***Official*** England in Sri Lanka

[Pup Clarke]

I've also heard absolute nonsense (from a certain Colville ) that Hoggard and Sidebottom can't play in the same team as their too "similar". It's rubbish imo, there probably your two best seamers atm so play them, Sidebottom also offers variety to counetr this a he can get the ball to swing back in and move it away thus providing different angles.

 

[wpdavid]

I've also heard absolute nonsense (from a certain Colville ) that Hoggard and Sidebottom can't play in the same team as their too "similar". It's rubbish imo, there probably your two best seamers atm so play them, Sidebottom also offers variety to counetr this a he can get the ball to swing back in and move it away thus providing different angles.

I'm trying to work out how a leftarmer & rightarmer can be too similar. Can't see it, tbh. Yes, I'd play them both as well. Beyond them, maybe play two spinners or the third seamer depending on how close conditions are to my son's sandpit.

 

[Richard]

If Foster doesn't get the gloves it'll be nothing short of madness. Prior should never have usurped him ITFP.

Apart from anything else (Foster > Prior with the bat IMO for some time) Foster has appeared in recent years to be a very sound 'keeper.

If Mustard plays Tests I'll turn my support to South Africa this winter.

 

[Pup Clarke]

If Foster doesn't get the gloves it'll be nothing short of madness.

Why may I ask?, Pothas has done quite a bit better in the last couple of years and deserves a crack even though he's getting on a bit.

 

[wpdavid]

So the likely squad is

Strauss, Cook, Vaughan, KP, Collingwood, Bell, Shah, Prior/Foster/whoever, Swann, Panesar, Hoggard, Harmison, Sidebottom, Anderson plus one other. Tremlett or another top 6 batsman?

 

[Pup Clarke]

Would go for the extra batter myself and that would be Ed Joyce.

 

[Richard]

Why may I ask?, Pothas has done quite a bit better in the last couple of years and deserves a crack even though he's getting on a bit.

TBH a 34-year-old Test debutant is never something I'm terribly keen on. People should continue to be picked for as long as they perform - I was hugely in favour of an Alec Stewart recall in 2002, for instance - but debuting at that late age is not often a good idea IMO.

 

[steds]

TBH a 34-year-old Test debutant is never something I'm terribly keen on.

You seemed to be alright with Udal.

 

[Richard]

Think he was 35 TBH.

 

[FBU]

TBH, the bowling is still much to convince me. Sidebottom's been hugely impressive, especially in this game (I think we all knew he could do a decent job given Dambulla-like conditions) and Swann obviously offers quite some hope. With any luck Flintoff and Mascarenhas will be back sometime too.

I still think people are inclined to think more of Anderson and Broad than they deserve, really, though. Neither have yet truly convinced me - Anderson even in now over 4 years of trying. I've seen too many Bresnans, Tremletts, Plunketts, Joneses, Wharfs, Mahmoods, Kabir Alis, Harmisons, Tudors, Kirtleys and Hoggards to get that excited over anyone who doesn't do something really, really, really special.

Four years sounds like a long time but Anderson has really only had two full years playing ODIs.

2002 - 3
2003 - 23
2004 - 12
2005 - 5
2006 - 9
2007 - 28
.
At the same age - (twenty five and a quarter)
ODIs
McGrath played 36 games with 49 wickets (1.36 wickets per game)
Gough 10 games 17 wickets (1.70)
Ntini 53 games 73 wickets (1.37)
Lee 33 games 57 wickets (1.72)
Pollock 57 games 81 wickets (1.42)

So 80 games and 116 wickets (1.48 as he didn't bowl in 2 games, being subbed and rained off) is not too bad. He is still learning. Bowlers only get to their best in their late 20's.

 

[Prince EWS]

Four years sounds like a long time but Anderson has really only had two full years playing ODIs.

2002 - 3
2003 - 23
2004 - 12
2005 - 5
2006 - 9
2007 - 28
.
At the same age - (twenty five and a quarter)
ODIs
McGrath played 36 games with 49 wickets (1.36 wickets per game)
Gough 10 games 17 wickets (1.70)
Ntini 53 games 73 wickets (1.37)
Lee 33 games 57 wickets (1.72)
Pollock 57 games 81 wickets (1.42)

So 80 games and 116 wickets (1.48 as he didn't bowl in 2 games, being subbed and rained off) is not too bad. He is still learning. Bowlers only get to their best in their late 20's.

Wickets per game is quite a primitive and almost useless measure of how good a bowler is in ODI cricket, though.

 

[Goughy]

Wickets per game is quite a primitive and almost useless measure of how good a bowler is in ODI cricket, though.

Not useless. Maybe not key but it is certainly a factor

 

[GIMH]

It seems like ages since we played a Test. Looking forwards to the squad being announced, tbh

 

[pasag]

It seems like ages since we played a Test. Looking forwards to the squad being announced, tbh

Speaking of ....

 

[Prince EWS]

Speaking of ....

Whether or not it would be the right move, I'd certainly be very interested to see how he'd go if he got another crack.

 

[GIMH]

Speaking of ....

Was just about to link to that myself.

Interesting is the word I would use. The problem with dropping Strauss is that there aren't any other natural openers, IMO. Agree with Rich that Vaughan is better at #3.

 

[pasag]

No way Strauss should be there though, he's a walking wicket. I'd like to see him back in the side soon but he's too much of a liability at the moment and carrying him through the rough patch doesn't seem to be working (unless you're of the opinion that his whole career is one big rough patch with some exceptions). Bell to open ftr.

 

[chaminda_00]

Can Mustard open in Tests?

 

[Prince EWS]

Can Mustard open in Tests?

I'd back Hoggard to do a better job.

 

[chaminda_00]

I'd back Hoggard to do a better job.

To be serious, Robert Key. If your going to give Ramps another go then why not Key. While your at it give Hick another chance as well. Dad's army eat your heart out.