***Official*** Pakistan in England

[grecian]

sobs

Just heard on the radio, Freddies out for 12 weeks, which means this series is kaput, and it cuts it awfully thin for the Ashes

Edit: Oh TTboy was ahead of me.

Did Plunkett bowl 6.5 overs because he pulled up injured? I can only assume he has because Killeens bowled more overs.

 

[silentstriker]

Oh man. The Ashes squad is just going down like flies. Perhaps sad to think that the Ashes really was the last time that they played together.

So, what do you all think of an Ashes attack consisting of Plunkett, Panesar, Hoggard and Harmison?

 

[superkingdave]

Oh man. The Ashes squad is just going down like flies. Perhaps sad to think that the Ashes really was the last time that they played together.

So, what do you all think of an Ashes attack consisting of Plunkett, Panesar, Hoggard and Harmison?

Well i remember making a prediction a few months ago that if Plunkett plays in the Ashes we'd get hammered. I stand by that prediction, though i'd be delighted to be proved wrong

 

[Scaly piscine]

If Panesar plays in the Ashes we will get hammered, can't afford any more dead weight with Geraint probably playing and possibly Bell.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Atherton just mentioned on Sky during the rain break that Plunkers has gone down with a side-strain, so may not feature in the 2nd.

I would imagine Lewis & Saj are the two favourites to repalce him, although hopefully Tremlett will come into consideration again at some point. Downside is, of course, the lengthening of the tail.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

Anyone reckon that Stuart Broad is in for an Ashes shout?

 

[Fusion]

According to cricinfo, Woolmer is saying Shoaib is likely out of the series as well. So the earlier reports of him coming back for the 3rd test were wrong. No Freddie, No Shoaib. What a let down!

 

[GIMH]

Freddie will play in the Ashes, even if he has to do so in a wheelchair

 

[marc71178]

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.

He was released in order to get some batting practise apparently.

However he only bowled 6.5 overs - is he injured as well?

 

[marc71178]

Anyone reckon that Stuart Broad is in for an Ashes shout?

An Old Trafford shout at this rate!

 

[Neil Pickup]

Virgin Radio is currently playing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

Let's throw Rashid in at the deep end.

 

[superkingdave]

Virgin Radio is currently playing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

Let's throw Rashid in at the deep end.

Tresco
Strauss
Cook
KP
Collingwood
Bell
Jones
Rashid
Marshall
Broad
Smith

lol

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Tresco
Strauss
Cook
KP
Collingwood
Bell
Jones
Rashid
Marshall
Broad
Smith

lol

Where's Northeast?!

 

[Gloucefan]

Anyone have any idea how much longer Jimmy Anderson will be out? I don't know much about stress fractures in the back.

 

[steds]

Anyone have any idea how much longer Jimmy Anderson will be out? I don't know much about stress fractures in the back.

BBC reports he's been bowling for a couple of weeks, but won't be back anytime soon.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Dalrymple included in squad for 2nd test

From the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/5207252.stm

England squad: A Strauss (capt), M Trescothick, A Cook, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, I Bell, G Jones (wkt), L Plunkett, M Hoggard, S Harmison, J Lewis, M Panesar, S Mahmood, J Dalrymple

Says Plunkett's fitness "to be assessed over the next 48 hours". If we go in with a four man attack again there's no way we'll want to carry someone with a side-strain.

If Dalrymple plays he gives us a couple of options: for Bell to give us a nominal 5-man attack again or for Monty to sure up batting with 7 specialists & Geraint as all-rounder.

 

[TT Boy]

Atherton just mentioned on Sky during the rain break that Plunkers has gone down with a side-strain, so may not feature in the 2nd.

I would imagine Lewis & Saj are the two favourites to repalce him, although hopefully Tremlett will come into consideration again at some point. Downside is, of course, the lengthening of the tail.

It is quite the predicament, on one hand you have the liability which is Sajid Mahmood on the other hand you have a bowler who is nothing more than a new ball specialist (Jon Lewis). We all know Mahmood is more likely to play because of the selectors fetish with ‘pace’ and the fact that Mahmood can operate (not very effectively) as a change up bowler whilst Lewis is the quintessential one trick pony.

Lewis coming on after Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard for me is not a viable option unless both Lewis and Hoggard share the new ball. Which is not likely considering the Old Trafford pitch ‘supposedly’ has pace and bounce and frankly Harmison would need the best of the conditions regardless going by his performances over the past year or so.

Worrying times, though it is fortunate Pakistan are in the same boat in regard to fitness/injures. Or for sure we would be looking down the end of a very big barrel.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Wow.

Kent's no 3 in the Pro40 on Sky just now: Geraint Jones!

Someone obviously thinks he needs the batting practice!

 

[grecian]

From the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/5207252.stm

England squad: A Strauss (capt), M Trescothick, A Cook, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, I Bell, G Jones (wkt), L Plunkett, M Hoggard, S Harmison, J Lewis, M Panesar, S Mahmood, J Dalrymple

Says Plunkett's fitness "to be assessed over the next 48 hours". If we go in with a four man attack again there's no way we'll want to carry someone with a side-strain.

If Dalrymple plays he gives us a couple of options: for Bell to give us a nominal 5-man attack again or for Monty to sure up batting with 7 specialists & Geraint as all-rounder.

If England play Dalrymple, a man who averages 44 per wicket in first-class cricket, instead of Panesar in a four-man attack, I give up, its so negative. Do England actually believe we can win a test match without Freddie, maybe Fletcher wants a 0-0

What has Tremlett done wrong, we picked him to tour Pakistan before injury, hes now back and taking wickets, so why are we ignoring him?

 

[Scaly piscine]

If England play Dalrymple, a man who averages 44 per wicket in first-class cricket, instead of Panesar in a four-man attack, I give up, its so negative. Do England actually believe we can win a test match without Freddie, maybe Fletcher wants a 0-0

What has Tremlett done wrong, we picked him to tour Pakistan before injury, hes now back and taking wickets, so why are we ignoring him?

Dalrymple or Panesar... neither are gonna contribute much with the ball anyway. Playing Panesar isn't attacking, it's like playing one short.

They should get rid of Panesar and bring in a seamer, let KP bowl if necessary. That would be the sensible thing to do.