: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:44 pm  

Troy Cooley will be earning his money right now anyhow, that's for sure.

: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:50 pm  

Asim wrote:

Neither inspires much confidence on past record, Andy Flower has confirmed Bell is the next in line anyway so the argument is largely academic.

Be interesting to see what happens for Headingley if Bopara fails again.

I think Bopara's in for the long haul, no matter what he does. They appear to have identified him as the man for the 3 slot, and seem prepared to give him a decent run in the side. A bit like they did with Bell at No 6 in the 05 series, in fact.

: Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:45 pm  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 164751.stm Dont know how this will affect the bowling selections. Onions & jelly dont normally go together but might in this case.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 164751.stm Dont know how this will affect the bowling selections. Onions & jelly dont normally go together but might in this case.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:48 am  

Here's a wild one for you (that will never ever happen)...play Matt Prior as a specialist batsman and bring James Foster in as wicket keeper.

A line-up of:
Strauss, Cook, Bopara, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Foster, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions

Prior is good enough to play as just a batsman and we get the best keeper in the country in the side, who can also chip in with decent runs lower down the order.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:04 am  

Whats chances of the Edgbaston test going to 5 days?

I'm thinking of buying tickets for it as they're £15 but non refundable. It seems well worth the risk but obvioulsy theres not much point if there no chance at all of it lasting 5 days.

I know theres only been 2 results in the last 12 chapionship games there so it looks a chance.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:22 am  

OrdsallRed wrote:

Here's a wild one for you (that will never ever happen)...play Matt Prior as a specialist batsman and bring James Foster in as wicket keeper.

A line-up of:
Strauss, Cook, Bopara, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Foster, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions

Prior is good enough to play as just a batsman and we get the best keeper in the country in the side, who can also chip in with decent runs lower down the order.

Essentially you would gain the incremental benefit of Foster's wicketkeeping over Prior's (which in the last test would have been negligible). In your line up you would lose the incremental runs that a specialist batsmen would be expected to score in excess of those that Foster would be expected to score. You might also gain a few extra runs if you believe that keeping wicket detracts from Prior's ability to score runs.

Unless you are convinced that any replacement batsmen would be unlikely to score many more runs than Foster, it just doesnt stack up.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:05 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Whats chances of the Edgbaston test going to 5 days?

Pretty good by the sound of it, a low slow wicket is forecast which should make it easy to stay in, but not easy to score runs.

You might get five days of cricket, but I'm not sure about the entertainment value.

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:35 am  

David Wigley gets Hughes out cheaply in the Aussie tour game.

Shall we start a clamour for him to be in the test side?

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:26 am  

you poms are plotting our downfall. you pommys are too good

: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:34 am  

Asim wrote:

David Wigley gets Hughes out cheaply in the Aussie tour game.

Shall we start a clamour for him to be in the test side?

He's the new John Crawley.

Unfortunately for Hughes, Shane Watson has got a start batting at 3. If he goes on to make a decent score I can see him coming into the Test side which increases Australia's bowling options too.