chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Broad ahead of Tremett (Y)
Who daughter or sister did Foster sleep BTW?
Who daughter or sister did Foster sleep BTW?
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***Official*** England in Sri Lanka
- Thread starter JASON
- Start date
four_or_six
Cricketer Of The Year
First class batting averages for keepers last season:
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50
CMW Read 17 23 4 1001 240 52.68 1505 66.51 2 4
PA Nixon 13 21 3 879 126 48.83 1653 53.17 2 5
N Pothas 15 23 7 750 126* 46.87 1459 51.40 1 5
TR Ambrose 16 23 3 862 251* 43.10 1387 62.14 1 4
Selected other not on the top list I first looked at:
P Mustard 17 31 2 743 76 25.62 975 76.20 0 4
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50
CMW Read 17 23 4 1001 240 52.68 1505 66.51 2 4
PA Nixon 13 21 3 879 126 48.83 1653 53.17 2 5
N Pothas 15 23 7 750 126* 46.87 1459 51.40 1 5
TR Ambrose 16 23 3 862 251* 43.10 1387 62.14 1 4
Selected other not on the top list I first looked at:
P Mustard 17 31 2 743 76 25.62 975 76.20 0 4
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Really, I think it is a very poor squad.
Firstly, Strauss dropped. Fairly enough; I actually suggested it myself. But to not replace him with a specialist opener even in the squad seems quite odd. I'm not as fanatical about the whole "Vaughan must bat in the middle order" thing as some are and I really don't think him opening would be such a bad move, but to have no backup in the squad at all to go in a different direction seems a bit strange. Fair enough opening with Vaughan I guess, but Key or Strauss should have been in the squad as insurance. We didn't even get treated to a Ramprakash recall which, while probably not the right move, certainly would have added a lot of interest to the series for me.
Secondly, as I noted before - Mustard; WTF?!?! Foster, Pothas - hell, even Read, Jones or Nixon - not the best options, obviously, but Mustard's selection seems quite ridiculous. He had a good season or so in one day cricket (even though he was quite poor beforehand) but even Scaly mentioned a few times in the County Cricket thread that he was quite a poor batsman in the longer version and was struggling. If he ever plays a test I'll be highly dissapointed.
And lastly but not leastly; Broad over Tremlett. Disgraceful selection. I've reserved my comments on Broad before and he seems likeable and is still young - but seriously, horrible selection. He's officially over-rated now for mine. He's has a good head on his shoulders for such a young player and his batting is good for a bowler but as much as I've tried to rate him beyond that, I can't. His action looks bloody shocking - and no, I'm not calling him a chucker, simply saying it looks quite awkward and not that of an international bowler. His accuracy is vastly over-stated; he bowls a good, consistent length for one day cricket but his line can be poor and the length he bowls isn't really suited to test cricket either. He doesn't get much movement at all off the seam or in the air and he isn't particularly pacey. He takes me as one of those "not quite" players who will be good at domestic level as he doesn't have much of a shocking weakness, but who doesn't really have a real positive to press on to test cricket and take wickets regularly with. Obviously he could get better as he grows and matures as a player but seriously, if he's fit to lace Tremlett's boots at this stage, I'm not here. If the line of thinking is that Tremlett wouldn't be particuarly successful in Sri Lankan conditions, I can definitely see that, but we better see him back in the squad after this tour if that's the case.
I'm not in favour of Swann over Keedy either, ITBT, but that was always going to happen after the one day series.
Firstly, Strauss dropped. Fairly enough; I actually suggested it myself. But to not replace him with a specialist opener even in the squad seems quite odd. I'm not as fanatical about the whole "Vaughan must bat in the middle order" thing as some are and I really don't think him opening would be such a bad move, but to have no backup in the squad at all to go in a different direction seems a bit strange. Fair enough opening with Vaughan I guess, but Key or Strauss should have been in the squad as insurance. We didn't even get treated to a Ramprakash recall which, while probably not the right move, certainly would have added a lot of interest to the series for me.
Secondly, as I noted before - Mustard; WTF?!?! Foster, Pothas - hell, even Read, Jones or Nixon - not the best options, obviously, but Mustard's selection seems quite ridiculous. He had a good season or so in one day cricket (even though he was quite poor beforehand) but even Scaly mentioned a few times in the County Cricket thread that he was quite a poor batsman in the longer version and was struggling. If he ever plays a test I'll be highly dissapointed.
And lastly but not leastly; Broad over Tremlett. Disgraceful selection. I've reserved my comments on Broad before and he seems likeable and is still young - but seriously, horrible selection. He's officially over-rated now for mine. He's has a good head on his shoulders for such a young player and his batting is good for a bowler but as much as I've tried to rate him beyond that, I can't. His action looks bloody shocking - and no, I'm not calling him a chucker, simply saying it looks quite awkward and not that of an international bowler. His accuracy is vastly over-stated; he bowls a good, consistent length for one day cricket but his line can be poor and the length he bowls isn't really suited to test cricket either. He doesn't get much movement at all off the seam or in the air and he isn't particularly pacey. He takes me as one of those "not quite" players who will be good at domestic level as he doesn't have much of a shocking weakness, but who doesn't really have a real positive to press on to test cricket and take wickets regularly with. Obviously he could get better as he grows and matures as a player but seriously, if he's fit to lace Tremlett's boots at this stage, I'm not here. If the line of thinking is that Tremlett wouldn't be particuarly successful in Sri Lankan conditions, I can definitely see that, but we better see him back in the squad after this tour if that's the case.
