1st Test v Austrailia

[Uncle Buck]

I think the team picks itself, apart from the Bell / Pietersen / Thorpe any 2 of 3 issue . I think Giles will play because he gives variety and can bat a bit.

The batsmen to omit is the one the Aussies would most like to bowl at. Typically, they relish getting under the skin of a player like Bell who is relatively new to the big stage. This is a potential weakness for us.

With Thorpe and Pietersen you don't have that potential weakness, as they both thrive on the big stage. Don't forget, Strauss will also be nervous, Trescothick's track record vs McGrath is crap and I can't see Bell picking up the pieces if they both get out cheaply.

I see what you are saying, but whenever I have seen Bell play he seems to have that bloody minded mentality which Atherton had and Thorpe has, meaning he will survive on the big stage. Pieterson looks cocky now as he is in some form, but you wonder what will happen to him if he has a few bad games and one of the Aussies gets the beating of him.

 

[Pavilionaire]

To be honest, any of the 3 could do an excellent job. It all depends upon the selectors attitude towards the series - start off with a bang or proceed cautiously, possibly saving Pietersen for the last couple of tests if necessary.

I suspect they'll do the latter, but I'm not expecting much from Bell. I hope he surprises me.

 

[Uncle Buck]

To be honest, any of the 3 could do an excellent job. It all depends upon the selectors attitude towards the series - start off with a bang or proceed cautiously, possibly saving Pietersen for the last couple of tests if necessary.

I suspect they'll do the latter, but I'm not expecting much from Bell. I hope he surprises me.

Pietersen looks a fantastic one day player, but because he plays across his stumps so much, he will get found out in the five day game. I just wonder if they are thinking blood him in the winter rather than in this series.

The player I do feel sorry for is Collingwood. 5 years ago he would have been a test regular, but when his chance came he buggered his shoulder up and now he is behind Bell, Pietersen and Key in the pecking order for the test team.

 

[Marshy]

Bell is a must in my book. His technique is first class.

Peitersen will play im pretty sure Thorpe will be left out if Giles is included.

 

[Storer68]

Tresco must get dropped - he has been woeful against the Auusies (caugt at third man for heavens sake) and mcGrath and Lee have clearly worked him out.

Vaughan is used to opening for england aganist Australia (done it before) so i would go with

1 Vaughan (capt)
2 strauss
3 Thorpe
4 Bell
5 Pietersen
6 Flintoff
7 G.Jones
8 Giles
9 Hoggard
10 harmison
11 S.Jones

 

[Brixtaan]

Don't care anymore.

Funny how G.Jones was the sticking point early in the thread.Don't forget he saved Englands ass last week.

 

[Storer68]

Hmm seems to get out to Gillespie more than McGrath......


StatsGuru - ME Trescothick - Test Batting - Bowlers/fielders dismissed by


ME Trescothick (Marcus Trescothick) [Player Page] - LHB; RM
Born: 1975-12-25 (present age: 29y 200d)

Tests: England 2000 - 2005 (24y 222d - 29y 162d)
Also: ODI Player 2000 - 2005.

Filter: against Australia, at home.
Sort order: total dismissals (descending).



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mat I NO Runs HS1 HS2 HS3 Ave 100 50 0

unfiltered 61 115 10 4775 219 194 180 45.47 12 24 9
filtered 5 10 0 321 76 69 55 32.10 0 3 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bowler Dis bwd c fi c wk st lbw hit Ave 0 Team

JN Gillespie (RF) 5 0 2 3 0 0 0 19.40 1 Aus
SK Warne (LBG) 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 54.33 0 Aus
GD McGrath (RFM) 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 30.50 0 Aus

Total 10 1 4 5 0 0 0 32.10 1
10% 40% 50% 0% 0% 0%

Right arm bowlers (100%) 10 1 4 5 0 0 0 32.10 1
10% 40% 50% 0% 0% 0%
Left arm bowlers ( 0%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0

Pace bowlers ( 70%) 7 0 3 4 0 0 0 22.57 1
0% 43% 57% 0% 0% 0%
Spin bowlers ( 30%) 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 54.33 0
33% 33% 33% 0% 0% 0%

Fielder Dis c fi c wk st Ave 0 Team

AC Gilchrist 5 0 5 0 31.20 0 Aus
ML Hayden 1 1 0 0 10.00 0 Aus
GD McGrath 1 1 0 0 24.00 0 Aus
SK Warne 1 1 0 0 0.00 1 Aus
ME Waugh 1 1 0 0 76.00 0 Aus



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key:
Mat = matches played, I = innings batted, NO = not outs, Runs = runs scored, HS1, HS2, HS3 = highest score, 2nd highest score, 3rd highest score, Ave = average runs per dismissal, 100 = scores over 100, 50 = scores between 50 and 100, 0 = ducks.

Dis = total dismissals, bwd = number of instances bowled, c fi = caught by a fielder other than the wicket-keeper, c wk = caught by the wicket-keeper, st = stumped, lbw = leg before wicket, hit = hit wicket, Ave = average runs scored by the batsman per dismissal, 0 = ducks scored.

 

[Seagull over NZ]

Storer, there is no case for dropping Tresco I am afraid.

Damien Martyn was caught twice in the 1 day series at 3rd man but you don't hear calls for him to be dropped !!

Yes McGrath seems to have the wood over Tresco but on dry flat wickets I would back Tresco to get runs, and that is what we are likely to get.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

The Aussies love playing at Lords, and England typically play crap there.

Maybe foreign teams are inspired by the surroundings etc, while England just seem to fade in the lack of atmosphere.

The old farts at Lords seem to think that any trace of enthusiasm by fans, beyond the occasional "shot!", accompanied by a brief round of golf applause, should be smothered. England tend to do well at other grounds when there's a decent atmosphere going, perhaps the crusty old gits should think of that rather than constantly sssshhhhing the crowd. Purely in teh interests of England winning the Ashes.

 

[Brixtaan]

They shhhhhh the crowd at Lords do they?

 

[Storer68]

The Aussies love playing at Lords, and England typically play crap there.

Maybe foreign teams are inspired by the surroundings etc, while England just seem to fade in the lack of atmosphere.

The old farts at Lords seem to think that any trace of enthusiasm by fans, beyond the occasional "shot!", accompanied by a brief round of golf applause, should be smothered. England tend to do well at other grounds when there's a decent atmosphere going, perhaps the crusty old gits should think of that rather than constantly sssshhhhing the crowd. Purely in teh interests of England winning the Ashes.

Edna
England just play shite at lords mostly as the 99 all out . When they start getting good there v the Aussie (not won since 1934)0 then we might start cheering