Idle cricket musing

[Ted Max]

I'm saying a Saf win some time tomorrow morning. Probably chasing 14 to win in front of 12,000 empty seats.

[david_carnell]

All over by tea today.

[Brendan]

Well the interesting question at the moment is how long Jimmy's cameo is going to last.

[Keef]

Well I remember Cook making a very brave stand in the last Ashes, and staying in for most of a day, only to be out with a few overs left... He is capable, but I won't hold my breath!

[Ted Max]

Btw Brendan, keeping the thread on topic is very noble of you. And I'm sure that's your only motivation for not wanting to talk about rugby this morning.

[Brendan]

I?m sure I have no idea what you could possibly be talking about.

[Ted Max]

Here comes the somewhat rat-faced Steyn. About time, I'd have thought.

[Brendan]

Well good form there from Jimmy after rat face tried to kill him. Came back and faced him again bravely but got undone by a yorker. Still 30 odd from the night watchman then. Then KP comes in and promptly goes out. What a wally.

[mockney piers]

Can you imagine how livid Anderson will be right now. Grinds out his Test record and KP comes in thinking it's a child's tea party.

Come on lad, behave like a grown up, just the once!!

[citizenED]

Grrrrr. KP. Grumble. KP NUTS!

[Brendan]

Wally.

[Brendan]

oh dear oh dear oh dear.

Well if you're english that is.

[Keef]

Cook gone, that's it then. I blame the South Africans, and not the ones in the opposing team!

[Ted Max]

Abject. Five hundred and lots plays a brace of 200s.

Still think England can nick one of the next two, though. They will, if they've got any sense, go back to six batsmen, keeper, and four bowlers. I'd like Jones to play instead of Broad. Wouldn't even mind Harmison back in - yes, it's that desparate.

Side for Edgbaston: Cook, Strauss, Bell, Pieterson, Vaughan, Collingwood/ Shah, Flintoff, Ambrose, Jones, Panesar, Harmison/ Sidebottom.

[david_carnell]

Ambrose? Still? Nah, I'd be chucking him if I were a selector. What about Phil Mustard? Avergaes 23 in ODIs and 26 in county matches. He's got to be better than Ambrose, surely?

So I'd have Cook; Strauss; Vaughan©; Bell; Pieterson; Mustard(wc); Flintoff; Broad; Anderson; Jones; Panesar

I'm still not sure about bringing Colly back in but he had a good knock for Durham at the weekend.

[Keef]

I'd like to see Hoggard back in attack, he's fit isn't he?

Agree the selection for this was all wrong! And agree Vaughan should maybe try dropping down the order a bit further.

[Ted Max]

What does Broad do in that team? He seems incapable of taking wickets - there only to store up an end for a while. Might as well play the proper extra batsmen until Broad has developed a bit more bowling threat.

Number six is a key position in test cricket and you have to have a proper batter there.

The keeper could be any keeper from Foster, Mustard, Davies, Scott, Ambrose etc. I'm not fussed - but none of the candidates is a test match six.

[david_carnell]

For my money Broad offers a good all rounder. He's developing nicely with the bat and although not a deadly bowler offers a good alternative at one end with either Flintoff or Anderson at the other.

Why is no6 "key" compared to 5 or 7? Foster might be a good bet. Was assured a few years ago until he broke his arm and has never got back. First class average is decent too.

You've only got 3 fast bowlers (flintoff, jones and harmy/sidey) - all three of whom aren't at full fitness or match-readiness - not wise imo.

[Ted Max]

Number six is not any more key than five or seven, I just meant it's a proper, full-on batting position - not one you can chuck a 'keeper averaging 30 in first class cricket (as just about all the available candidates do) into as a best effort approach.

Flintoff has just bowed 40 overs. If Sidey is fit he can bowl lots too - as can Jimmy if he is retained. Colly and Pieterson could mop up 15 overs a day between them, easy. But Jones is a wicket taker who does something different.

Broad is developing, just that. Developing. I like him and think he has a big future but he is being milked by the Saf batsmen right now and they need jolting out of their comfort zones.

[Brendan]

It really is quite precious how you all think that selection is going to make a difference to the inevitable outcome of this series.

[david_carnell]

Maybe we move Flintoff up to 6 then, as you suggest, and move whichever w'keeper we play to 7. But it shouldn't be Ambrose. He's been dreadful.

Maybe Flintoff has bowled 40 overs but he looked pooped at the end and became ineffective. If Sidebottom is fit is a big if - to come straight back and bowl 40 overs is a big ask. You'd dropped Anderson from your team for some reason. Jones should definitely come back - agreed. Not keen on Colly or Pieterson bowling on these pitches - always reeks of desperation to my mind.

I'd be prepared to replace Broad with Sidebottom, perhaps, but his contribution with the bat has been worth his average bowling display.

Shut-it Bren - this is the only fun we're going to be having until the next match! Enjoy it whilst you can mate.

[Ted Max]

It really is quite precious how you all think that selection is going to make a difference to the inevitable outcome of this series.

Agreed, it's got 1-1 draw all over it.

[Ted Max]

90 overs in a day, David. 4 x 20 plus 10 fiddled from a fifth bowler. It's a fairly normal sort of equation.

The four would be Flintoff, Anderson, Panesar Jones. You're right, I forgot Jimmy, who deserves to stay for now.

Five full bowlers is great if, a) your batting can carry it (England's can't) and b) it actually offers some variety (Broad, Pattinson, Anderson does not).

None of it matters, though, if three of your top five batsmen play like tarts.

[david_carnell]

Ted Max Wrote:

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> None of it matters, though, if three of your top

> five batsmen play like tarts.

On this, I think, we are in unanimous agreement. When do we start asking serious questions about Vaughan? Could we relieve him of his captaincy and hope the batting improves? Who replaces him? And his captaining duties are the only bits he does well. Field placings etc.

[Keef]

Well they made it to tea.

Telling that aside from Cook, the 2 that have faced most balls are Anderson and Ambrose! :-S