I'm not in favour of Swann over Keedy either, ITBT, but that was always going to happen after the one day series.
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Agree with most of Rob's post ^^^ but naturally I'm disgusted that Vaughan will open again. I don't often say this but I hope 3 or 4 players get injured so as someone like Key gets called in.
I really am seriously spitting at that. I've waited 8 years to see Vaughan finally do something of real note in the middle-order, and what happens as soon as he does? Back to opening.
Mustard's selection is possibly even worse than the selection of Symonds over Katich in '03\04 - yes, the worst selection of my time, and beyond question the worst for England, even worse than Bresnan being picked in 2006 and probably even worse than anything in the 29-player summer of 1989.
As for picking Broad over Tremlett - brainless. So, so typical of remembering merely most recent rather than most important. All right, I don't see Tremlett doing much on a typical Sri Lankan surface, and I'm hoping for 2 spinners anyway. But to pick someone who's never played a Test and doesn't have a remotely outstanding First-Class record over someone who's made a promising start to a Test-career, well, it beggars belief almost.
Of course, there's a case for Broad over Harmison but we've long since been resigned to a 15th commandment: Stephen Harmison shalt play for England when available, so I barely note that any more.
You can almost bank on me rooting for Lanka this series.
I really am seriously spitting at that. I've waited 8 years to see Vaughan finally do something of real note in the middle-order, and what happens as soon as he does? Back to opening.
Mustard's selection is possibly even worse than the selection of Symonds over Katich in '03\04 - yes, the worst selection of my time, and beyond question the worst for England, even worse than Bresnan being picked in 2006 and probably even worse than anything in the 29-player summer of 1989.
As for picking Broad over Tremlett - brainless. So, so typical of remembering merely most recent rather than most important. All right, I don't see Tremlett doing much on a typical Sri Lankan surface, and I'm hoping for 2 spinners anyway. But to pick someone who's never played a Test and doesn't have a remotely outstanding First-Class record over someone who's made a promising start to a Test-career, well, it beggars belief almost.
Of course, there's a case for Broad over Harmison but we've long since been resigned to a 15th commandment: Stephen Harmison shalt play for England when available, so I barely note that any more.
You can almost bank on me rooting for Lanka this series.
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Pup Clarke
Cricketer Of The Year
Mustard... over Pothas, Ambrose, Foster, Read, Nixon, Batty (Hell even the likes of Gazzard and Pipe might have a hope of getting picked in the future) 
Even Geraint Jones > Mustard for goodness sake
Disgrace
Even Geraint Jones > Mustard for goodness sake
Disgrace
grecian
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I can only think Mustard has been picked to keep the pressure off Prior (he is Moore's golden boy after all).
Davies would of been my choice, tbh. I feel Foster should really have scored a bit more prolifically in the County championship, even though he'd be ahead of the two incumbents, but so would many others.
Davies would of been my choice, tbh. I feel Foster should really have scored a bit more prolifically in the County championship, even though he'd be ahead of the two incumbents, but so would many others.
gettingbetter
State Vice-Captain
1. Cook
2. Vaughan
3. Shah
Is that how it is looking at the moment?
2. Vaughan
3. Shah
Is that how it is looking at the moment?
The_Bunny
State Regular
While I awta, would still have to laugh if they won the series
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Prior or Mustard will open the batting in Tests, so for those that want Vaughan in the middle he will still be there.
Would be funny if it actually happened though.
Would be funny if it actually happened though.
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
I damn well hope so - at least there'd then be one thing that didn't get disrupted, ie Bell at six.
Can perfectly well see them disrupting everything possible by moving Vaughan to open and Bell to three though.
gettingbetter
State Vice-Captain
Either way. Its good to see that Shah (hopefully/most likely) will get an extended run in the team.I damn well hope so - at least there'd then be one thing that didn't get disrupted, ie Bell at six.
Can perfectly well see them disrupting everything possible by moving Vaughan to open and Bell to three though.
gettingbetter
State Vice-Captain
This is where your previous comments sort of come back and bite you Richard.
Who are the candidates? Key? We'll he has been tried and failed at international level. Strike him off. Denly, Goodleman - let them be in the counties for a while. Strike them off. Vaughan is the only real option.
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
He's not, though - Key is a quite viable option IMO. He's only ever opened in 2 Tests (and though he has batted three quite a few times, he's not done dreadfully there and had it not been for the fact he was keeping Mark Butcher out of the side I'd have been very happy had he suceeded).
If Strauss was to be dropped, for me, it had to be for Key. Then you could have:
Cook
Key
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood \ Shah
Bell
Prior (unfortunately)
Swann
Hoggard
Sidebottom
MSP
With Vaughan, Collingwood and maybe even Pietersen to bowl in addition to the specialists.
If Strauss was to be dropped, for me, it had to be for Key. Then you could have:
Cook
Key
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood \ Shah
Bell
Prior (unfortunately)
Swann
Hoggard
Sidebottom
MSP
With Vaughan, Collingwood and maybe even Pietersen to bowl in addition to the specialists.
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chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
I see i'm not the only one that picks 12 players...
gettingbetter
State Vice-Captain
But he would be your option right?
How you pick and disect players (in regards to their previous efforts e.g. Shah in ODIs) is beyond me.
I've said since about 2001 that he's a fine batsman in the longer form of the game who's deserved more opportunity than he's got.