***Official*** Pakistan in England

[adharcric]

Not so sure about that lineup as it only has 3 wicket-taking options. I'd play Plunkett or Mahmood in place of one of the spinners for sure.

Trescothick, Strauss, Cook, Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood, Read, Plunkett, Hoggard, Harmison, Panesar

Considering that Flintoff is out, that's a pretty decent side with both bat and ball I'd say.

 

[adharcric]

Plunkett and Mahmood don't add many wicket taking options. Nor do they appear to be able to keep a consistent line.

Yeah they were wayward and trashy in the one-dayers, but they did alright in the tests against Sri Lanka right? Why not give them a chance to show that it wasn't a fluke? Unless Dalrymple is a serious test-class spinner, you're better off going for Plunkett.

 

[steds]

Yeah they were wayward and trashy in the one-dayers, but they did alright in the tests against Sri Lanka right?

Mahmood bowled a very good first spell, then it was all downhill from there. Plunkett ran hot and cold.

 

[adharcric]

Mahmood bowled a very good first spell, then it was all downhill from there. Plunkett ran hot and cold.

At least we know that at their best, they are potent. Is Dalrymple even test-class as a spinner? (a genuine question, as i havent watched him in action yet ... if he's another blackwell, plunkett/mahmood will serve you better)

 

[viktor]

Yeah they were wayward and trashy in the one-dayers, but they did alright in the tests against Sri Lanka right? Why not give them a chance to show that it wasn't a fluke?

England wouldn't want to gamble with both of them, I don't think.
Probably Plunkett will get in...

 

[steds]

Is Dalrymple even test-class as a spinner? (a genuine question, as i havent watched him in action yet ... if he's another blackwell, plunkett/mahmood will serve you better)

I personally don't think so. However, he did bowl very well in the ODIs and, according to cricinfo, was very impressive with the ball yesterday. So I'll keep an open mind about him for now.





I'm completely sure Plunkett will play but Mahmood won't, anyway.

 

[adharcric]

I personally don't think so. However, he did bowl very well in the ODIs and, according to cricinfo, was very impressive with the ball yesterday. So I'll keep an open mind about him for now.





I'm completely sure Plunkett will play but Mahmood won't, anyway.

Yeah I don't see a seam-centered team going in with only 2 genuine seamers and 2 unproven spinners. If Plunkett fails here, what is the chance of a Bell-Freddie-Colly 5-6-7 followed by Read, Hoggard, Harmison and Panesar in the second test?

 

[steds]

If Plunkett fails here, what is the chance of a Bell-Freddie-Colly 5-6-7 followed by Read, Hoggard, Harmison and Panesar in the second test?

With Freddie's penchant for breaking down (even though he's alot better now than he was 4 years ago, I still worry every time he bowls. Same with Simon Jones) and Harmison's ability to just go from fearsome fast bowler to unthreatening bowler who just pitches it short and gets nothing in the wink of an eye, I'd prefer 4 specialist bowlers and Fred to 6 bats, 3 bowlers and Fred.

 

[adharcric]

Looks like Hoggard is doubtful for the first test as well. Looks like England is SCREWED.

When Mahmood is the main competition, I'll have to give Dalrymple a better chance.

 

[BoyBrumby]

How about:

Trescothick
Strauss
Cook
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Dalrymple
Read
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar

A little left-field, granted, and it's probably a seamer light (however as things stand I'd rather Collingwood bowled than Plunkett, Mahmood, Lewis, Bresnan...) so unless Stuart Broad fancies the deep end on Thursday, this is how I'd go in.

Certainly gives us extra batting depth, but Colly and/or Bell as first change would scare me even more than Plunkers or Saj. They might've not exactly covered themselves in glory in the ODIs, but both had their moments in the tests v SL.

I'd personally be looking at:

Trescothick
Strauss*
Cook
Pietersen
Collingwood
Dalrymple
G Jones+
Plunkett
Hoggard
Harmison
Mahmood

 

[adharcric]

G Jones+

seriously?

 

[BoyBrumby]

seriously?

Personally I'd go with Read, but I can't see Big Dunc wishing to weaken (albeit possibly only in his mind) our batting line up at such short notice. I just don't think he fancies Read as a player, because really Read couldn't have done more with the bat lately.

I suspect Geraint will make at least one 50 in the test, thus guaranteeing him the gloves for the next 5 years.

 

[Jamee999]

Tresco
Strauss
Cook
Pietersen
Collingwood
Dalyrumple
Jones+
Hoggard
Broad*
Harmison
Monty

 

[marc71178]

Squad named - Bell back and will play with him and Collingwood sharing the 4th seamer role.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Lewis!

I dunno wether to or

 

[wpdavid]

Lewis!

I dunno wether to or

As cover for Hoggard? We need at least one bowler who can find the cut strip more than once an over, even if he does make Collingwood look like Brett Lee pacewise.

 

[BoyBrumby]

As cover for Hoggard? We need at least one bowler who can find the cut strip more than once an over, even if he does make Collingwood look like Brett Lee pacewise.

Yeah, possibly. The idea of Hoggy being broken is actually too horrible for me to entertain tho.

I suppose Lord's is one of the tracks that should help Lewis's style of bowling the most too. I just can't see him playing any meaningful part in The Ashes & (working on the assumption Janah is crocked) Plukers or Saj might just have too.

 

[Gloucefan]

Andrew Strauss (capt), Marcus Trescothick, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Geraint Jones (wk), Liam Plunkett, Matthew Hoggard, Sajid Mahmood, Steve Harmison, Jon Lewis, Monty Panesar.


Suprise suprise no Read...

 

[UncleTheOne]

Anyone know the chances of Jimmy Anderson being fit and playing a part in this series? Boy we need him back if we're still going to Mahmood and Lewis.

 

[AussieDominance]

but Anderson will have to improve a lot to become a top class bowler again