Seamers hold key for England
The guarded answers from Andrew Strauss and England's new coach, Peter Moores, suggest that of the summer with a recurrence of his ankle injury.
It does not seem to be a serious problem, but with a long summer stretching into a busy schedule right up to Christmas, England do not want to take any risks with their premier all-rounder. Interestingly, Flintoff playing purely as a batsman appears to be a non-starter, so Owais Shah would slot in at number six.
The ramifications for the bowling line-up appear to be more complicated. The pitch is grassy and contains more moisture than Mick Hunt, the groundsman, would like, and the forecast is for cloudy and humid weather.
This leads one to suspect that Monty Panesar could make way in order for England to include James Anderson in a four-man pace attack. The alternative would be to retain Panesar, and use Paul Collingwood鈥檚 medium pace as support for Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Liam Plunkett.
Moores spoke with genuine and refreshing enthusiasm. He was keen to emphasise that all the players start his campaign with clean sheets - and this includes any pedalo-related baggage!
This makes absolute sense, and the very fact that there is a new coaching regime in place (with also in attendance) should give the team a welcome boost after such a dreadful winter in which the credibility of English cricket was seriously challenged.
Moores gave firm support to the selection of wicket-keeper , who played for him at Sussex, and for the sake of continuity, and in the interests of putting a stop to the endless destabilising debate, Moores is hoping Prior makes the most of this opportunity.
, but I beg to differ. There was a lot of muttering from within the camp in Australia about his commitment as well as his poor form which now stretches back for two years.
Harmison has started well for Durham, taking wickets and getting some overs in his legs. Hopefully he can see that this is not merely a coincidence, and that the two things go together.
He has a great deal more preparation that the poor West Indians, who have managed only 48 overs of cricket since they faced England in the World Cup on 21 April. This is a time of drastic rebuilding for Ramnaresh Sarwan鈥檚 team and their batting techniques will be sorely tested in these early summer Tests.
They have not been dealt a kind hand by having to head north to Leeds, Manchester and Durham for the other three matches, reinforcing the expectation that England will dominate the series.
Aggers, I think steve harmison does realise that he needs overs under his belt after reading his comments about why he gave up ODI's. It just seams crazy now that players feel that they have to give up one form of cricket to do that
Complain about this postHarmison definitely needs to prove something to his team mates, and if not them, the England supporters. He has had a distinctly surly attitude in interviews, and the fact he didn't write 'his book', let alone read it just makes him come across as someone not having respect for the cricket public at the moment.
He needs to grow up and realise the responsibility he has, and the fact that relatively few get to play for England, and have the opportunities that he has had. At least he has started the county season well, and if the weather stays like this, he should put the West Indies in all sorts of trouble along with Hoggard.
Lets hope there's enough play for a result at Lords.
Complain about this postSpot on Aggers. Steve Harmison's telling himself massive porkies. Nothing to prove to anyone? The last test series he played in we got murdered 5-0 and he took 10 wickets at 61.4. That's a far cry from the world rated number 1 who took 7 for 12 at Sabina Park.
Steve said "I've never been big-headed or shouted my name from the roof-tops, but I do know that if I'm fit and firing I don't think there's anyone in the country who can do what I can do."
So he was either unfit or firing blanks down under. When the spearhead of your attack misfires as badly as he did then people are going to highlight it. And remember it. For a long time.
Helpful pitches and conditions should be ideal for him to start doing what he hasn't been for a while - making life difficult for opposition batsmen, working them over then knocking them over. That will start to chip away at the memories we have of the Ashes 2006/7.
Complain about this postI agree re Harmison, he was a disgrace in Australia. It was the biggest stage any English cricketer could wish to play on and he let himself and his country down. "I have nothing to prove" is a comment that will make a lot of England fans quite angry. Steve - if you were Australian and you bowled like that in an Ashes series you would be very lucky to play Test cricket again. Get real mate.
Complain about this postcan we all just get fully behind the lads in this new era
part of the reason why england fail at the big stage so often is down to the media.... just let them play their cricket and see where it takes them eh?
