***Official*** Pakistan in England

[tooextracool]

Can you even remember what most of this present England team where like when they were 21? Of course he doesn't bowl at great pace or great accuracy he's 21. When he gets it right he gets enough movement to get anyone out.

do you not think theres a reason why almost all of them never played for England at that age? Because they werent ready for it yet. Only 2 of the current crop played at extremely young ages- Flintoff and Cook. Flintoff as we all know was complete rubbish and was deservedly dropped many many times for not being good enough. Cook of course has shown so far that hes at least close to being test class and a player well above his years.

 

[tooextracool]

Not in the original squad tho, as Tremlett actually was. He was called up to replace Jones.

From the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4325768.stm

i thought you were referring to the most recent series against Pakistan. He didnt make the original squad to Pakistan but he did make it ahead of Anderson both in Pakistan and the tour to India so hes definetly not our 7th or 8th choice seamer. Well not to the selectors anyways.

 

[Xuhaib]

With Shoaib a possibilty from the third test and Asif hopefully joining for the fourth do you guys think Pakistan should look to get another draw in the next and then look to compete in the final two with the big guns back.

 

[marc71178]

i thought you were referring to the most recent series against Pakistan. He didnt make the original squad to Pakistan but he did make it ahead of Anderson both in Pakistan and the tour to India so hes definetly not our 7th or 8th choice seamer. Well not to the selectors anyways.

It all depends. It could be argued that Anderson's showing in his 1 game in India is more than enough to move him ahead of all but the main 4 from the Ashes.

IMO:

Flintoff
Hoggard
Jones
Harmison
Anderson

Plunkett
Mahmood
Tremlett
Broad
Lewis

Scraping the barrel...








Gough

 

[BoyBrumby]

It all depends. It could be argued that Anderson's showing in his 1 game in India is more than enough to move him ahead of all but the main 4 from the Ashes.

IMO:

Flintoff
Hoggard
Jones
Harmison
Anderson

Plunkett
Mahmood
Tremlett
Broad
Lewis

Scraping the barrel...








Gough

No Rikki?

For shame....

 

[wpdavid]

even with 100% hindsight you would be brave enough to have dropped harmison for both the edgbaston and TB test match? Really, i have to wonder what you are thinking considering that he took the last wicket at Edgbaston as well as the vital wicket of Michael Clarke on the previous evening. At TB he took more wickets than any of the other England bowlers in the 2nd inning. I can only really see an argument for dropping Hoggard on the basis of hindsight for the Edgbaston test considering that he was atrocious all the way until TB.

I guess you could make a case for Hoggard at Edgbaston, but he improved as the series progressed, well by TB & the Oval anyway, and would deserve to be one of a 4-man attack overall.
As for Harmy, yes I know he eventually got a ball in the right place to shift Kasper at Edgbaston, but his poor showing on Sunday morning was a major reason why we so nearly lost the game. I'll give you Clarke on Sat evening, but one good ball in a test doesn't justify his place, imo, and Clarke's showing throughout last summer hardly suggested he was going to stay there for ever. At TB, I know he ended up our top wicket taker in the 2nd innings but getting an lbw decision against Katich after he's middled the ball into his pads and then claiming Kasper & Tait isn't really that impressive. Anyway, I think we're agreed on the 4-man attack principle, so I guess we don't need to worry about hindsight.

Here's a question for you though. If Simon Jones is fit for Brisbane, would you be prepared to play a 4-man attack given his track record with injuries?

 

[TT Boy]

With Shoaib a possibilty from the third test and Asif hopefully joining for the fourth do you guys think Pakistan should look to get another draw in the next and then look to compete in the final two with the big guns back.

Yes.

 

[Fusion]

With Shoaib a possibilty from the third test and Asif hopefully joining for the fourth do you guys think Pakistan should look to get another draw in the next and then look to compete in the final two with the big guns back.

No. I think going in with a defensive mentality like that rarely works. If the team's mindset is "we are just aiming to draw" then they have already conceded victory and the momentum to the other side. If you play for the draw, you're also giving a signal to the other side that "we're afraid of you". I think that's the signal England gave to the Pak dressing room when they didn't declare on the 4th day of 1st test. Because of their defensive mentality, they lost a golden chance to go up 1-0. Besides, who's to say Shoaib and Asif will be in form when they return? I think all Pak players should be in the mindset of playing for a win.

 

[Xuhaib]

No. I think going in with a defensive mentality like that rarely works. If the team's mindset is "we are just aiming to draw" then they have already conceded victory and the momentum to the other side. If you play for the draw, you're also giving a signal to the other side that "we're afraid of you". I think that's the signal England gave to the Pak dressing room when they didn't declare on the 4th day of 1st test. Because of their defensive mentality, they lost a golden chance to go up 1-0. Besides, who's to say Shoaib and Asif will be in form when they return? I think all Pak players should be in the mindset of playing for a win.

Do you think we can attack with these paceman, only Razzaq and Gul look international class the rest are journeyman.

Pak can only win if they bat first and make 500 and then with the pressure of the huge score they can bring Kaneria and Afridi in the game.

 

[TT Boy]

Flintoff suffers a setback...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/5204044.stm

 

[Xuhaib]

Flintoff suffers a setback...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/5204044.stm

Its kinda funny that the two big showpiece (Shoaib and Freddie) will not even play before the third test.

 

[GIMH]

I'm devastated

 

[TT Boy]

Decent bowling performance from the Pakistani’s today. Dismissing Northants cheaply in the second innings with Shahid Nazir evidently impressing with the ball, taking three wickets and sending Sourav Ganguly to the infirmary.

 

[Gloucefan]

Seriously England need to find some decent bloody physio/doctors...

 

[marc71178]

No Rikki?

For shame....

I knew I overlooked someone, please accept my apologies.

 

[Beleg]

This series is turning into one big anti-climax.

 

[BoyBrumby]

This series is turning into one big anti-climax.

Still 3 tests left, give it a chance!

If Sir Fred's out I reckon we'll probably go in with the same team. Although Plunkett's been released to play for Durham v Windies "A", which either means the selectors think he needs more game time or he's drifting out of contention.

For the record he made 28 off 51 & has taken 2 for 24 off 6.5 overs in the Windies reply thus far.

 

[FRAZ]

OMG !!!! One more out (Unfit) and I am in the Pakistani team . woohoo!!!!!!!!

 

[TT Boy]

Flintoff to undergo surgery...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/5204044.stm

 

[TT Boy]

Although Plunkett's been released to play for Durham v Windies "A", which either means the selectors think he needs more game time or he's drifting out of contention.

For the record he made 28 off 51 & has taken 2 for 24 off 6.5 overs in the Windies reply thus far.

The former, Plunkett was primarily asked to play to get some batting practice.