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*Official* England in Australia (2 T20 & 7 ODIs)

Woodster

Woodster

International Captain
NUFAN said:
I would be tempted to have 5 genuine bowlers and the backup being Collingwood.

Strauss Bell KP Collingwood Morgan Prior Bresnan Broad Swann Shahzad Anderson.

I can understand if people think I'm a batsman short.
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Burgey said:
Might be dangerous leaving yourselves a bowler short in the subcontinent though. It's tricky.
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Yes I understand where you guys are coming from in opting for the five bowler option, and going in with Prior batting in the top 6. The way I'm thinking right now, is regardless of whether we choose five bowling options with Colly as the sixth, or a combination of Colly, Trott and KP as the fifth bowler, we are going to be chasing some pretty healthy totals. The pitches by all accounts are going to be flat, we're not very fluent against the slow bowlers, so I want some real depth in my batting.

If we go Yardy or Wright at seven, we may on average have to chase maybe 15 runs less, but I thin Trott (who would probably be the batsmen to miss out) would have a bigger impact on the game.

Of course as Nufan suggests, batting Bresnan at seven is probably the better idea (when using five bowlers) depending how spin friendly the pitches are.

But as it stands, and I am likely to change my thoughts on a regular basis till the World Cup gets underway because I'm not absolutely certain what side I want, this would be my XI -

1. Strauss (c)
2. Trott
3. Pietersen
4. Bell
5. Collingwood
6. Morgan
7. Prior
8. Bresnan
9. Broad
10. Swann
11. Anderson

Trott I would want in my side, has showed for Warks he's capable of batting right at the top, and may find starting against the spinners in the sub-continent hard going to begin with. Opening would allow to get off to a start and play more comfortably against pace.
KP at three seems logical, quite possible he'll be coming in with the opening powerplay still in place, and should take advantage.

In Bell, Colly, and Morgan we have three excellent players of spin in the middle order, and throw in Prior and Bresnan we also have a few boundary hitters towards the end of the innings.

This attack would be the one I'd start with (pitch dependant), with the part-time offerings of Colly, KP and Trott combining as the fifth bowler. A gamble I know, but I'll re-iterate that I want to go in pretty batting heavy.
 
King Pietersen

King Pietersen

International Captain
Maybe bring Bresnan in at 8 to strengthen it a bit, but I'd personally rather go with the 5 frontline bowlers than rely on 10 overs from Colly, Trott and KP. Ravi Bopara coming in could have solved it, as he could have batted 6 and I'd then have more faith in Colly and Ravi getting through 10 overs, but I just wouldn't be confident in Colly and Trott doing the bulk of 10 overs work. Yardy's good enough to bat 7 I think, just needs to be given some time. If he fails miserably with the bat throughout this series though I'd actually be tempted to play Luke Wright at 7. Eugh. Damn you Samit Patel, why couldn't you just get on the treadmill FFS, would have solved everything.
 
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Uppercut

Uppercut

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Mr Mxyzptlk said:
And I don't think Raina and Rohit are much better than Pietersen and Trott, if at all.
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I just think England's team is tough to balance because they have no one approaching all-rounder status. The West Indies have Bravo, SA have Kallis, Australia have Watto and India have an infamous army of pie-chuckers. Yusuf Pathan too, forgot about him.

Colly is definitely no better than sixth-option quality, and one of the problems with playing him as a fifth bowler is that it also promotes KP and Trott beyond what they're useful for.
 
Spark

Spark

Global Moderator
I suppose that's why they've given so much rope to Luke Wright despite him looking (from what I've seen) painfully mediocre.
 
BoyBrumby

BoyBrumby

Englishman
Spark said:
I suppose that's why they've given so much rope to Luke Wright despite him looking (from what I've seen) painfully mediocre.
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Aye, some truth in that. However to have him in the squad and then not actually have quite enough faith to play him seems self-defeating.

With Bres out for the 3rd ODI I'd say it's a golden opportunity to play him. What would we learn from playing Woakes? That the selectors have effed up and we're a seamer light in the squad?
 
Woodster

Woodster

International Captain
Uppercut said:
I just think England's team is tough to balance because they have no one approaching all-rounder status. The West Indies have Bravo, SA have Kallis, Australia have Watto and India have an infamous army of pie-chuckers. Yusuf Pathan too, forgot about him.

Colly is definitely no better than sixth-option quality, and one of the problems with playing him as a fifth bowler is that it also promotes KP and Trott beyond what they're useful for.
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Yes absolutely, and it does become difficult to balance the side appropriately, inevitably you're going to have to sacrifice a genuine batsman or bowler and so weaken one of the disciplines. My thinking is there's going to be some big totals in this tournament and would prefer England to field a strong batting line-up.
 
A

AlanJLegend

U19 Vice-Captain
Went to the ODI at Bellerive yesterday, was great fun.

I left pretty much as soon as it finished (it was flipping freezing!) but one of my friends who stayed back to watch the presentation told me how for about 30 minutes after the game while the Australian team was inside celebrating, Watson was out signing autographs for kids and posing for photos, before heading over to the disabled seating area and mingling with the people there.

Scoring 161*, attending a QLD flood relief barbecue and then doing that all within the space of a week... WAmfG, major respect for Watto.
 
Spark

Spark

Global Moderator
Reckon we'll see him bat #4, straight swap for Dussey.

Nope, #3! A surprise.
 
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morgieb

morgieb

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Pietersen out and Wright in for England, itstl. Collingwood also comes back.

Hastings and Doherty in for us.
 
Jayzamann

Jayzamann

International Regular
Clarke down the order! Heh. Probably making the straight-swap for Ponting with Marsh a little easier. Even if Marsh scores another 4 tons.
 
Noble One

Noble One

International Vice-Captain
I don't mind Haddin opening, and don't believe his position in the order should be under much question. He has spent 70% of his ACT and NSW career opening the batting, so his experience isn't an issue.

His time at number seven for Australia was decent, but his natural game is far more suited for when the field is up, and the pace bowlers are operating. I don't see the need to make changes when not required.

Hoping for a good game today. A good chance for big John Hastings.
 
Sylvester

Sylvester

State Captain
Haddin was alright at 7 but he never really played any of those quick fire knocks that you ideally want from them. He played his best innings when he started opening for us and that knock is the one I'm guessing the selectors are banking on him producing again.
 
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