Pick your XI

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

And he still scored 277 and 85...

Your point?

1/ He didn't face Giles for his all 300+ balls.
2/ Um...luck or lack thereoff.

 

[marc71178]

I seriously hope they see sense and pick Jones. Especially as Harmison's average will be up around 40 again.
[/B]

That would require a very very bad series to happen.

Yes his current bowling form, ie the inability to take wickets at a decent average for club or country.
[/B]

3 wickets of the 8 England took.

Speaks a thousand words...:rolleyes: [/B]

It says to me that if his form is so bad now when he's got his best ratings of all time, how did he retain his place before then?

 

[marc71178]

And he still scored 277 and 85...

Oh yes, and that is all the fault of one bowler isn't it?

There weren't 4 or 5 other players bowling for England in that match.

 

[luckyeddie]

For some people, the glass is half-full, whereas there are others who view it as half-empty.

Until England get rid of Vaughan (in ODI's), Harmison, Giles, McGrath, Key, Hussain and any number of others, Rik's likely to view his glass as something which someone is likely to dash across the floor at any moment, despite the amount of beer it contains.

OK, Rik, the floor belongs to you.

Pick your England XI

 

[Rik]

For some people, the glass is half-full, whereas there are others who view it as half-empty.

Until England get rid of Vaughan (in ODI's), Harmison, Giles, McGrath, Key, Hussain and any number of others, Rik's likely to view his glass as something which someone is likely to dash across the floor at any moment, despite the amount of beer it contains.

OK, Rik, the floor belongs to you.

Pick your England XI

No. And I did not think you could be quite this petty Eddie. I have never asked Hussain to be dropped. Harmison is just not good enough, I know I'm not the only one who feels this way, Key I just don't feel is up to it, that's my opinion, McGrath I do not feel is good enough in ODIs and is taking the place of a superior batsman in Tests, I'm fine with him as a backup player. Vaughan I do not feel is good enough in ODIs, that is my opinion just like with Key. Giles, unfortunately, is the only spinner we have at the moment.

The glass is half full, I drunk half of it.

 

[Rik]

Oh yes, and that is all the fault of one bowler isn't it?

There weren't 4 or 5 other players bowling for England in that match.

I never once defended any of the other bowlers.

 

[Rik]

That would require a very very bad series to happen.

He's got a fine start to one so far in this series...

3 wickets of the 8 England took.

...4 in the Test at 49.50 each...

It says to me that if his form is so bad now when he's got his best ratings of all time, how did he retain his place before then?

I don't know, maybe the fact that we don't have any other spinners? His average has now gone up to just under 39, yes even worse than Croft's! His ODI bowling is above 40...and his FC average this season is 44. I'd call that bad form...I suppose you care to differ?

 

[Eclipse]

I agree with Rik I really dont think Harmison is good enough for test cricket and more importaintly I think there are better bowlers who could take his spot.


McGrath well Zimbabwe would be happy to have him but when you have a batsman as good as G. Thorpe avalable I just cant beleve McGrath is the better choice.
What suppises me even more is why McGrath was picked in the first place it was not like he was in form and his FC record is embarising for a Test batsman.

As for Giles he does the best he can but unfortunatly thats not good enough. However if England really do want to play a spinner he is probably about the best you have got. I would much rather another good pace bowler though you should not just pick a spinner for the sake of it.

I really cant work out The England selection commite they are just not picking the strongest team. Balance is less importaint than actualy picking quality players you get the best avalable and work form there not pick what you think you need and select players that dont deserve there position.

England seem to have said right we need a fast bowler just for the sake of it even know he happens to be crap.

 

[luckyeddie]

The problem is - where do you stop?

Harmison took wickets against Zimbabwe and people said 'that doesn't count - wait until he plays against South Africa'

Well, how many did he take in comparison to Gough, Anderson and Flintoff? 2-138 as opposed to a collective 2-330 on a featherbed.

 

[marc71178]

What suppises me even more is why McGrath was picked in the first place it was not like he was in form and his FC record is embarising for a Test batsman.

It's not how many, but how runs are scored.

If you just picked a team on average then it's likely that England's top 3 wouldn't be there, or would ever had a chance - and they're all very good players averaging very highly in Test Cricket.

 

[Craig]

Is this the same Samuels who went to Australia at 19 years of age and defied the Aussies to average over 35 in Tests and around 30 in ODI's. Is this the same Samuels who played his 3rd (?) FC match against the World Champ Aussies and impressed everyone (except you obviously) that saw him?

Well people do go out of form, and how can you explain trying to play stupid shots by hitting the ball across the line against Bichel in T&T.

Sorry but I cant be held responsible if you decide to take my comments out of proportiation.

An average of 35 is nothing special.

Please note I have edited this part in:

Sammuels record:

http://statserver.cricket.org/link_to_database/PLAYERS/WI/S/SAMUELS_MN_04010238/

 

[Eclipse]

It's not how many, but how runs are scored.

If you just picked a team on average then it's likely that England's top 3 wouldn't be there, or would ever had a chance - and they're all very good players averaging very highly in Test Cricket.

Thats not the way things work normaly you must understand that. Just because it's worked a few times for England does not mean it will continue to work.

Besides what was so impressive about how McGrath scored his runs??

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

1/ Well people do go out of form, and how can you explain trying to play stupid shots by hitting the ball across the line against Bichel in T&T.

2/ Sorry but I cant be held responsible if you decide to take my comments out of proportiation.

3/ An average of 35 is nothing special.

1/ He played 2 (?) Tests in that series and was out of sorts mentally. Every player goes through a lean patch and even plays poor strokes during that period. What you would've seen of Samuels is 4 Tests, 2 of which he played superbly in and 1 of which he played poorly.

Note that he scored a decent 50 in Trinidad.

2/ At what point did I express that I'm taking it out of proportion and at what point did I place an responsibility on you? It's called a debate for a reason...

3/ As a 19 year old with little to no experience against an Australian side after his team is already 2-0 and an average of 35 is nothing??

 

[marc71178]

Thats not the way things work normaly you must understand that. Just because it's worked a few times for England does not mean it will continue to work.

Besides what was so impressive about how McGrath scored his runs??

Well, if you watched him over years, you'd know, rather than blindly criticising based on a number.

For instance, his home games at Headlingley have a big affect on the average (reckoned on anything around 10 per knock)

 

[Rik]

Well, if you watched him over years, you'd know, rather than blindly criticising based on a number.

For instance, his home games at Headlingley have a big affect on the average (reckoned on anything around 10 per knock)

I had no idea you had watched him for years Marc. Was he so obviously Test standard when he was seriously struggling for runs a few years ago? If the 'eadinleee pitch is so poor how come the ECB can't seem to find a problem with it?

 

[marc71178]

Sorry, I forgot that your word is worth more than the professionals who obviously don't know what they're talking about since they've played the game to a high standard and are paid for their views.

I was wondering how someone 10,000 miles away can criticise a player just on a number (and bear in mind that Vaughan wouldn't be anywhere near a team including Hick and Ramprakash if we just used them(

 

[Craig]

If Hick or Ramps showed their form from County Cricket in Tests, there would be no place for McGrath.

Those have been underachievers for what they are capable of.

 

[marc71178]

Hick and Ramprakash are unable to carry that form over, since they can't cope with the better bowling.

 

[luckyeddie]

There's always Cork

(ducks for cover, fails to make it)

 

[Rik]

Hick and Ramprakash are unable to carry that form over, since they can't cope with the better bowling.

Just like McGrath...when he met SA...