All I was saying is what is seen at cricket grounds is nothing like a genuinely intimidating atmosphere. Cricket crowds just put pressure on players, and it very seldom works. You have to look at other sports - and by that I mean football, really - if you want to see fans really making a difference.silentstriker said:
Problem is I don't see Blackwell being good enough to tie up an end, he could quite easily be smashed out of the attack. Would also like to see GoJo bat at six and Freddie at 7. Flintoff's batting outside England has been poor to say the least and would like to see how Jones plays with the added responsibility of being in the top 6.aussie said:
As the Indians are both adept and aggressive against spin bowling, I don't think a mere "tie-up" bowler who can bowl a good line and length will do the trick for England. He probably won't be able to "tie up" things against the Indian batsmen. England should go for a spinner who can produce more magical deliveries and generate some turn, etc. ... Panesar.UncleTheOne said:
The downside to that is you would have a tail that consists of Hoggard, Harmison, Jones and Panesar. He is also an unknown and untried quantity, ahhhh the job of being a selector is not all beer and skittles.adharcric said:
Only if you're an English selector, too bad Giles is your only proven decent spinner. The Indian selectors don't have a very tough job but still manage to do a pathetic job half the time. No wonder Agarkar is still making the test team and two specialist openers are warming the bench.UncleTheOne said:
As a fan, I fully agree with that last line. However, if England can select a value-added bowler like Giles as their only spinner, why can't the Indians pick Sanjay Bangar or any similar player as a third seamer? Look at it this way–adharcric said:
Would it have been any less exciting if they disrespected each other on the field?
Blackwell and Panesar get smacked about, we're left with 3 bowlers we can rely on. I don't know if we can risk including both.Barney Rubble said:
By a similar token, if Hoggard fails to find any swing, I'm no sure we can risk including him - and I certainly don't want to see Udal playing again!UncleTheOne said:
I still think I'd take Hoggard over both of them. Of course in India the pitches tend to favour spinners, but this also means Indian batsmen get to play a lot more spin bowling making them probably the best players of it in the world.Barney Rubble said:By a similar token, if Hoggard fails to find any swing, I'm no sure we can risk including him - and I certainly don't want to see Udal playing again!
The way I see it, if two spinners are going to play it'll be Blackwell and Panesar, as already mentioned - but if only one plays, it'll be Udal. Sounds strange, but it's what I've got in my head is going to happen for some reason.Scaly piscine said:
