Ratings for the ashes series

[vulture]

Strauss 9- held the batting together
Cook 6 - good score at lords but poor otherwise
Bopra 4 - out of his depth
KP 6.5- Injured but still scored ok
Collingwood 6- good 1st test but maybe his time is up
bell 6- 2 50s but still looks out of depth at highest level
prior 7- excellent with gloves and good postive batting
flintoff 7- great bowling at lords
trott 8- great 1st test
broad 7.5- crap in first 3 world class in last 2
swann 7.5- could bat higher than 9 and bowled ok
Anderson 5- very poor apart from 1st innings at lords
Harminson 6- ok
Monty 6- crap bowling but saved 1st test
onions 6- ok

 

[wolfie]

Wouldn't disagree too much with that - although would put Onions higher and still think Collingwood and Bell have more to offer than most. impressed with Trott - another Graham Thorpe methinks. Is there a place now for Petersen ?

 

[vulture]

Wouldn't disagree too much with that - although would put Onions higher and still think Collingwood and Bell have more to offer than most. impressed with Trott - another Graham Thorpe methinks. Is there a place now for Petersen ?

My team to play south africa

1)Strauss
2) Cook
3)kp
4)Trott
5)Bell
6)Prior
7)Broad
8)Swann
9)Sidebottom
10)Anderson
11)Onions

Harmy will not tour and at 33 and in poor form collingwood should not make the first xl

 

[Andrew]

Trott was 9.5 imo.

 

[Boroseagull]

Certainly think Prior should be given a central contract!

 

[Paul Watson]

I'm not too sure about Bell as a test player. He seems to have the technique and the shots but never seems to perform to what he's capable of.

 

[vulture]

I'm not too sure about Bell as a test player. He seems to have the technique and the shots but never seems to perform to what he's capable of.

Bell is a good number 5 or 6 but should never go in at 3

 

[Paul Watson]

Bell is a good number 5 or 6 but should never go in at 3

Agreed. I felt a bit sorry for Bopara though who wasn't even mentioned by Strauss or anyone. But what do you expect for the way he batted.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I think Bopara is suited to a number 5 or 6 wheree can play his shots, but is exposed far too early at number 3.

Strauss
Cook
Trott
KP
Bell/Rashid - If Rashid we would bat after Broad
Bopara
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Onions

I still don't think Anderson is good enough to be our leading bowler - I prefer Onions, but we don't have too many options. Would love to see a true fast bowler found from somewhere

 

[Stumpy Tim]

flintoff 7- great bowling at lords
Anderson 5- very poor apart from 1st innings at lords

Harminson 6- ok
onions 6- ok

I cant work these 2 comparisons out. Flintoff bowled well on one innings, as did Anderson. Flintoff did nothing with that bat. So why does he get a 7 & Anderson a 5? IMO, Flintoff had a POOR series

Onions was excellent in a couple of his tests... Harmison was SHIT. Why do they get the same mark?

 

[Gwylan]

Strauss 9- outstanding series
Cook 5 - poor series, place must be in question
Bopara 3 - he'll come back but this was a shocker
Bell 6 - one poor game but got 50s in two others. Need to learn how to handle short-pitched pace bowling
Pietersen 6 - Hard to say because of injury. Did OK but judge when he's fit
Collingwood 5- save England in the 1st test but struggled afterwards
Trott 9 - could have been a 10 but it's hard to judge on one game. Excellent pick, looks to have the temperament
Prior 8- Good series. Aggressive batting and his work behind the stumps has improved no end
Flintoff 6- One inspired bowling spell, one good innings and distinctly average the rest of the time. Thanks for everything though Freddie
Broad 7- Some great lower order swishing but bowled poorly in 3 tests, moderately well in one test and like a world-beater in one innings.
Swann 7- Two decent bowling performances and some useful batting but doesn't look bowling sides out (he got same number of wickets as part-time spinner in 2nd innings of final test)
Anderson 5- One good innings but didn't really deliver
Harminson 5- Too inconsistent. Bowled rubbish at Headingley better at the Oval without terrifying
Monty 4- Batting heroics but needed to bowl better in his one test
Onions 7- Decent seam bowler. Swung the ball well

For South Africa, KP will be back: Key, Rashid,Bresnan and, dare I say, Luke Wright must be knocking on the door. Bopara will be back too. Cook, Colly, and Harmy must be fearing for their places. Bell and Anderson are safe for now but must deliver early in next series.

