*Official* England in South Africa

[marc71178]

My gut feeling is that Harmison will retire now, didn't sound too keen on touring in his post-match interview.

I'd also say that Collingwood's place in the team is now dependent on England playing 6 batsmen now and wonder if he might also see that and decide to concentrate on the one day stuff?

Personally I would now go to 6 batsmen (Strauss, Cook, Bell, Pietersen, Trott, Collingwood) with Prior 7 and 4 bowlers (Broad, Anderson, Swann, Onions)

In reserve I suppose Key & Bopara with the bat, Foster with the gloves, Rashid & probably Sidebottom (even though I can't see him carrying much threat)

 

[Jamee999]

Surely Collingwood has to go as a reserve at least, especially above Bopara!

 

[marc71178]

He'd be in my side (as I'd pick 6 batsmen) but if they only pick 5 then he'd miss out (but by definition he'd then be 1st reserve batsman and they'd have to find another back up bowler IMO)

I'm only speculating on retirement, but if he's sensing (or even has it hinted to him) that he's not a first choice, he may decide to concentrate on one day stuff.

 

[cpnend]

Apologies to the OP but does anyone know when tickets will be on general sale.

 

[TT Boy]

Will actually be difficult picking a 15 and XI given how so many players disappointed during this series. Harmison has already alluded that he maybe finished but what about Bell, Cook and Colly? Even Anderson struggled but he could be a real handful in the Republic, if he gets the ball to swing. Liam Plunkett is another bowler I would look at, has played domestic cricket in South Africa and is a genuine swing bowler. Wouldn't consider any trundlers/medium pacers.

 

[oitoitoi]

Strauss
Moore
Key (for the lack of alternatives)
Pietersen
Trott
Bopara
Prior
Rashid (England need to improve against right handers, get a leggie in there)
Sidebottom (amazed he didn't get a game)
Anderson (could be a handful in SA)
Onions (I reckon he does what Broad does with the ball but better)

Broad (he'll definitely play, probably at 7 too)
Carberry (if fit, he's earned it)
Foster
Plunkett

Bell and especially Cook need to seriously look at their games. Cook in particular needs some solid work on his technique over the winter.

Hoping Colly and Harmison retire, it's not a bad time to do so.

The worst thing to happen would be if the selectors rest on their laurels and blindly stick with this side because it won the ashes.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Apologies to the OP but does anyone know when tickets will be on general sale.

The grounds will be empty apart the Barmy Army so there'll be no need to get tickets in advance.

 

[grecian]

Please no Plunkers

Rather have Mahmood, FFs.

Finn, Davies & Murtagh would be good longshots I'd of thought.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

It's quite scary that we've just won The Ashes yet the only middle order batsman worth his place in the side didn't play in the last three Tests and the only others worth mentioning are previous failures like Key and Ramprakash.

 

[Scaly piscine]

I guess the main thing is whether England continue with 5 bowlers or cut back to 4...

In South Africa it would also be an option for England to play 4 seamers and leave out Swann. Particularly if fat boy Patel loses a few pounds.

With Broad you feel like he could almost do with batting higher so he gets a chance to bat properly, but on the other hand England's batting is **** so...

 

[grecian]

Just remembered Tim Bresnan.

Now I'll try to forget him, TBH.

 

[pasag]

Won't get away with Broad at 7 in SA. Leave him as a very good number 8 and let him concentrate on his bowling.

 

[tooextracool]

I want to see Denly in to push Cook.

Err no thanks. Let him score in CC first. As much as I like like-for-like replacements, Id much rather not see one technically poor batter with 3.5 years experience replayed by another technically poor player with no test match experience.

 

[tooextracool]

Indeed, we need to break the abuse cycle. Treats us like crap in tests, we threaten divorce & kick him out, he's promises he's changed with lots of wickets in the CC so we allow him back for one last chance repeat ad nauseam.

Bit left field, but maybe Kirby for a "bang it in" bowler? Was in the Loins team & has 47 wickets at under 20.5 apiece this year.

Problem with Kirby is that hes 32 and didnt he just spanked around by the Australians in the tour game?

 

[tooextracool]

too true Scaly

oitoitoi in 'England player is no good' shocker. get a ****ing grip oitoitoi, you're like a broken record

Im not sure about his weakness against spin bowling, given he looked fair comfortable against North and didn't get to play a half decent spinner but he does play about his front pad and that is a weakness that was noted by almost everyone before he made his debut.

One swallow doesn't make a summer. Im impressed, especially with his temperament, but lets see how he goes from here.

 

[tooextracool]

I'm hoping Collingwood retires from Test cricket after the Ashes. I wouldn't have him on the plane to SA for the Test series, think his time has passed. My 15 man squad would be:

Tbh, I think he would be doing himself a favor if he did, can't see it getting better for his career at this point, hes won 2 Ashes series and hes 34 years old.

If he got picked for the plane to SA, I wouldn't be upset, but if he didnt I would be more impressed. For me if England want to build a side that could be the amongst the best in the world they need to look for players who are better than 'decent' and less than 34 years old.

 

[tooextracool]

I'd go with this side (even though I know it won't be picked):

Carberry
Strauss
Bopara
Pietersen
Trott
Prior
Rashid/Bell
Broad
Swann
Onions
Anderson


Foster
Sidebottom
Cook
Bell/Rashid

 

[Pothas]

Tbh, I think he would be doing himself a favor if he did, can't see it getting better for his career at this point, hes won 2 Ashes series and hes 34 years old.

If he got picked for the plane to SA, I wouldn't be upset, but if he didnt I would be more impressed. For me if England want to build a side that could be the amongst the best in the world they need to look for players who are better than 'decent' and less than 34 years old.

Yeah I agree but I think it is pretty unlikely that he is going to retire. You are right though it would not be a bad time to retire for Collingwood, would finnish off with a pretty solid test record and everyone will come out with the same old line of him making the most of his talent and all that. I really cannot see him improving, if he plays for another year or two he will eventually lose his place for good and I can see his average dropping towards the very low 40's or high 30's

 

[wpdavid]

I guess the main thing is whether England continue with 5 bowlers or cut back to 4...

In South Africa it would also be an option for England to play 4 seamers and leave out Swann. Particularly if fat boy Patel loses a few pounds.

With Broad you feel like he could almost do with batting higher so he gets a chance to bat properly, but on the other hand England's batting is **** so...

Yes, I'd agree with all of that, especially as I couldn't tell you the last time a finger-spinner did a thing in SA. Also, Prior hasn't shown me that he's a test number 6, although he's a perfectly good number 7. For me it's 6 batsmen followed by Prior and four quicks. Patel at 6 would be great, but he's barely made a score this summer, so it won't happen.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd go with this side (even though I know it won't be picked):

Carberry
Strauss
Bopara
Pietersen
Trott
Prior
Rashid/Bell
Broad
Swann
Onions
Anderson


Foster
Sidebottom
Cook
Bell/Rashid

Bopara at #3? For God's sake, why? I think if the Ashes has shown us nothing else it's that Ravinder isn't (yet) a test three's arsehole. I'd be far happier with Carberry or Fat Bob or maybe even one of them opening and pushing Cook back to three. He's scored test hundreds from there before.