**Official** NatWest Challenge Thread

[Timewell]

I have a good idea, let's all throw our wickets away and get India back in this...

 

[steds]

Vaughan gone...caught...and stumped too

caught and stumped???

 

[NikhilN]

they went up for stumping but it was given as a catch

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Which IDIOT decided to prepare a big turning wicket for a ODI agains a sub-continent team?

 

[Tim]

An Englishman....

 

[luckyeddie]

Which IDIOT decided to prepare a big turning wicket for a ODI agains a sub-continent team?

Come on.

It makes for interesting cricket - and besides, the only way to get rid of a perceived weakness is to play against what gives you the most trouble.

Remember, Warney's over here with the convicts next year - and he can hurt England every bit as much as Killer Harbhajan.

 

[Tim]

I really like the way Flintoff plays now...he doesn't muck around for 6 or 7 overs like Cairns does, if its in the slot after just 3 balls he's down there having a go at it.

 

[Swervy]

superb bowling by Harbhajan here...but the seamers were awful.

I think as soon as harbhajan finishes his stint (around the 31st over) England shouldnt have too many probs, as long as they keep wickets in hand

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Come on.

It makes for interesting cricket - and besides, the only way to get rid of a perceived weakness is to play against what gives you the most trouble.

Remember, Warney's over here with the convicts next year - and he can hurt England every bit as much as Killer Harbhajan.

Getting bowled out by a couple of off spinners in 1 ODI is hardly gonna prepare us for Warne

 

[Tim]

Yeah..but England first of all have an important match against Sri Lanka in a few weeks time.

 

[luckyeddie]

Getting bowled out by a couple of off spinners in 1 ODI is hardly gonna prepare us for Warne

I would hardly class the Dentist as just another offie

 

[Craig]

Vaughan gone...caught...and stumped too

Why is he still in the team?

------------------------------

England 148-4, Flintoff playing an un-Flintoff innings of 26* off 50 balls.

 

[Tim]

Because you've seen of late that there aren't many other top order options for England (at this stage).
Vaughan's worth keeping for the mean-time..if he can transform some of his test form into the ODI side then there won't be a problem anymore.

Look at Stephen Fleming. It took until he turned 30 to be able to consistently score runs in ODI's.

 

[Craig]

What about Ian Bell or Kevin Pietersen (when they can pick him)?

In fact Ian Bell wouldn't be so bad of a selection.

 

[Tim]

India's bowling attack just does not have enough discipline.
Apart from Harbhajan there doesn't appear to be any bowler in that lineup that can fight back & take some wickets after a poor start. Pathan might have the potential but he's still bowling too many wayward deliveries in between to be able to keep the batsmen under pressure.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

What about Ian Bell or Kevin Pietersen (when they can pick him)?

In fact Ian Bell wouldn't be so bad of a selection.

Pieterson becomes avaliable in October...he'll probably (definitely) be picked for the Zimbabwe and SA ODI's. If he impresses in them then you might see him knocking on the door next summer for the tests.

 

[Tim]

Ganguly is being severely tested at the moment...unbelievably on a pitch that you'd think he'd be more comfortable with.

 

[lord_of_darkness]

Agarkar back in top form...

 

[Tim]

Winner of Group A (Aus or NZ) v Winner of Group C (Eng or S.L presumably) is shaping up to be a really really good match.

 

[ReallyCrazy]

i hate that monkey called ajit agarkar. why is he always in reckoning for the team? They throw him out...yuo start thinking they're growing a brain and they bring him back again. His ass should be launched to the moon!