***Official*** England in Pakistan

[godofcricket]

Because he's been the difference between the sides thus far.

In a way.......the only reason why i said it is becuase i feel in Pak u need to score around 300 every game to stand a chance of winning and Pietersen is only one of the few english batsman who can score at a high rate......the other only being Flintoff in the middle-order.

 

[steds]

For the purposes of having a no4 capable of maintaining momentum throughout the middle overs

*coughcoughcough*

 

[Prince EWS]

around 300 every game to stand a chance of winning and Pietersen is only one of the few english batsman who can score at a high rate......the other only being Flintoff in the middle-order.

Despite the fact that are generally crap with the bat in ODI cricket, Blackwell and Jones can certainly "score at a high rate." Collingwood can score really quickly when he needs to as well. He is often in a position where he has to rebuild or play a supporting role with Pietersen or Flintoff, but when given the incentive to attack (eg. the 20/20 game that Steds linked us to) he can really go.

Speaking of Jones, I dont think I'd play him in a full-strength side. If Prior can make the side as a specialist batsman, which he can at the moment, I'd simply give him the gloves for the match. Having heard that his keeping is suspect, I'd never actually pick him as an allrounder as such, but if he can make the side on his batting alone, and he keeps in County Cricket, thats good enough for me. Given the current situation of injuries though, Jones has to play.

 

[marc71178]

Really? Hehe, lucky us.

http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/WorldXI_ODI.asp

 

[BoyBrumby]

http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/WorldXI_ODI.asp

Bit of a gip as it has Gilly in as a specialist opener!

& as the president of the AAAS would you care to try to sum up the great man's feelings about his inclusion too?!?!

 

[Barney Rubble]

*coughcoughcough*

Was assuming that Colly would not be removed from his "finisher" role at no6, as he's perfect there.

 

[aussie]

I had an interesting and probably quite insane thought earlier. For the purposes of having a no4 capable of maintaining momentum throughout the middle overs, and of not promoting Blackwell a good place or two too high at no4, how about this:

Tres*
Prior
Strauss
G Jones+
Flintoff
Collingwood
Blackwell
Solanki
Plunkett
Harmison
Anderson
(Bell)

Seeing as Solanki's a specialist fielder these days, he won't mind batting 8.

thats pretty good Barney, hopefully Tres & Fletcher are thinking along having this type of team for Karachi...

 

[a10khan]

With Afridi back in the side:

1: Salman Butt
2: Kamran Akmal
3: Younis Khan
4: Mohammad Yousuf
5: Inzamam-ul-Haq
6: Shoaib Malik
7: Shahid Afridi
8: Abdur Razzaq
9: Naved-ul-Rana
10: Mohammad Sami
11: Shoaib Akhtar
Sub: Yasir Arafat

Kaneria is useless in ODIs, so he comes out for Afridi. Akmal has just scored a century opening the innings, so it would be foolish to displace him. He stays where he is. Afridi plays at 7 or whenever slogging is needed. Arafat replaces Arshad Khan as sub because Arshad is crap and Arafat can both bat and bowl, so he will be able to make an impact no matter what.

That wil be the most probable lineup. However, Inzy might continue with Arshad as the supersub just coz he loves Arshad so much.

Another thing, it wont be a bad idea playing another regular bowler like Asif and bringing Afridi as a supersub. If they bat first, One of Sami or Asif can be replaced around the 30-over mark or so, and Afridi can come in. This will give Pak 7 solid bowling options.

If Pak bowles first and goes deep into the lineup, they can replace Asif/Sami with Afridi. They's still have 6 bowling options! Just a thought...

 

[greg]

In a way.......the only reason why i said it is becuase i feel in Pak u need to score around 300 every game to stand a chance of winning and Pietersen is only one of the few english batsman who can score at a high rate......the other only being Flintoff in the middle-order.

Well Tres obviously can, and i must have dreamed Strauss' run a ball 95 in the first match.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Well Tres obviously can, and i must have dreamed Strauss' run a ball 95 in the first match.

Tres isn't looking too good. Ever since that 190 (and even that was a questionable knock) he has been on the decline.

 

[marc71178]

& as the president of the AAAS would you care to try to sum up the great man's feelings about his inclusion too?!?!

It goes to show that class will show through. Also, clearly shows that AA is better than McGrath, Vaas, Bond etc.

 

[marc71178]

Tres isn't looking too good. Ever since that 190 (and even that was a questionable knock) he has been on the decline.

How was that 190 a questionable knock?!

Because of the chance he offered when well past 150?

 

[Prince EWS]

Well Tres obviously can, and i must have dreamed Strauss' run a ball 95 in the first match.

He did say "in the middle order" though, so I discounted Trescothick.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Tres isn't looking too good. Ever since that 190 (and even that was a questionable knock) he has been on the decline.

There's a difference between "on the decline" and "out of nick".

 

[ClownSymonds]

How was that 190 a questionable knock?!

Because of the chance he offered when well past 150?

I was thinking more of the LBW on 30 or 40.

 

[grecian]

Oh, come on, Clown Symonds is a hilarious poster, but can't be taking seriously in his opinions on English cricketers, Trescothick is a progressively better player then any of those uppity colonial openers

 

[SJS]

Oh, come on, Clown Symonds is a hilarious poster, :

I second that. He is more than funny...he lights up the CW. We need more guys like him around.

 

[grecian]

Oh dear, feel I should move this convo on!!

I think Bell as a replacement for KP, may not be a bad deal, we need steadying in the middling-order,we've stroke-players, all over the place, but no antitode to collapses

Anyway I thought we'd lose this series 5-0, so i've been one-up after the first

 

[aussie]

looking at the bounce so far on this deck, maybe Tres should have given Harmy the new ball..

 

[superkingdave]

or maybe harmy would just have got smashed like he has been doing this series.

Botham really annoys me sometimes.

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