***Official*** England in Pakistan

[aussie]

Blackwell could have well & won it this morning if were it not for his stupid running , must commend Ali on his effort had a good game, but when you look a the broad picture i cant really see him being part of a full-strenght england OD bowling attack.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

At least half of the England team that played today are not International quality cricketers. We have to hope that when the World Cup comes around everyone is fit.

 

[ClownSymonds]

I don't know if I'd fancy England's chances against West Indies, Bangladesh, or even Zimbabwe - especially if Chingoka and Bvute play. Then there's Blessing Mahwire, and Prosper Utseya...

 

[Deja moo]

I don't know if I'd fancy England's chances against West Indies, Bangladesh, or even Zimbabwe - especially if Chingoka and Bvute play. Then there's Blessing Mahwire, and Prosper Utseya...

No offence meant to any Englishmen, but

 

[Barney Rubble]

You'd have to say that the major worry for England at the moment is that beyond the first XI, the others who are likely to make up the World Cup 15/16-man squad don't look likely to make an impact if called upon. At the moment, we're looking at a first XI of:

Tres
Strauss
Vaughan*
KP
Fred
Colly
GoJo
Giles
Plunkett
Harmy
Jonah

With the other five being Prior, Solanki, Blackwell, Anderson, Bell and Tremlett, the forgotten man. I'd like to think that potentially Shah, Cook, and Joyce will all push their claims to replace Solanki with the bat; I'm happy with Prior for now as I think he has potential, likewise Bell is deserving of more chances IMO.

Jury still out on Anderson at the moment. Blackwell showing signs he could be worth another series - some useful bowling and slightly more responsible batting, the unfortunate thing being he hasn't had a chance to show what he's best at from no8.

Kabir is probably not worth persevering with - his batting was good today and he picked up a couple of handy wickets, but he's still unreliable and doesn't give us much we don't already have, hence Tremlett gets the nod if fit. That covers the extra five named there.

As for their potential replacements, I've mentioned three batsmen already who can bat in the top 5 - all of whom I would expect to make their ODI debuts in the next 12 months. Potential replacements for Kabir or Anderson are Tremlett, as already stated, and Simon Jones will come straight back in - Gough doesn't seem likely ever to play for England again, so we're probably still looking for one or two more seamers to press their claim in domestic cricket. Perhaps Sajid Mahmood will make a comeback, or Stuart Broad will do an Anderson and appear from nowhere - who knows.

One thing I can say is God help us if Fred gets injured.

 

[ClownSymonds]

And God help Pakistan if Inzamam gets injured. I don't think any one player means more to a team than Inzamam does to Pakistan - Lara and the West Indies included.

 

[Blaze]

Why don't you just reply all in one post? I mean, I can see why you don't [reply as you read them so you don't lose your train of thought] but even then it wouldn't be so hard to make them one post? Much easier to read.

Post boosting.

 

[GotSpin]

And God help Pakistan if Inzamam gets injured. I don't think any one player means more to a team than Inzamam does to Pakistan - Lara and the West Indies included.

Apparantly he has been working on his fitness so those chances of getting injured might be reduced

 

[Scaly piscine]

You'd have to say that the major worry for England at the moment is that beyond the first XI, the others who are likely to make up the World Cup 15/16-man squad don't look likely to make an impact if called upon. At the moment, we're looking at a first XI of:

Tres
Strauss
Vaughan*
KP
Fred
Colly
GoJo
Giles
Plunkett
Harmy
Jonah

With the other five being Prior, Solanki, Blackwell, Anderson, Bell and Tremlett, the forgotten man. I'd like to think that potentially Shah, Cook, and Joyce will all push their claims to replace Solanki with the bat; I'm happy with Prior for now as I think he has potential, likewise Bell is deserving of more chances IMO.

Beyond the first XI isn't too worrying if you look at the bowling, you can pick one of Giles & Blackwell or any 3 of Simon Jones, Harmison, Plunkett, Anderson and Tremlett and they'll do a good enough job most of the time with Flintoff. It's the batting that's a bit weak to start with, let alone if there's an injury.

 

[Fusion]

And God help Pakistan if Inzamam gets injured. I don't think any one player means more to a team than Inzamam does to Pakistan - Lara and the West Indies included.

As a Pakistani fan, that's my top nightmare. I know that the team has shown tremendous improvement as a WHOLE over the past year, but one still gets the feeling that where goes Inzi, goes the rest of Pakistan. If God forbid he's not there, we go back to being mediocre.

 

[marc71178]

None the less, Pakistan won the match and the series so all is well. England on the other hand have around 3 or 4 holes in that team.

I think 3 or 4 is being generous.

I also think that if Vaughan were fit, as maligned as he is, he'd have anchored us home.

 

[aussie]

One thing I can say is God help us if Fred gets injured.

yep, if that happens in both forms of the game it will really mess-up englands balance.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I think 3 or 4 is being generous.

I also think that if Vaughan were fit, as maligned as he is, he'd have anchored us home.

Or pulled the ball straight to deep square leg and adopted his oh too familiar gormless disbelieve look.

 

[jack_sparrow]

England can win series - Collingwood

 

[marc71178]

Or pulled the ball straight to deep square leg and adopted his oh too familiar gormless disbelieve look.

No, that's the Flintoff and Pietersen method.

Vaughan may not score as quickly as others but quick runs were not what was needed there - a calm head was.

 

[social]

No, that's the Flintoff and Pietersen method.

Vaughan may not score as quickly as others but quick runs were not what was needed there - a calm head was.

And preferably some runs - something for which Vaughan is not noted in ODIs.

 

[Nate]

Big win for Pakistan, Afridi comes good once more. Gotta love him. I really like this Pakistani side.

 

[marc71178]

And preferably some runs - something for which Vaughan is not noted in ODIs.

To be fair to him, he's averaging over 30 for each of the last 3 years (and over the last 2 he's ahead of Sehwag, yet Sehwag made the World ODI XI)

 

[magsi23]

England can win series - Collingwood

yeh, he even thought England will whitewash Pakistan 3-0

 

[Barney Rubble]

yeh, he even thought England will whitewash Pakistan 3-0

For Pete's sake, no he didn't.

For the last time, here is the exact quote from Collingwood:

"Whether we win them 2-1, 1-0 we're going to be happy to win the series but I certainly think our main goal in Pakistan will be to win 3-0."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4374454.stm

He said we would aim for 3-0. Not that we'd get it. That's been stated numerous times already on this board.