Prince EWS
Global Moderator
If Harmison and Broad really do get picked ahead of Anderson for the first Test, I'm boycotting it.
If Harmison and Broad really do get picked ahead of Anderson for the first Test, I'm boycotting it.
Yeah, that was Ahmose....Guy on another forum who's listening to Am in St Kitts gives the best updates...think thats where Caribbean Cricket gets the updates from as well
Think you might be right, our best bowler of the home summer getting dropped would be such an awful call thoughYeah, love caribbean tours. You can get a very decent amount of play in even without having days off work. Or skiving off lectures for the tax-dodging fraternity...
Anyway, this is how I think we'll line up (rather than who I'd pick):
Strauss*
Cook
Bell (groan)
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior+
Broad
Sidebottom
Harmison
Panesar
Harsh on Jimmy & Owais, but selectors are an inherently conservative bunch.
I know that is not your choice but your expected XI but personally would go in with:Yeah, love caribbean tours. You can get a very decent amount of play in even without having days off work. Or skiving off lectures for the tax-dodging fraternity...
Anyway, this is how I think we'll line up (rather than who I'd pick):
Strauss*
Cook
Bell (groan)
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior+
Broad
Sidebottom
Harmison
Panesar
Harsh on Jimmy & Owais, but selectors are an inherently conservative bunch.
I'd drop Harmison for Shah from that lineup. It's not going to happen though, obviously, so that's probably the best I can hope for.I know that is not your choice but your expected XI but personally would go in with:
1. Strauss*
2. Cook
3. Bell
4. Pietersen
5. Collingwood
6. Prior+
7. Flintoff
8. Sidebottom
9. Anderson
10. Harmison
11. Panesar
I think Harmison is worth a shot in the country where he has performed so well in, in the past. However, I did consider that swap while making that XI.I'd drop Harmison for Shah from that lineup. It's not going to happen though, obviously, so that's probably the best I can hope for.
Flintoff just can't be part of a four-man attack.I'd drop Harmison for Shah from that lineup. It's not going to happen though, obviously, so that's probably the best I can hope for.
I've heard this theory numerous times but never truly understood it. Flintoff is a bowler capable of bowling tremendous numbers of overs in an innings, so why can't he be part of a four man attack. The only reason I can think of is that it would cripple an attack if he got injured but he is hardly Shane Watson and since when do teams plan for a bowler getting injured?Flintoff just can't be part of a four-man attack.
And Matt Prior simply cannot bat in the top 6.Flintoff just can't be part of a four-man attack.
Test average of 40.62 (mainly scored against the West Indies) begs to differ.And Matt Prior simply cannot bat in the top 6.
One of the two has to happen though, unless Flintoff is dropped I suppose.
Not that he might get injured during a match, but if we want him to back up through until September then we need to be careful how much he bowls. When he bowls a load of overs, he normally seems to do his ankle in and misses the next few months.I've heard this theory numerous times but never truly understood it. Flintoff is a bowler capable of bowling tremendous numbers of overs in an innings, so why can't he be part of a four man attack. The only reason I can think of is that it would cripple an attack if he got injured but he is hardly Shane Watson and since when do teams plan for a bowler getting injured?
Agreed. And I suppose that's why 'balance of the side' might have Broad in there.And Matt Prior simply cannot bat in the top 6.
One of the two has to happen though, unless Flintoff is dropped I suppose.
Yeah, I hate this though. If he's not good enough to make the team as a top-6 batsman and he's not fit enough to bowl the overs of a frontline bowler, he really has no business being in the team at all. Now I'm not suggesting he should be dropped, but I don't think he brings so very much to the team that it should be changed to his specific wants and needs all the time.Not that he might get injured during a match, but if we want him to back up through until September then we need to be careful how much he bowls. When he bowls a load of overs, he normally seems to do his ankle in and misses the next few months.
I don't disagree. But it is totally frustrating, and I would hate to see him not in the team.Yeah, I hate this though. If he's not good enough to make the team as a top-6 batsman and he's not fit enough to bowl the overs of a frontline bowler, he really has no business being in the team at all. Now I'm not suggesting he should be dropped, but I don't think he brings so very much to the team that it should be changed to his specific wants and needs all the time.
AFAIC, he should be selected in the role that best suits the team for each game and then come what may for the next game regarding his fitness. If his workload is such a grave concern then he shouldn't be in the ODI team.
Yeah, Prior at 6 and Flintoff at 7 isn't that bad if you have an above average #8, but Ryan Sidebottom certainly isn't that so Broad will probably play.. hopefully instead of Harmison and not Anderson. Despite showing batting potential and doing okay in Tests with the blad so far, though, Broad's First Class batting record isn't something you'd select him in a batting role based on, and he hasn't offered any more with the ball than Collingwood could since his Test introduction in all reality.Agreed. And I suppose that's why 'balance of the side' might have Broad in there.
I can see your point. But I think Broad's definitely has some real potential, so playing him now against WI could reap rewards in the future, whereas Collingwood's test bowling is as good as it's ever going to be.Yeah, Prior at 6 and Flintoff at 7 isn't that bad if you have an above average #8, but Ryan Sidebottom certainly isn't that so Broad will probably play.. hopefully instead of Harmison and not Anderson. Despite showing batting potential and doing okay in Tests with the blad so far, though, Broad's First Class batting record isn't something you'd select him in a batting role based on, and he hasn't offered any more with the ball than Collingwood could since his Test introduction in all reality.
If Flintoff bowling as part of a four-man attack is such an impossibility (which I don't really think it should be) then I'd honestly rather see Collingwood bowl Broad's overs and have Shah add to the batting lineup than actually see Broad play. In essence, I suppose I'm saying is:
Collingwood's bowling + Shah's batting > Broad's bowling + Broad's batting.