flibbertyjibber
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Not me, I have always rated Bell and knew he would come good, too classy not to. Bopara on the other hand...
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***Official*** England in Sri Lanka 2012
- Thread starter Cabinet96
- Start date
Scaly piscine
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Exactly Bell oozes class he had a temperament issue. Which as I said at the time it's pointless him continuing to play because that won't resolve it. Fortunately Bell himself did something about it to toughen himself up. Now he's not perfect temperamentally but he's a lot better than he was.
Bopara on the other hand has never oozed class apart from random innings against absolute prank bowling attacks. He has been poor for the Lions and for his club over the past season or so and he's never dominated that much. Plus he's whinged about the balls doing too much, he's a nervous wreck and randomly hits the ball in the air. The odds of him becoming anything productive aren't great.
Bopara on the other hand has never oozed class apart from random innings against absolute prank bowling attacks. He has been poor for the Lions and for his club over the past season or so and he's never dominated that much. Plus he's whinged about the balls doing too much, he's a nervous wreck and randomly hits the ball in the air. The odds of him becoming anything productive aren't great.
GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
I don't particularly want Bopara in the side. Would love to see him prove me wrong, I'll never be one of these people who enjoys seeing players fail to prove me right, but I can't ever see him cutting the mustard. TBH Patel doesn't thrill me either, #6 is a problem, I think we should just invite Colly back for the next 5 years, would rather have him scoring no runs than all these other nump-ties 
Pup Clarke
Cricketer Of The Year
TBH Bopara averages 35 in ODI's since the start of 2011. Nothing earth-shattering, but he does get crucified for being just an average international player so far.
four_or_six
Cricketer Of The Year
Before the UAE tour I'd have said Bresnan... but now I have nfi. If it looks like spin, I'm not averse to seeing Monty there really.Still not sure how I want to see the bowling line up.
A.derson, Broad and Swann are gimmes - not sure if Panesar, Bresnan or even Finn is who I'd prefer to see as the 4th bowler.
Good problem to have though.
theegyptian
International Vice-Captain
the english journos have been tweeting a bit about how it's considerably more hot and humid in sri lanka compared to uae but i can't see England selecting any other team than the same one that ended the pakistan tour except bopara comes in for morgan and is the 3rd seamer.
Can't really see Patel playing- Flower never exactly talks glowingly about him and there's no point playing 3 spinners with Monty and Patel in the team because Patel would never bowl and Bopara is still the better bat.
Can't really see Patel playing- Flower never exactly talks glowingly about him and there's no point playing 3 spinners with Monty and Patel in the team because Patel would never bowl and Bopara is still the better bat.
Jacknife
International Captain
Yes, add to that how much bowling will Bresnan have done since the UAE, where he looked unfit after his operation on his elbow. No doubt the call will come down to how the pitch looks in the lead up to the Test, if it looks like SL has prepared a dry, cracked pitch, I reckon they'll keep the attack that finished the UAE tour and bring Bopara in but if it doesn't look like spin will be the key, they'll go Jimmy, Broad, Finn and Swann.
I do fancy Finn against one or two of the SL batsmen though, especially if the pitch isn't as flat as a a pancake, I think he could cause some problems out there. I also reckon Swann will have a better tour with there being more left handers for him to feed off.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Isn't the point of playing Patel that you'd be able to have your three quicks, plus two spinning options?
theegyptian
International Vice-Captain
yes I just can't see them dropping swann or panesar. patel isn't a good enough bowler or batsman to get in the team imo.
and jacknife - i don't think England fancy Finn that much in test cricket at present. otherwise he would have played the first test in UAE rather than Tremlett.
theegyptian
International Vice-Captain
yay cricket tomorrow
Jacknife
International Captain
Don't agree tbh, I think Flower very much rates Finn and he's spoken at various times about the improvements he's made in his control, fitness and pace albeit in one day cricket. He basically said he'd done everything they've asked of him since the time he got dropped in the Ashes.
Just because they gave Tremlett the nod in that first test, which imo came down to the fact that Tremlett currently had possession of the place and when fully fit he's the better bowler between the two. Obviously it turned out he wasn't as fit as the team thought but that doesn't mean they don't rate Finn in tests, it was purely down to consistency of selection.
Now with Tremmers injured, he's right in the mix, given how well he's bowled on what will be similar pitches, it will all come down to the make up of the side and how to bets balance the side.
BoyBrumby
Englishman
Ah. Paints a different picture then, I suppose. I imagine Finn was called up to replace him as the best like-for-like bowling replacement. Lengthens our tail considerably tho.
Monty been very steady meanwhile: 5 - 4 - 1 - 0.
Agent Nationaux
International Coach
Brilliant bowling by Anderson.