*Official* Warm up Matches Discussion

[Pothas]

England captain playing against his own side in a practice game would seem a little silly though.

The Compton thing is rather strange though.

 

[Cabinet96]

Yeah, him being captain complicates things. But he's pretty much Flower's puppet, Prior could do the same thing

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Compton is going to play for Worcestershire against Australia in the second tour match. Must say that's rather odd. Would've thought with him not even making the 14 man squad for the Essex game they would've been completely assured of whether he was going to play the first test.

Still think if they had any doubts, which they may do if they're getting Compton to get extra game time before the first test, then Cook should've just played for Essex against England, and Compton and Root could've both played.

The plot thickens. Pat Murphy on Zummers local radio earlier today mentioned that Geoff Miller had told him that Compton is still completely in their thoughts. This seems like a really odd way of going about it.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

As a slight aside. It seems really good to be arguing about the fate of one position compared to what the Aussies are going through right now. How the tables have turned since the Channel 4 cricket forum days.

 

[Cabinet96]

Still third seamers spot up for grabs tbf. The continuity and consistency is boring. The discussion on Australian team make up in my time at CW has been far more interesting than the one v one battles of England selection.

 

[Garson007]

That's a seriously interesting scorecard.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

So Starc's now a bolter. People go on about how every bowler is suited for English conditions, but if Starc can get two wickets in an over in India, he could be devastating with a Duke and cloud cover at 145 klicks.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah and has that surprisingly rare ability to knock over the lower-order and tail quickly. If you have a couple of guys chipping in with top-order wickets then have Starc roaring in with the wind at his back against Prior, Swann, et al, could make a mess of whatever start England's good bats get.

Harris/Siddle/Pattinson is going to be a handful for the top-order and everyone has a job to do in a bowling unit so if Starc's is primarily to knock over the tail, worth including him ahead of the likes of Bird for that alone.

 

[Ruckus]

He could also be a loose cannon and diminish any pressure built up by the other guys. The nice thing about an attack like Harris, Pattinson and Bird is there is no real weak link there. They all should be able to apply pressure without leaking too many runs. Would only consider Starc if we decide to play 4 pacers, in which I admit he would be a very valuable option in terms of the variation he provides.

 

[Spikey]

it's not like harris and pattinson are immune from bowling trash

 

[Top_Cat]

The lack of variation is the weak link there. Fortune does not favour the wussy and both Pattinson and Harris do have off days.

EDIT: FUSpikey.

 

[Ruckus]

it's not like harris and pattinson are immune from bowling trash

Who is though? The fact is they just aren't as likely to do it as Starc is.

Think picking Starc in a three man pace attack is more verging on the stupid that wussy, given the other options (let's not forget this is a guy who averages 34 in test cricket, and for the most part has looked every bit that mediocre). Variation for the sake of it shouldn't ever be the priority. First and foremost, pick the best attack possible, and if there's room to allow for variation (as in a 4 man attack) that's all the better.

 

[Top_Cat]

How exactly has Bird proven himself better than Starc? It's pretty obvious the selectors don't agree.

 

[Ruckus]

Bird is still very much a work in progress (simply because he has only played 2 matches). But in those 2 matches he played, he did everything required of him and looked very much a proper, mature test match bowler with a plan. That's already more than Starc has shown in his handful of matches. Starc undoubtedly has shown glimpses of brilliance (and maybe what we can expect somewhere down the line), but he has never shown the consistency that is so crucial.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah, I'm thinking you're going to be very disappointed come selection for the first Test. Short of Bird taking a bag in every warm-up he gets, he's very much a squad bowler and will remain so while Starc's taking wickets.

 

[Ruckus]

I'd like Bird to be picked, but regardless of what Starc does, I think they are probably going to pick Siddle anyway. I.e. Harris, Pattinson, Siddle.

 

[Adders]

Mainly because after Brisbane we had players at both ends taking wickets constantly.

I'm glad you called that. I saw that post from Cab earlier and didn't have time to reply.........weakest argument yet from the pro Siddle camp.

 

[the big bambino]

Two more globes at the end of that Somerset scoreboard were my bugged out eyes. Wow. Pattinson, Siddle and one of Starc or Bird for the 1st test.

 

[adub]

So Starc's now a bolter. People go on about how every bowler is suited for English conditions, but if Starc can get two wickets in an over in India, he could be devastating with a Duke and cloud cover at 145 klicks.

If only you could start each innings with the second new ball rather than the first one Starc would be a lock. I don't know why he usually does **** all until he gets the second rock, but it happens too often. Until he starts being a threat from the get go rather than 80 overs in he's not a guy I want to see in the test side unless we've got injury issues.

 

[Burgey]

I'd think Starc's chances of playing increase with the knowledge Watson will be selected. Unless Starc plays there'll be four right arm seamers in teh attack with a right arm finger spinner, albeit Watson might not bowl many overs.