***Official*** England in Pakistan

[Barney Rubble]

Now it seems that Giles may miss the final Test, too - God help us if it turns out to be a bunsen and Udal's our only spinner. And God help us if Loudon plays, too. I say bugger it, go for an all-seam attack and let KP and Vaughan take care of spin duties.

Likely England team for tomorrow:

Trescothick
Vaughan
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Jones
Udal
Hoggard
Harmison
Anderson

And two more interesting spins on it, which I doubt will happen:

Trescothick
Vaughan
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Jones
Loudon
Udal
Hoggard
Harmison

Trescothick
Vaughan
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Jones
Plunkett
Hoggard
Harmison
Anderson

 

[Hazza]

Been confirmed today that Vaughan will open, not Bell or Cook.

Why on earth would Bell even be considered for opening

 

[The Baconator]

Why on earth would Bell even be considered for opening

He's been compared by some to Michael Atherton in recent weeks.

 

[Scaly piscine]

He's been compared by some to Michael Atherton in recent weeks.

Well, I suppose Bell did look clueless against Warne and McGrath. Will have to wait a bit longer for bunny status tho.

 

[Hazza]

He's been compared by some to Michael Atherton in recent weeks.

Really? Wow, I didn't really ever think of him in the Atherton mould, but being compared to Athers is quite an achievement

 

[greg]

Now it seems that Giles may miss the final Test, too - God help us if it turns out to be a bunsen and Udal's our only spinner. And God help us if Loudon plays, too. I say bugger it, go for an all-seam attack and let KP and Vaughan take care of spin duties.

Considering England so far this series have been basically (and slightly bizarrely) operating a "one-spinner" policy despite picking two of them, Giles getting injured could be a blessing in disguise. It's fair to say though that the addition of Collingwood and Anderson to the team doesn't exactly add to a look of solidity in the batting

 

[greg]

Really? Wow, I didn't really ever think of him in the Atherton mould, but being compared to Athers is quite an achievement

Well he's well on his way to beating Ather's England record for ducks...

 

[Barney Rubble]

Just a thought - is there actually a chance that Alex Loudon might play in this game? If England decide that they're going to go with two spinners, and then Giles pulls out through injury as is looking increasingly likely..........or would they just play Anderson or Plunkett and forget the two spinners idea? Interesting dilemma.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I can only go by what I've read in the media (Big Dunc never returns my texts anymore! ), but every report I've read has Jimmy A in as a done deal. Personally I'd have gone for Plunkers as (aside from comprehensively outbowling Anderson in their shared warm-up) he's comfortably twice the batsman & seems to be more of a "hit the deck" bowler who might get something out of a (presumably) fairly lifeless deck. If Anderson doesn't get a wicket with the new cherry I can't see him doing much.

As for who to replace Gilo with if his hip is too iffy, I reckon we'll stick with Udal myself. He's looked rather ordinary in all honesty, but it'd be a huge ask of a young batting all-rounder to be our main (possibly only, allowing for MPV's knee & KP's current turdness) spinner on the subcontinent.

 

[Barney Rubble]

KP's current turdness

KP has said that he does want to redevelop his bowling - I wouldn't be that surprised to see him get an over or two in this match. Vaughan probably won't be capable of bowling, and if we play only one spinner, that leaves KP as the only other spinner in the side, all the other batsmen bowl medium-pace. Except Strauss, who bowls pies.

Incidentally, did anyone happen to watch the one over Strauss bowled against Zimbabwe last year? I hear it was rather......interesting.

 

[The Baconator]

Incidentally, did anyone happen to watch the one over Strauss bowled against Zimbabwe last year? I hear it was rather......interesting.

It only went for 3 runs, it can't have been that bad can it?

 

[Barney Rubble]

It only went for 3 runs, it can't have been that bad can it?

