, you missed Ian Salisbury's century.

I think Neil had already mentioned it...someone did...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Craig White

White's injured.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

My 13 to spark much controversy :-

N.Peng
D.Fulton
G.Hick(capt.)
M.Ramprakash
B.Hutton
R.Irani
J.Foster(wk)
I.Salisbury
R.Dawson
S.Harmison
R.Sidebottom
R.Clarke
A.Tudor
D.Brown

Thank God I'm not a selector.

 

[luckyeddie]

My 13 to spark much controversy :-

<snip>

Thank God I'm not a selector.

Controversial? Never! Where's Corky?

 

[marc71178]

Sorry Liam, but we need a second opener (and the first one's only got one eye!)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ok. Clarke has been drafted out of the squad to make way for Cork, who will open the batting with supreme prowess.

This way, everyone wins.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Um, Liam, that's 14.

 

[Langeveldt]

Seeing as we have a controversial England team, here is a controversial Zimbabwe team for what will probably be a controversial series

1.DD Ebrahim
2.D Houghton
3.V Sibanda
4.SB Ervine
5.B Rogers
6.R Mugabe (capt.)
7.S Matsikenyeri
8.C Coventry (wk)
9.M Nkala
10.NB Mahwire
11.S Harmison

 

[PY]

Seeing as we have a controversial England team, here is a controversial Zimbabwe team for what will probably be a controversial series

11.S Harmison

Very clever

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Um, Liam, that's 14.

It adds to the controversy.

Scandal I say....scandal!!!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Seeing as we have a controversial England team, here is a controversial Zimbabwe team for what will probably be a controversial series

1.DD Ebrahim
2.D Houghton
3.V Sibanda
4.SB Ervine
5.B Rogers
6.R Mugabe (capt.)
7.S Matsikenyeri
8.C Coventry (wk)
9.M Nkala
10.NB Mahwire
11.S Harmison

The controversial thing is the inclusion of Houghton. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he was actually good. I concur. Trevor Gripper should be there.

 

[marc71178]

Quite bizarre, but I'm about the only English person not selecting Troughton or Bell!

Apart from the selectors of course!

 

[V Reddy]

Sehwag makes 81 . But he is out to a wrong decision. He came down the wicket to Saqlain and he was given LBW:O .

 

[lord_of_darkness]

good on sehwag to put on a performance finally..

 

[marc71178]

Well don't you just love the rain? Surrey miss out on an all but certain victory, and it remains tight in Division 1.

 

[lord_of_darkness]

Lol haha @ surrey after bats blazing in 1st innings..