 

[sten_super]

Strauss 9- outstanding series
Cook 5 - poor series, place must be in question
Bopara 3 - he'll come back but this was a shocker
Bell 6 - one poor game but got 50s in two others. Need to learn how to handle short-pitched pace bowling
Pietersen 6 - Hard to say because of injury. Did OK but judge when he's fit
Collingwood 5- save England in the 1st test but struggled afterwards
Trott 9 - could have been a 10 but it's hard to judge on one game. Excellent pick, looks to have the temperament
Prior 8- Good series. Aggressive batting and his work behind the stumps has improved no end
Flintoff 6- One inspired bowling spell, one good innings and distinctly average the rest of the time. Thanks for everything though Freddie
Broad 7- Some great lower order swishing but bowled poorly in 3 tests, moderately well in one test and like a world-beater in one innings.
Swann 7- Two decent bowling performances and some useful batting but doesn't look bowling sides out (he got same number of wickets as part-time spinner in 2nd innings of final test)
Anderson 5- One good innings but didn't really deliver
Harminson 5- Too inconsistent. Bowled rubbish at Headingley better at the Oval without terrifying
Monty 4- Batting heroics but needed to bowl better in his one test
Onions 7- Decent seam bowler. Swung the ball well

For South Africa, KP will be back: Key, Rashid,Bresnan and, dare I say, Luke Wright must be knocking on the door. Bopara will be back too. Cook, Colly, and Harmy must be fearing for their places. Bell and Anderson are safe for now but must deliver early in next series.

I can't fault these rankings. In terms of the Saffers series, Rashid will be in the squad. Key has obviously got enemies at the top of English cricket, so I can't see him coming back in. Bresnan didn't look like anything special against the Windies so not sure about him. As others have mentioned Bopara will come back in.

I'd drop Cook; he needs some time in county cricket to work on his technique and get his confidence back up. It did wonders for Strauss a couple of years ago.

My team to play the Saffers would be;
Strauss(c), Denly, Bell, KP, Trott, Prior, Broad, Swann, Woakes, Anderson, Onions

although that bowling attack looks rather inexperienced! Also in the squad would be Rashid (I don't think he's experienced enough to play as a sole spinner but would come in if any of the pitches demand 2 spinners, and probably bat at 8), Wright, Bopara, Key and AN Other fast bowler.

 

[Gwylan]

I can't fault these rankings. In terms of the Saffers series, Rashid will be in the squad. Key has obviously got enemies at the top of English cricket, so I can't see him coming back in. Bresnan didn't look like anything special against the Windies so not sure about him. As others have mentioned Bopara will come back in.

I'd drop Cook; he needs some time in county cricket to work on his technique and get his confidence back up. It did wonders for Strauss a couple of years ago.

My team to play the Saffers would be;
Strauss(c), Denly, Bell, KP, Trott, Prior, Broad, Swann, Woakes, Anderson, Onions

although that bowling attack looks rather inexperienced! Also in the squad would be Rashid (I don't think he's experienced enough to play as a sole spinner but would come in if any of the pitches demand 2 spinners, and probably bat at 8), Wright, Bopara, Key and AN Other fast bowler.

I've never been overly impressed with Bresnan either but he clearly has friends at the top.

Yes, Denly's a good call - so are Moore and Carberry, one of these will be in the squad for SA.