Bear in mind he was bowling at the last pair - and not just any last pair, the Zimbabwe last pair. And bear in mind that the match was completely out of Zimbabwe's reach, and they were just trying to bat out the last few overs - I think Strauss bowled the 47th or 48th over of the innings.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Bear in mind he was bowling at the last pair - and not just any last pair, the Zimbabwe last pair. And bear in mind that the match was completely out of Zimbabwe's reach, and they were just trying to bat out the last few overs - I think Strauss bowled the 47th or 48th over of the innings.

Just found it:

Andrew Strauss on for a bowl
47.1 Strauss to Utseya, no run, drives it to midwicket
47.2 Strauss to Utseya, no run, another lollipop and its pushed to leg
47.3 Strauss to Utseya, two runs, sweeps and its top-edged to fine elg
47.4 Strauss to Utseya, no run
47.5 Strauss to Utseya, no run, a round arm left-hand bowler, gets swept
to short fine leg
47.6 Strauss to Utseya, one run, good fun all round as this is driven to
mid-on

When you can't cause Prosper Utseya problems, you know you're crap.

 

[Chubb]

When you can't cause Prosper Utseya problems, you know you're crap.

Take that back. Prosper is one of the best players left now!

 

[Barney Rubble]

Take that back. Prosper is one of the best players left now!

Does that mean Zimbabwe would struggle to score runs against a team of Strausses?

( )

 

[Chubb]

I think they would struggle to score runs against most club sides to be honest.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I think they would struggle to score runs against most club sides to be honest.

I'm genuinely saddened that I have no cause to disagree with that.

 

[Chubb]

I'm genuinely saddened that I have no cause to disagree with that.

I miss the old days. this sort of thing or, this or even this

Three brilliant performances, the first the final glorious flowering of Zimbabwean spirit, the second what Zimbabwean cricket writer John Ward, who should know, called "Zimbabwe's finest hour", and the third the best of Eddo.

 

[a10khan]

Pakistan should really reacall Imran Farhat to open with BUtt in Lahore test match and have Malik bat at one down.Hasan Raza has already failed in the first test match and having him to come at one down in place of Younis in Lahore test match could prove to be disaster.

My team would be

Butt
Frahat
Malik
Inzi
Yousuf
Asim
Akmal
Rana
Akhtar
Asif
Danish.

However the team most likly to end up playing would be like,

Butt
Malik
Yousuf
Inzi
Asim
Hasan
Akmal
Rana
Akhtar
Sami
Danish

Really? Then y not also recall Hameed n Taufeeq. Let bygones be bygones. I think all of them were lucky to be given all the chances. That doesnt normally happen in Pak so they really were lucky.

Malik as opener or one-down doesnt really matter too much. He'll still probably be needed to play the new ball! I think Malik-Salman combo is doing just fine. 3 out of 4 opening stands of 50+ is fairly decent and from Pak standards is quite outstanding! Asim and Raza are in the squad so they really dont need to import neone from outside.

Sadly for Asim he will be asked to bat at #3. Its really a shame that neither Yousuf or Inzy are willing to do so and they are throwing Asim in the deep-end of the ocean, a guy whose making a comeback.

Also, I dont know what sins I committed in my past lives that I have to bear watching Sami bowl match after match. I really cant take it nemore!

 

[Barney Rubble]

I miss the old days. this sort of thing or, this or even this

Three brilliant performances, the first the final glorious flowering of Zimbabwean spirit, the second what Zimbabwean cricket writer John Ward, who should know, called "Zimbabwe's finest hour", and the third the best of Eddo.

It pains me to have to say it, but the best hope for Zimbabwean cricket might be to have its Test status revoked sooner rather than later, to prevent them suffering too much at the hands of more experienced nations. This might allow it to begin the long rebuilding process towards once again becoming a nation capable of at least competing with some of the best.

It's a horrible state of affairs that the country which produced the genius of Andy Flower has been reduced to this, even despite the efforts of Flower and Henry Olonga, putting their livelihoods, and potentially their lives, on the line for what they believed was right. Two genuine sporting heroes, regardless of talent.

Anyway, this is completely OT. I'm optimistic about England's chances in this Test - but then, I always am.