***Official*** England in Pakistan

[luckyeddie]

I can't believe people complained about the wicket considering 16 or 17 wickets fell in a day in the first Ashes test at Lord's. Poor form.

We expected that, though, and made allowances for it.

Ten of them were Aussies.

(I think that was what you meant, wasn't it?)

 

[Hazza]

Thinking cap time - if Vaughan misses the first Test, who comes in?

Personally, I'd bring Bell in at five and promote Collingwood to three - I don't think Pietersen has the mentality for no3, and I don't think Bell would appreciate the extra pressure.

If his injury is a bit more long term and there is a need for another top-order call-up, I'd go for Alistair Cook. Neither Owais Shah or Ed Joyce would really be capable of batting in the top 3 IMHO - but Cook has been opening all his life, so he'd cope better at the top of the order than anywhere else.

You'd have to remember that Bell has more intenational experience than Cook, although they are both still young. I think playing Cook in the long-term would be the wrong decision and the point about him being an opener shouldn't apply to a number three slot.

How ever I do agree that playing Bell at three may be a little unwise considering his form.

 

[open365]

You'd have to remember that Bell has more intenational experience than Cook, although they are both still young. I think playing Cook in the long-term would be the wrong decision and the point about him being an opener shouldn't apply to a number three slot.

How ever I do agree that playing Bell at three may be a little unwise considering his form.

Oasis Shah shoud play IMO,he's played for England before and batted excellently this season.Robert Key or Ed Joyce i wouldn't mind see playing either but it would be pointless playing Cook.

Mattt Prior,now there's an option.

 

[The Baconator]

Mattt Prior,now there's an option.

I might be wrong here, but doesn't Prior bat at 6/7 for Sussex, it doesn't seem right to throw him at no. 3. As for Vaughan, I reckon they'll play Bell, and call Fat Bob up if he's out for the series.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I can't believe people complained about the wicket considering 16 or 17 wickets fell in a day in the first Ashes test at Lord's. Poor form.

I distinctly remember complaining about that. Maybe not on here, but I clearly recall sending a text to PY with seven or eight words that are, well, unsuitable for repetition...

 

[Neil Pickup]

I might be wrong here, but doesn't Prior bat at 6/7 for Sussex, it doesn't seem right to throw him at no. 3. As for Vaughan, I reckon they'll play Bell, and call Fat Bob up if he's out for the series.

Does look like Bell will get into the side by default here - lucky, lucky boy... but why not try Collingwood at three? He bats there for Durham, after all, is in decent nick and has plenty of ODI experience at least.

 

[Hazza]

Owais Shah has experience only in the ODI's, he has no test match experience and I think it would be difficult to throw him into the team with players like Bell poised to regain his position, regardless of how brilliant a season he has.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Yeah,the pitches on which the English batsmen find it difficult to bat should be permitted nowhere in the world.

Because England lost ten wickets for fifty-five runs to Ashley Giles and Liam Plunkett...

No-one gains anything from 150-wickets in any matches in any competition. I've complained about tracks which don't offer fair competition at every level in every competition. I've been one of the most vocal critics of the square at my own club this season. There's no bias involved - tracks where run scoring is a lottery are no good for anyone.

 

[steds]

Oasis Shah shoud play IMO

 

[Neil Pickup]

Liam Gallagher would probably be a better bet than Ian Bell, let's face it.

The reaction to being given a dodgy LBW would also be worth England's permanent expulsion from world cricket.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Classic case of 'POT Calling the Kettle black' .

Don't really see how.

 

[Tom Halsey]

To be fair I think it is a minority (of 1, who moans about anything not from the North East anyway)

In fairness to SP, several people have problems with it, including me, Neil, etc.

 

[luckyeddie]

Classic case of 'POT .

It comes in CASES?

/throws baggy away

 

[Barney Rubble]

I think if Vaughan is ruled out for the entire series, England should consider giving the captaincy to someone other than Trescothick, as he's shown in the past he's not comfortable with the captaincy. Perhaps Strauss, with Flintoff also being an option.

 

[Neil Pickup]

I think if Vaughan is ruled out for the entire series, England should consider giving the captaincy to someone other than Trescothick, as he's shown in the past he's not comfortable with the captaincy. Perhaps Strauss, with Flintoff also being an option.

When was that? I was unconvinced at first, but he's never done so bad filling in for Vaughaney, either in the SA ODIs, or Strauss' Test.

 

[Barney Rubble]

When was that? I was unconvinced at first, but he's never done so bad filling in for Vaughaney, either in the SA ODIs, or Strauss' Test.

He's just never looked too sure of himself when I've seen him - he made a bad call batting second under lights in the abandoned ODI against Aus this summer, and he seems a little reactive rather than proactive. I'm sure he'd do a decent job, but I just wondered if perhaps he might not want the job for 3 Tests, as he doesn't seem to see himself as much of a natural leader. He's also a fantastic lieutenant for whoever is the captain - we'd lose out on that too if he stepped up.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd guess Strauss would be the other option as skipper. He's done it enough for Middlesex. Although, I'd stick with Tres as Strauss may be ratting us out for the 3rd test for his wife's confinement.

I reckon we need another batter out there myself. I don't think a middle order of

Collingwood
Bell
Pietersen
Flintoff
Jones

looks all that solid. There for a good time rather than a long time! How far I trust Fat Bob or Owais or Joyce is another issue. Butch still crocked...?

 

[Hazza]

Apart from his 166, Vaughan didn't look too solid in the Ashes. Even in that innings he got dropped and bowled off a no-ball.

 

[Jamee999]

Fact of the Day:

Paul Collingwood's batting average in Test Matches is lower than Rikki Clarke's.

Fact of the Day 2:

Mark Ramprakash averaged 74.66 in the County Championship this season.

Fact of the Day 3:

Jamee suggests:

Strauss
Tresco
Pietersen*
Bell
Joyce
Fred
GoJo
Giles
Udal
Hoggy
Harmy

 

[Magrat Garlick]

looks all that solid. There for a good time rather than a long time! How far I trust Fat Bob or Owais or Joyce is another issue. Butch still crocked...?

It says something that Butcher is supposed to play the reliable...