Bell, Harmison, Shah and Vaughan...

[Titanic]

all left out of the England test squad...

England squad: Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann.

 

[simmo]

I really don't like the look of that squad, it just smacks of inexperience, I think we are going to need experienced players for the forthcoming Ashes series. Harmison and one of Bell or Vaughan should be in there.

 

[Mendoza]

Surprised the dropped Bell and Shah

Maybe Pietersen up to 3?

 

[the viscount]

Pity that Harmison is not picked in the team.now means he will be available for durham V sussex next week at Hove

 

[Titanic]

Surprised the dropped Bell and Shah

Maybe Pietersen up to 3?

Bopara at 3.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Bresnan?

 

[keaton]

For this test there was no point picking Bell or Vaughan if they weren't gonna play him and after the Windies series it made sense to give Bopora a run. I think Harmy must be out for good now

 

[simmo]

I just look at that line up and I just can't see where 20 wickets is going to come from in a test against anyone (let alone the Aussies).

From that list it likes look Jimmy Anderson is our premier bowler now! When during the last home Ashes series he wasn't anywhere near being good enough to make the squad.

 

[Billy the Fish]

From that list it likes look Jimmy Anderson is our premier bowler now! When during the last home Ashes series he wasn't anywhere near being good enough to make the squad.

To be fair that was 4 years ago and he was coming back from a spinal injury and dealing with re-modeling his action. He's improved alot in the last two years.

 

[sten_super]

I just look at that line up and I just can't see where 20 wickets is going to come from in a test against anyone (let alone the Aussies).

From that list it likes look Jimmy Anderson is our premier bowler now! When during the last home Ashes series he wasn't anywhere near being good enough to make the squad.

The last home Ashes series was 4 years ago! Anderson was 22 then. Now, 4 years later, and in the absence of Flintoff, he IS our premier bowler.

It is definitely an inexperienced bowling attack; however who else would you pick? Harmison has been gash for years, even before 2005. Simon Jones is not fit. Hoggard, perhaps, how did he get on last year in CC? There aren't any other experienced international bowlers out there (assuming you're discounting Andy Caddick).

I think it's a decent looking squad. I would imagine they will line up like this...

Strauss (c)
Cook
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Anderson
Panesar/Onions (depending upon what the pitch looks like)

 

[Marc]

Harmison still needs to get wickets
Vaughan still needs to get runs as does Bell
Shah not too sure about

We cant keep picking players just because they did well years ago, we need to check out some new names and see what others can do and these tests are simply Playgrounds for the Ashes. We know if Vaughan does well at County level until the Ashes he will be good in that series as apposed to slacking now then being shite later on...my opinion anyway!

 

[simmo]

To be fair that was 4 years ago and he was coming back from a spinal injury and dealing with re-modeling his action. He's improved alot in the last two years.

I wasn't really having a go at Anderson I was pointing out the fact that in that list he is our premier bowler.

Whenever I think of Jimmy I think of a 2-80 man, not a 5-50 and a first/second change bowler yet looking at that list he is now our spearhead.

Thinking about it we will probably get 20 wickets against WI early May, I am sure the ball will nibble around, but I really see us struggling with that attack to get 20 wickets against Oz later in the Summer.

I would have picked Harmison, I know he is hot and cold but if he can't get up for the Ashes then he isn't up for anything and that obviously is the end.

The selectors have told Bell to go back to county cricket and get loads of runs which he has done. He should be there too.

I see Sidearse has got 2 already for Notts, that is good news (especially against Wancs)

 

[Seagull over NZ]

I would expect Bell, Vaughan and Harmison to be back in the mix come the Ashes lead up. At the moment though none have done enough to warrant a test spot. Maybe only Bell has done enough but they seem to be questioning his desire which is interesting.

But I share the same scepticism about our pace attack there. Without Freddie it looks light, but hopefully come the Ashes that will be rectified.

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

as has already been mentioned there is no point them being there if they are not going to play!! they are best off playing cricket & getting runs/wickets under their belts.

 

[sten_super]

I can't believe people are still talking about Harmison as a viable prospect for England. I think he's now proven himself to be the Hick/Ramprakash of the bowling world. Excellent in the domestic game, but some mental problem keeps him from producing it for England on anything like a regular basis.

 

[simmo]

I know that injuries are a huge factor in whom you can and can't pick (especially with bowlers) but I am noticing now that the selectors keep on jettisoning more experienced players and picking others to replace them and then discarding them very quickly.

During our success in most recent times (the Vaughan era) the selectors really stuck by players through thick and thin (Ashley Giles and Geriant Jones immediately springs to mind) and in the end it reaped the rewards, we also won away in SA before people state it was only Ashes 05 win.

Now I think they are not doing that anymore. We have had Pattinson as a one test (not so) wonder and probably Khan? whom I question as to whether will play again. They also look like they have given up on Shah (and maybe Bell) as well. All this chopping and changing is a recipe for disaster (look at the keeper situation for exampl, will it be Prior or will it be Ambrose). Now first test of an Ashes summer and our bowling line up will have two out of four players whom are making their debut.

 

[keaton]

I think there is a set team but injuries and form have lead to changes having to be made
I think the ideal team for the first Ashes test would be

Cook
Strauss
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson

If Vaughan get's back into form, if not Bopora.
But at the moment Sidebottom, Vaughan and Bell need to be playing county cricket

 

[Uncle Buck]

I think there is a set team but injuries and form have lead to changes having to be made
I think the ideal team for the first Ashes test would be

Cook
Strauss
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson

If Vaughan get's back into form, if not Bopora.
But at the moment Sidebottom, Vaughan and Bell need to be playing county cricket

I would not have Sidebottom near the side, he has not really played well since the New Zealand tour.

 

[Paxton Dazo]

Good - About all of them.