***Official*** English Domestic Season 2009

[Scaly piscine]

Add Anderson to Fred, Chapple & Mahmood and it isn't as clear cut as that, imo.

Durham are without Davies and Plunkett. Plunkett is basically a better version of Mahmood but wouldn't make the first XI anyway. Davies, Onions, Harmison and Thorp is a better bowling attack.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Probably true, although Notts might argue if they had all theirs available & fit. Broad, Sidebottom & Pattison isn't the worst seam attack going. After them there is indeed a heck of a lot of daylight though.

Chuck in Shreck, Ealham & (now) Fletcher and Notts are up there IMHO.

 

[King Pietersen]

0-65 from 22 for Panesar against Surrey. Quality....

 

[grecian]

Blackies got a fairly high percentage of the Durham score here.

Fred's now got through 26 overs in two days

 

[TT Boy]

0-65 from 22 for Panesar against Surrey. Quality....

Think Rashid is very close to getting second in line. Bowled a beaut yesterday to get AB which would have done him in any situation. Helps that he can field and bat as well.

 

[grecian]

Think Rashid is very close to getting second in line. Bowled a beaut yesterday to get AB which would have done him in any situation. Helps that he can field and bat as well.

Well Samit has taking five wickets today, if he wasn't a podger I'd put him in. Actually I'd put him in anyway, but the selectors....

Could be our number 6 easily, and be a viable bowling option.

 

[TT Boy]

Well Samit has taking five wickets today, if he wasn't a podger I'd put him in. Actually I'd put him in anyway, but the selectors....

That is a fair effort considering what Tahir did on the wicket (nothing).

 

[Scaly piscine]

Well Samit has taking five wickets today, if he wasn't a podger I'd put him in. Actually I'd put him in anyway, but the selectors....

Could be our number 6 easily, and be a viable bowling option.

Yea Samit or Rashid are far better options as a second spinner than Panesar. Panesar should be picked as a primary spinner or not at all (Swann is a better spinner so...)

Apart from that I think Samit could make it on batting alone. One of those players that perhaps suffers because people are distracted his bowling. Similar to someone like Shahid Afridi, but in reverse.

 

[King Pietersen]

Why should Panesar be picked as a primary spinner? He's rubbish, having him as the only spin option would make things worse. Rashid surely has to be the best option as 2nd spinner. He's done a decent job in the T20 stuff for England and adds abit of variation and turn. He just needs to learn to ignore the pressure of the match situation and bowl like he does in the nets. Easier said than done though I suppose.

 

[grecian]

Yea Samit or Rashid are far better options as a second spinner than Panesar. Panesar should be picked as a primary spinner or not at all (Swann is a better spinner so...)

Apart from that I think Samit could make it on batting alone. One of those players that perhaps suffers because people are distracted his bowling. Similar to someone like Shahid Afridi, but in reverse.

Well, I don't think anyone wants Monty anymore, so time to draw a line under him, unless he takes bucketful in CC, which he doesn't remotely look like doing.

Yes, an average of close to fifty with the bat does scream selection on it's own. Yet you can't ignore the fact that his bowling average in first-class will almost certainly be better then Rashids after this match .

 

[King Pietersen]

Just a shame the selectors seem to be really bothered about him being a big fat fatty. Though surely if he's fit enough to play regular games in the very busy County schedule, then he's fit enough to play International cricket?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Why should Panesar be picked as a primary spinner? He's rubbish, having him as the only spin option would make things worse. Rashid surely has to be the best option as 2nd spinner. He's done a decent job in the T20 stuff for England and adds abit of variation and turn. He just needs to learn to ignore the pressure of the match situation and bowl like he does in the nets. Easier said than done though I suppose.

Well that's the point, Swann is better so Panesar wouldn't be the primary spinner. I don't feel the need for two finger spinners personally, if you're picking one as a batsman then it doesn't matter. So I'd go with Swann & Rashid if you've got a typical flat & dry wicket.

Anyway Blackwell dragging Durham's 2nd innings into respectability.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Well that's the point, Swann is better so Panesar wouldn't be the primary spinner. I don't feel the need for two finger spinners personally, if you're picking one as a batsman then it doesn't matter. So I'd go with Swann & Rashid if you've got a typical flat & dry wicket.

Anyway Blackwell dragging Durham's 2nd innings into respectability.

Think with Samit in the team we wouldn't need to play Rashid even on raging bunsens. Could come in for Bresnan without too much drama.

Trouble is he doesn't do himself any favours with his lard/fitness woes. To fail two tests so close to each other is bad form and I speak as a fan of the boy.

 

[Uppercut]

Think with Samit in the team we wouldn't need to play Rashid even on raging bunsens. Could come in for Bresnan without too much drama.

Trouble is he doesn't do himself any favours with his lard/fitness woes. To fail two tests so close to each other is bad form and I speak as a fan of the boy.

I know, i was very disappointed because I've been calling for his selection for a while. Would fit perfectly in the side IMO- you could have Patel at 6, Freddie at 7, a top-class glovesman at 8 with Broad, Swann and Anderson making up the "tail". You've got three fast bowlers, two spinners and a very long batting lineup. That's the best balance to the side i can find.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Think with Samit in the team we wouldn't need to play Rashid even on raging bunsens. Could come in for Bresnan without too much drama.

Trouble is he doesn't do himself any favours with his lard/fitness woes. To fail two tests so close to each other is bad form and I speak as a fan of the boy.

Rashid can help force wins (see tour of West Indies) or break partnerships, Samit isn't really going to help that. A second finger spinner who's not as good adds a largely redundant option unless it is really spinning.

 

[S Chanderpaul]

Think with Samit in the team we wouldn't need to play Rashid even on raging bunsens. Could come in for Bresnan without too much drama.

Trouble is he doesn't do himself any favours with his lard/fitness woes. To fail two tests so close to each other is bad form and I speak as a fan of the boy.

He doesn't look as fat now to be fair.

I'd say Bresnan is chubbier tbh.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Rashid can help force wins (see tour of West Indies) or break partnerships, Samit isn't really going to help that. A second finger spinner who's not as good adds a largely redundant option unless it is really spinning.

Possibly true, but as you said yourself there's a case for him to be in the team on his batting alone. It's been said on here more than once before, but from the current test side only KP averages more than Patel in FC cricket. His bowling just a handy fall back in case of turning pitches. &, whilst he's not exactly Underwood reborn (not that the original has passed away anyway), he does have some decent variations for someone who's essentially a part-timer.

India collared him a bit on our tour last winter, but better spinners than him will suffer same fate.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd say Bresnan is chubbier tbh.

You well might be right, but presumably Not-So-Tiny Tim must've passed the fitness test Samit failed.

 

[aussie]

Haa.. why is Samit Patel being talked about as test match option?. Come on fellas...

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Haa.. why is Samit Patel being talked about as test match option?. Come on fellas...

Because he averages 52 with the bat in the past four seasons of FC cricket on a not-always-flat track.