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***Official*** India in England

gettingbetter

gettingbetter

State Vice-Captain
grecian said:
I do agree, they are both mediocre sides at the moment, but at least Englands side is young, and does show promise. Also we should improve once that idjit Pror gets dropped.
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Prior get dropped for another flash in the pan wicket-keeping-'batsmen'?
 
grecian

grecian

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Read or Foster would be an improvement in both parts of the game imo. I'm not joining the Mustard bandwagon yet, I've not seen enough of him. I'd rather he had another good season before he jumps above Foster anyway.
 
P

Poker Boy

State Vice-Captain
It was a good series despite its length (I just hope the fact that it went to the last game doesd not encourage the ECB to schedule another 7 match ODI series Like the timing of the 2005 Ashes, the fact they got away with it does not mean they were right). It is true to say that England are improving (and tbf, they have been gradually, since rock bottom against SL last year when if we had scored 450 SL would probably have still knocked them off our bowling was so crap) Anderson and Broad were encouraging, 3, 4 and 5 look settled and I'd persevere with Tremlett (when fit) because he gets wickets in the midle overs where we have had problems in the past. Problems( in order of worrying about them) Flintoff's ankle, the opening partnership - I didn't like the Wright/Prior one as I think you need one good Test match batsman there (Hayden , Grameme Smith and Sachin/Sourav are good examples ). Personally in 50 over games I'd go for either Wright/Cook oir Wright/Bell (in the latter scenario Shah can do three). Prior has had two goes at it now, neither time has it worked -but I'd demote him, not drop him. Monty is another problem - he is only geting tail end wickets and if he can't get out good batsmen in ODIs he loses his advantage over the likes of Swann who won't take more wickets but will bat and field better (I'm not against one dimensional players in ODIs but they have to be outstanding in thier main field and so far Monty has not been so) Definately signs of progress but SL and NZ away will be tough tests...
 
gettingbetter

gettingbetter

State Vice-Captain
Poker Boy said:
It was a good series despite its length (I just hope the fact that it went to the last game doesd not encourage the ECB to schedule another 7 match ODI series Like the timing of the 2005 Ashes, the fact they got away with it does not mean they were right). It is true to say that England are improving (and tbf, they have been gradually, since rock bottom against SL last year when if we had scored 450 SL would probably have still knocked them off our bowling was so crap) Anderson and Broad were encouraging, 3, 4 and 5 look settled and I'd persevere with Tremlett (when fit) because he gets wickets in the midle overs where we have had problems in the past. Problems( in order of worrying about them) Flintoff's ankle, the opening partnership - I didn't like the Wright/Prior one as I think you need one good Test match batsman there (Hayden , Grameme Smith and Sachin/Sourav are good examples ). Personally in 50 over games I'd go for either Wright/Cook oir Wright/Bell (in the latter scenario Shah can do three). Prior has had two goes at it now, neither time has it worked -but I'd demote him, not drop him. Monty is another problem - he is only geting tail end wickets and if he can't get out good batsmen in ODIs he loses his advantage over the likes of Swann who won't take more wickets but will bat and field better (I'm not against one dimensional players in ODIs but they have to be outstanding in thier main field and so far Monty has not been so) Definately signs of progress but SL and NZ away will be tough tests...
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Where else can you go from rock bottom?

Anderson is realy establishing himslef well, but I am sceptical about Broad. As for Tremlett, the whites maybe his only possibility to represent England. Sidebottom could ese into the 3rd semaers role quite well.

I don't think moving Bell would be a wise idea, he has performed well at three throughout his career, not just this series and moving Shah up would be disruptive too. He is slightly (should I say it) Bevan like. THe opening is a real probelm for England, but I think they should stick with Cook (though I hope it doesn't detract from his Tests performances). As for the other other openenr, I don't thnk it should be Prior; he's averaged 22 since returning. England should probably try a youngster in that position for now.
 
P

Pup Clarke

Cricketer Of The Year
So...for the Sri Lanka ODI's I'd have...

Cook
Flintoff
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bopara
Read
Masceranhas
Swann
Broad
Anderson
 
P

Pup Clarke

Cricketer Of The Year
gettingbetter said:
Why not just bat with 10 players?
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Flintoff has to play as he's such a good bowler so he has to bat somewhere to, he's absolutely useless against spin in the middle overs so why not open with him thus saving him from playing Murali, Jayasuriya, Bandara. There's no other real candidates seeing as Prior has been pretty poor.
 
gettingbetter

gettingbetter

State Vice-Captain
Pup Clarke said:
Flintoff has to play as he's such a good bowler so he has to bat somewhere to, he's absolutely useless against spin in the middle overs so why not open with him thus saving him from playing Murali, Jayasuriya, Bandara. There's no other real candidates seeing as Prior has been pretty poor.
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He averages under 18 batting at number 3. Not opening, but surely it satisfies your criteria of not facing spin.

If there are no other real candidates, go with a youngster and hopefully he'll come good. I know thats a losse statement, but to have Flintoff opening is stupid. His technqiue is poor and forgive the cliche, he swings the bat like a rusty gate. As Ian Chappell would say, opening with Flintoff is a number 3s worst nightmare.

Someone like Denly, Ufzaal or maybe even Wright would do a much better job.
 
P

Pup Clarke

Cricketer Of The Year
Where d'ya bat him then?

And Denly has done well in FC cricket not so much in the List-A thing, and Afzaal ain't an opener. Seeing as Wright scored a 50 batting at 7 it would seem sensible to keep him there if England decide to play him, he's a manufactured opener and this is his first season as one.
 
P

Pup Clarke

Cricketer Of The Year
Whenever I've watched Flintoff bat he seems to be a batsmen who likes pace on the ball, and hates meduim pacers and spinners, then opening he will be able to play himself in by Maling and Fernando's 4 balls which he wouldn't get in the middle overs.
 
gettingbetter

gettingbetter

State Vice-Captain
Pup Clarke said:
Where d'ya bat him then?

And Denly has done well in FC cricket not so much in the List-A thing, and Afzaal ain't an opener. Seeing as Wright scored a 50 batting at 7 it would seem sensible to keep him there if England decide to play him, he's a manufactured opener and this is his first season as one.
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I'd bat him below any designated batsmen and all-rounders selected. Wether that be 7, 8 or 9, it doesn't bother me.

Afzaal has opened before I think and if not, he's been quite good at number 3.

Whenever I've watched Flintoff bat he seems to be a batsmen who likes pace on the ball, and hates meduim pacers and spinners,
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Come on now. That description seems more like an advoacy for no. 11 than anything else.
 
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