Our team looks a fucking shambles at the moment. Just totally unbalanced and without Flintoff who cant be relied on over a series we are piss weak in attack.
The only thing making me think we have a chance is how poor Australia have been of late, and how we up our game on home soil. (the decision to play the first test in Wales is a mindboggling one).
Realistically given the relatively poor attacks vs strong batting line ups means im gonna predict not many results, so optimistic me says 1-1 but realist me says 2-1 oz.
I hope in the next few months a bowler or 2 finds some good form otherwise forget it, teams that play us for a draw get it simple as that (sound familiar?) and i hope Strauss grows a set. Enforces follow ons, declares 50 runs earlier, lets really get at them.
Australia are bullies and once they get momentum their tough to stop, they just steamroller teams. When you get at them and get under their skin they are beatable, but they have to half beat themselves, a fit firing confident Aus team with Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and Symonds? Leading the attack are a hell of a team, but we shouldnt be scared, we musnt be.
My squad-
cook
bopara
panesar
pieterson
flintoff
bell
strauss
anderson
broad
sidebottom
prior
shah
harmison
collingwood
mahmood.
Starting team-
Cook - needs to begin converting starts into scores, but still our best opening option...although if Vaughan stays fit and proves his form between now and then....ya know
Strauss - Alarmingly seems to me a bit of an over cautious gaffer which is fine if you werent a team who capitulates every 6th innings and then have to come from behind every series. That said his batting has been brilliant.
Pieterson - i dont mind him batting lower down in one day or 20/20 but he shouldnt be made to feel like he has to save a match. Play him at 3 and let him off his fucking leash.
Bopara - just terrific potential and i want him to be trusted now and play towards the future.
Collingwood - my choice as captain, and id always play him at 5 as hes the last person we can pin our innings on.
Flintoff - you dont leave him out if fit.
Prior - needs to do every single thing in his game a lot better, not enough catches, not enough stumpings, not even enough runs, but we need to stop fucking around and give the lad a full year to learn the expectations. Im sick of one series in one out for keepers. Let him play and see if he improves.
Broad - first pick bowler because of ìs batting ability. I think hell be a massive player for us in future.
Anderson - takes wickets and bowls line and length, if Prior could catch would have much better stats.
Panesar - the best we have at spin.
Sidebottom - tremendously disciplined although slightly less agressive than harmison with the ball, i like his attitude and his aggression with the opposition team, and you need that against oz.
And thats that. Any other offers?
The only thing making me think we have a chance is how poor Australia have been of late, and how we up our game on home soil. (the decision to play the first test in Wales is a mindboggling one).
Realistically given the relatively poor attacks vs strong batting line ups means im gonna predict not many results, so optimistic me says 1-1 but realist me says 2-1 oz.
I hope in the next few months a bowler or 2 finds some good form otherwise forget it, teams that play us for a draw get it simple as that (sound familiar?) and i hope Strauss grows a set. Enforces follow ons, declares 50 runs earlier, lets really get at them.
Australia are bullies and once they get momentum their tough to stop, they just steamroller teams. When you get at them and get under their skin they are beatable, but they have to half beat themselves, a fit firing confident Aus team with Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and Symonds? Leading the attack are a hell of a team, but we shouldnt be scared, we musnt be.
My squad-
cook
bopara
panesar
pieterson
flintoff
bell
strauss
anderson
broad
sidebottom
prior
shah
harmison
collingwood
mahmood.
Starting team-
Cook - needs to begin converting starts into scores, but still our best opening option...although if Vaughan stays fit and proves his form between now and then....ya know
Strauss - Alarmingly seems to me a bit of an over cautious gaffer which is fine if you werent a team who capitulates every 6th innings and then have to come from behind every series. That said his batting has been brilliant.
Pieterson - i dont mind him batting lower down in one day or 20/20 but he shouldnt be made to feel like he has to save a match. Play him at 3 and let him off his fucking leash.
Bopara - just terrific potential and i want him to be trusted now and play towards the future.
Collingwood - my choice as captain, and id always play him at 5 as hes the last person we can pin our innings on.
Flintoff - you dont leave him out if fit.
Prior - needs to do every single thing in his game a lot better, not enough catches, not enough stumpings, not even enough runs, but we need to stop fucking around and give the lad a full year to learn the expectations. Im sick of one series in one out for keepers. Let him play and see if he improves.
Broad - first pick bowler because of ìs batting ability. I think hell be a massive player for us in future.
Anderson - takes wickets and bowls line and length, if Prior could catch would have much better stats.
Panesar - the best we have at spin.
Sidebottom - tremendously disciplined although slightly less agressive than harmison with the ball, i like his attitude and his aggression with the opposition team, and you need that against oz.
And thats that. Any other offers?