Woakes is an interesting shout - a year early I'd say. Wright needs another couple of decent performances to sneak in - another Michelle would be handy.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I met Ravi at a hotel in Colchester on Saturday. Nice guy. Congratulated on his double ton against Surrey and he mentioned that facing the Aussie attack was a tad harder than facing Dernbach, Collins et al.

No shit Ravi, no shit.

 

[Gwylan]

I met Ravi at a hotel in Colchester on Saturday. Nice guy. Congratulated on his double ton against Surrey and he mentioned that facing the Aussie attack was a tad harder than facing Dernbach, Collins et al.

No shit Ravi, no shit.

... and a tad harder than facing the West Indies attack.

If he thought these Aussie attack was hard, I wonder what he'd have thought of McGrath, Gillespie, Lee and Warne at their peak

 

[CHAPPERS]

His missus is alright too.

 

[Billy the Fish]

I cant work these 2 comparisons out. Flintoff bowled well on one innings, as did Anderson. Flintoff did nothing with that bat. So why does he get a 7 & Anderson a 5? IMO, Flintoff had a POOR series

Onions was excellent in a couple of his tests... Harmison was SHIT. Why do they get the same mark?

A bit harsh on Flintoff there, bearing in mind his knees are falling to pieces. The stats don't tell the whole story with AF, having been to the last 3 tests I can say that the buzz in the ground when he is bowling is something else, that puts the batsmen under pressure and brings the crowd into the game. I've not seen him bullied in the way that Anderson and Broad do when they're not bowling well, even when he's not on top form he still doesn't give much away. 6 out of 10 for the series is about right though

Agree about Onions, when you need a bit of control he's your man. His two wickets in the first two balls of the 2nd day at edgbaston were awesome, and he got rid of their tail in the first innings at Lords when the others were struggling to do it.

 

[sten_super]

I've never been overly impressed with Bresnan either but he clearly has friends at the top.

Yes, Denly's a good call - so are Moore and Carberry, one of these will be in the squad for SA.

Woakes is an interesting shout - a year early I'd say. Wright needs another couple of decent performances to sneak in - another Michelle would be handy.

Carberry's out for the rest of the season, isn't he? Moore is definitely an alternative though.

To be honest I went for Woakes because I couldn't think of anyone else. I think it's a given that Harmison won't travel, and I'm not convinced at the prospect of Sidebottom in South Africa.

I think at least one all rounder will travel, as they will be concerned about Broad's lack of experience at 7, which must play into Wright's hands. You could take Rashid as the one and only but then if he plays you are looking at two spinners if he comes in.

 

[Gwylan]

Carberry's out for the rest of the season, isn't he? Moore is definitely an alternative though.

To be honest I went for Woakes because I couldn't think of anyone else. I think it's a given that Harmison won't travel, and I'm not convinced at the prospect of Sidebottom in South Africa.

I think at least one all rounder will travel, as they will be concerned about Broad's lack of experience at 7, which must play into Wright's hands. You could take Rashid as the one and only but then if he plays you are looking at two spinners if he comes in.

Hadn't seen that about Carberry.


They might decide that Swan is a decent enough batsman not to worry about another all-rounder. And that's where Bresnan comes in - he's a decent batsman too.

So starting from number 7, that's Broad, Swann, Bresnan (or Rashid), Anderson and Onions. (Rashid would go above Swann if he plays) - would they need another all-rounder with that?

The bowling does lack out and out pace but I don't know what you'd do about that with no Flintoff or Harmison.

 

[sten_super]

That's true, but I suppose my thinking was that IF Broad finds it hard batting at seven, they'll want cover in that can bat at 7. Swann is a competent 8 but no higher; I think the same is true for Bresnan. Rashid could bat at 7, as could Wright, if they decide that they want to push Broad down to 8 again.

I suspect that you are right, and that Bresnan will play at 9 to 'shore up' the batting. Quite frankly if we need runs at 9 then we have more pressing problems than which all rounder to pick!