***Official*** England in Pakistan

[Retox]

That thing on his leg was a brace. You wear it when you have an injury.

Or you just want support so you don't get an injury. Do you use them on the couch?

 

[greg]

He bowled 2 decent spells in the entire series and was largely ignored at both Edgbaston and Old Trafford, such was his ineffectiveness.

The conditions weren't in his favour so he wasn't required to bowl. Still picked up the odd crucial wicket though, and 16 wickets at 29 hardly speaks of a disastrous series. Shall I repost my explanation of the value of a five man attack?

 

[Retox]

It's a strange concept, the idea that a team might have better players available than are currently in the team. You tell us we should "worry about lack of depth", we think we're just fine, thank-you, but good luck yourselves!

Didn't you know Clark is an amazing bowler and that hogg and Macgill just ooze talent with there youth.

 

[marc71178]

He bowled 2 decent spells in the entire series and was largely ignored at both Edgbaston and Old Trafford, such was his ineffectiveness.

Or rather, such was the benefit of having a 5 man attack offering differing skills.

 

[social]

I can see cases for Bell (hasn't lived up to his tag) But I am sure after the next series if he hasn't performed he will be gone (and thats the right way)

Jones (Of the G kind) dropped some catches,missed stumpings,run outs and was really **** poor. But the same with McCullum early on. And I think he will improve but if he doesn't Prior can come in.

Giles? Whats wrong with Giles he can hold a bat. Bowled well (not up to shane warnes lvl) And really when you have Harmy,Jones,Flintoff and Hoggy you don't need a world class spinner. Where as Australia with Glen,other,other need a world class spinner.

Hoggard is really a good bowler if the pitch suits him. If it doesn't he turns into an ok bowler (much like any other bowler who is not in the top 10 of all time)

Vaughan? Great cap, And can hold a bat quite well Scored a 166 at Old Trafford remember that? Lets drop him after a 100... But Hayden stays YAY.

Eath to retox.

Did I (for the one millionth time) say that Eng would need to consider changes in time if certain players did not improve.

Dont bother answering.

Let Eng do everyone a favour and continue to play the worst spinner, worst keeper and worst no. 4 in test cricket without worrying about replacements. Im sure your 5 man attack will continue to hold sway

 

[social]

Or you just want support so you don't get an injury. Do you use them on the couch?

Played sport have we?

Before answering, I dont consider Xbox a sport.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

With respect, Watson is not an example of a bowler who would add anything (well very little) to a team through the creation of a five man attack. (If you are arguing for him as a long term investment that is a slightly different matter). The point about the value of England's five man attack, as i said, is that they provide an attack for most conditions. They will always have 2-3 bowlers for who the conditions are in their favour (aside from batting paradises, obviously). As things stand their are NO conditions which could be said to be particularly in Watson's favour, with which he could be expected to take a bagful of wickets. He's not good enough. What he would offer is the possibility of giving the other (wicket taking) bowlers a rest, and the false security of having "3 seamers" (in case Australia lose the toss) if the selectors want to play two spinners in any game. That's not quite the same thing.

Actually, that's not entirely true. Watson is quite a dangerous bowler when the pitch offers seam movement, and in those situations he usually takes a fair number of wickets, which is basically why his first class bowling average is sub-30. You saw a bit of it when he bowled quite well at Old Trafford against Bangadesh in the NatWest Series. He was very good the other day against Pakistan A on a lively pitch, and has taken bags a number of times in the Pura Cup when the pitch is helping.

Anyway, right now he certainly doesn't warrant a position as a bowler alone, but as a stock line & length bowler to bowl a few overs and keep the runs down or allow for a second spinner to be picked he does indeed add flexibility, provided that he warrants his place as a batsman alone, which I believe he can.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Bell, Geraint and Giles are obviously not good enough - let's punt more than 20% of the Ashes winning side immediately.

I am going to love it when Bell captains England to victory in the 2013 Ashes. He is to English cricket what Clarke is to Australian cricket - everyone knows he's the most talented young batsman the country has produced in a long time, we're just having to wait longer before he produces. He'll score at least one hundred in Pakistan, and will captain England once Strauss steps down sometime after the 2009 Ashes.

 

[simmy]

Let Eng do everyone a favour and continue to play the worst spinner, worst keeper and worst no. 4 in test cricket without worrying about replacements. Im sure your 5 man attack will continue to hold sway

Yet we still beat you!

 

[Pothas]

Good that Shah made the squad aswell although i would definetyl not drop Bell i think shah is a class player who will do well in test cricket if he ever gets the chance

 

[greg]

Good that Shah made the squad aswell although i would definetyl not drop Bell i think shah is a class player who will do well in test cricket if he ever gets the chance

He's not. He's in the academy squad.

 

[marc71178]

Yet we still beat you!

Precisely - with that many glaring weaknesses (!)

 

[Go_India]

Precisely - with that many glaring weaknesses (!)

Whatever, england can never DOMINATE world cricket , as australia have done for soo many years.

 

[Sanz]

Whatever, england can never DOMINATE world cricket , as australia have done for soo many years.

And that is a written rule, right ?? The fact is that if England can display same level of consistency they have shown over last 2 years, they certianly can dominate. They may lose a series here and there like Australia did in the subcontinent, but I would't count that against them if they continue to do well in rest of the world.

 

[aliG]

will he play or not...?

 

[Barney Rubble]

will he play or not...?

I reckon they'd be better served by recalling Saqlain, as long as he's fit. Mushie would do a good job, though, he's a top bowler and a legend to boot.

 

[greg]

will he play or not...?

No.

 

[Go_India]

And that is a written rule, right ?? The fact is that if England can display same level of consistency they have shown over last 2 years, they certianly can dominate. They may lose a series here and there like Australia did in the subcontinent, but I would't count that against them if they continue to do well in rest of the world.

England can never be like what Australia had been for around a decade, becuase as Imran Khan said they lacked a really quality spinner, and one of the most destructive batsman namely Gilchrist. These things matter to a very large extent, i wouldnt be surprised even if team like Pak give them a real fight in the comming series.

 

[Scaly piscine]

England can never be like what Australia had been for around a decade, becuase as Imran Khan said they lacked a really quality spinner, and one of the most destructive batsman namely Gilchrist. These things matter to a very large extent, i wouldnt be surprised even if team like Pak give them a real fight in the comming series.

Australia never had a world class batting and bowling all-rounder, did that disallow them from being successful?

 

[Go_India]

Australia never had a world class batting and bowling all-rounder, did that disallow them from being successful?

just imagine a team, Australia having a world class Allrounder aswell!!!! they had such a quality batting and bowling line-up, they never needed any Flintoff. And please dont say the likes of Ian Bell, Michael Vaughan are world class.