***Official*** England in Pakistan

[Jungle Jumbo]

IMO Anderson should be an option for Udal in Lahore unless its going to spin square. The seamers could then be rotated with Giles stying down the batsman at one end. England MUST win this match, so what's the point in playing two defensive spinners who are never going to take 10 4th innings wickets when Anderson, a slightly unrealiable but dangerous seamer misses out? Giles and Udal haven't troubled the Pakistanis, and Pakistan have struggled against Anderson in the past (ODIs at Cape Town (albeit under the lights) and at Lords in 2003), so give them something they might not be comfortable with. I'd probably play Plunkett ahead of Udal if he was rated a better option than Anderson, too.

 

[Hazza]

I think Anderson should get a go in the third test match. Jungle is right in saying that, if England are in need of a win, an attacking seamer like Anderson should be played over Udal.

 

[SpeedKing]

I am just worried that that might upset the batting. We are probably gonna use and inexperienced openner in the next test, and if the batting ability of Udal is taken out, vaughan being pegged back by injury, we might end up being short on batters.

 

[Weaving A Web]

Along with the 142 runs he scored in this test

Almost as many runs as times he was dropped.

 

[Weaving A Web]

There's no doubt the toss has been a significant factor in both of the two games so far. You have to be pretty dominant to beat a team that is batting first on a road that wears out.

The pitch was playing fine throughout all five days.

Hence why the Pakistani tail were eble to easily defend for ages just a few minutes before the England top order was getting blown away for ducks

 

[Pratters]

Also the dismissals were more to do with not off the pitch but in the air stuff and rash shots in case of for example Bell.

 

[SpeedKing]

And whoever said G. Jones is an option [even though an ouside option] needs to be slapped. That is an absolute no go.

On the last test, well played both teams, Pakistan always seemed ahead apart from the first morning and 4th day's evening session, we hung on really. Is it just me or were spinners absolutely useless on that pitch. Is Lahore a spinning deck????? I can't believe how bad the wickets are for bowlers and batters together. No bounce, no pace, no turn, ball dosn't come onto the bat, who thpught of such wickets. Well bowled Shoiab Ahktar and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan [mmmm if i could just dig up that thread were he was being called all sorts about a year ago]. well played Inzaman, this guy can bat. Of the batsmen England have come across over the last two years, and there are some good ones [Kallis and the like] this guy has been the most annoying. [Actually Brett lee was the most annoying but he is not a batter]. Hope for another good game in the next test.

 

[SpeedKing]

Also the dismissals were more to do with not off the pitch but in the air stuff and rash shots in case of for example Bell.

Oi, don't be singling out my boy, he has been exceptional this series.

 

[PY]

I am just worried that that might upset the batting. We are probably gonna use and inexperienced openner in the next test, and if the batting ability of Udal is taken out, vaughan being pegged back by injury, we might end up being short on batters.

That's the main reason I reckon Plunkett should get a go because he can hold a bat from all reports..

Bring Cook in for Strauss and Plunkett in for Udal/Giles (thinking Giles at the moment due to his injury). You can't play a makeshift opener in a Test that we *need* to win, it'd be chaos.

The only other solution (bearing in mind the Collingwood love) is to raise Vaughan to opener again and bring Collingwood in at 5 and bump KP upto 3. I don't think we can move Bell and Colly isn't a #3 in my book. I don't think this is good because it's too much changing of the order when most are settled.

So my Test side would be:

Trescothick
Cook
Vaughan *
Bell
Pietersen
Flintoff
Jones +
Udal
Plunkett
Hoggard
Harmison

though I wouldn't be surprised by:

Trescothick
Vaughan *
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Jones +
Giles
Hoggard
Harmison
Anderson

There's so many options and can't really predict what Fletcher is going to come up with.

 

[a massive zebra]

If Giles concedes 56 runs before taking another wicket, he will average 40 in tests. Very poor, IMO.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

If Giles concedes 56 runs before taking another wicket, he will average 40 in tests. Very poor, IMO.

Yep, not as poor as the fact he's probably as good as we can offer atm though No doubt he's only stayed in the side so long because he can hold a bat. Else i think people like Keedy would have long overtaken him.

 

[Weaving A Web]

Is it fair to say that given the benefit of different timing, it could easily have been Udal who played 50 odd tests whilst Giles labguished in the country curcuit.

There's no real discernable difference in them from what I've seen.

 

[Hazza]

Ok, this is the team i'd play for the last test...

1. Trescothick
2. Cook
3. Bell
4. Vaughan
5. Pietersen
6. Flintoff
7. G. Jones
8. Giles
9. Hoggard
10. Harmison
11. Anderson

 

[GladiatrsInBlue]

Pak 11 should be like,

Butt
Malik
Younis
Inzi
Yousuf
Asim Kamal
Akmal
Rana
Akhtar
Aasif
Danish.

Since Afridi is not available and Razzak is still injured, Pak have no option but to go with a specialist batsman.

Sami should be axed, something that should have been done after the first test match

 

[Pratters]

Oi, don't be singling out my boy, he has been exceptional this series.

Does not justify playing a poor shot in such a crucial position.

 

[aussie]

Ok, this is the team i'd play for the last test...

1. Trescothick
2. Cook
3. Bell
4. Vaughan
5. Pietersen
6. Flintoff
7. G. Jones
8. Giles
9. Hoggard
10. Harmison
11. Anderson

agreed, the spinner option is proving quite worthless ATM since the pitches their aren't helping the off-spinners much this time around, thats why is disappointing Simon Jones isn't here. But good luck to big Anderson in Lahore..

 

[aussie]

Sami should be axed, something that should have been done after the first test match

their is no wayy i can see Sami being axed, he bowled pretty well in faisalbad so its very unlikely he'll be dropped. Plus its a bit odd that Pakistan have called up Asif when they have Umar Gul?

 

[Mister Wright]

agreed, the spinner option is proving quite worthless ATM since the pitches their aren't helping the off-spinners much this time around, thats why is disappointing Simon Jones isn't here. But good luck to big Anderson in Lahore..

I'd have Udal in the side before Giles. Udal has looked much more threatening. Although neither have been all that feroucious, Giles is nothing more than pathetic.

 

[Dasa]

I'd have Udal in the side before Giles. Udal has looked much more threatening. Although neither have been all that feroucious, Giles is nothing more than pathetic.

Yeah exactly..Udal has been more willing to attack as well, going around the wicket a lot and flighting the ball...whereas Giles has looked totally unthreatening.

 

[Jono]

Yeah I agree. I'd keep Udal in the team, give Giles the test off since he's not playing the ODIs anyway due to injury, and bring in Plunkett.