Complain about this post"The 尝辞谤诲鈥檚 pitch is grassy and contains more moisture than Mick Hunt..."
Complain about this postYou're not insinuating anything about Mick Hunt's drinking habits, are you?!
A seam only pace attack is the best way to go ... Pietersen proved he has useful little off-spinners, and the 4 pace bowlers we have are a pretty good mix of pace and variation. Weather permitting, we should win this series comfortably!
Complain about this postCan't wait for the start of the 'Moore'es era'. Hopefully England can now start to emerge again as the strong test playing nation that they are, with a few additions from the 2005 ashes campaign.
Complain about this postWould like to see England take the bold move of playing 4 seemers, as you should always pick a side for the conditions,in my view.
Anyone think that Charlie shreck from Notts might be an England prespect?? getting on a bit but it's all there!!
Harmison clearly isn't the sharpest tool i the box, but his defensive mindset is understandable given the (in my view disproportionate) amount of stick he has recieved for performances in Australia. We all have our flaws, Harmison clearly turns up some days and mentally doesn't fancy it. Doesn't make him a bad bowler, but means he needs to be handled carefully.
Complain about this postAs much as I am a Monty fan, I think it's wise for him to sit this one out... We can always turn to KP or Colly to block up an end for a few overs, or even Bell!
Complain about this postAs for Harmison: agreed, he does need to prove himself. He knows it, too: why would he otherwise mention that he doesn't need to?
But I'd say it's about a year and a half since he performed, bordering on two. I'll never forget the first ball going to 2nd slip in Oz, but I'll also never forget the short'un that got Kasprowicz at Edgbaston!
God I hope Jones (S and not G) makes a successful comeback. It would make the world of difference to our batsmen knowing that we have a fully rounded and penetrating attack.
Complain about this postHarmisons attitude stinks! after his appalling winter and indifferent 18 months he has everything to prove...a bowling average of +30 betrays his ability and he owes it to the thousands of fans who spent and wasted thousands of pounds and hours of time to show some consistency. Disgraceful. He should have been dropped to wake him up!
Complain about this postI think you supported the decision to drop Panesar for the first Ashes test as well. Once again back to the tried and tested formula of when in doubt drop Monty. This will surely give him bags of encouragement and help his development no end.
Complain about this postIt would be stupid not to include a spinner in our bowling attack. I can see that the weather conditions are favourable for swing bowling but a bit of variety is much needed in order to spice things up. Having said that...I cannot see how the West Indies will possibly be able to beat us. Those words may come back to haunt me...but of all the nations I really hope that the West Indies return to the top of the cricket tree...ince we've beaten them of course.
I would love to see Shah have a go at number 6, as I see this game as an ideal opportunity to test a few new faces in this arena.
Complain about this postLet us all hope that some degree of sanity will return to English cricket. It would be fantastic to see the simpler things done properly such as selecting a sensible team. Shah has been brilliant in the early season. Under Fletcher I bet Flintoff would have played as a batsman. Now I am hoping that Shah will get the chance that he so richly deserves.
Complain about this postI agree with Jonathan Agnew about Harmison needing to prove himself. I know that Harmison is clearly a very good bowler but how can you pick a player who essentially looks like he will only ever perform in home series ?(with the exception of the last Windies tour). Are we going to have a situation where he plays in home series but not in away series? Having said this I am desperate for him to succeed because England are a very good team with him bowling well.
Harmison does have a point to prove. He needs to show he can still hack it at intertational level, and more importantly that he still WANTS it. As for Panesar sitting out, I find that ludicrous. Even KP, Collingwood and Bell together don't make as good a bowler as Monty Panesar. He's England's best bowler after Flintoff, and the West Indians notoriously struggle to play spin, especially now with no Lara. And there's a series against India coming up, and England need Monty firing if they're going to win that one.
Complain about this posthi guy
i live in malaysia but still try to view as much english cricekt as possible despite the limited tv coverage over here
i think that we do need panesar in the team, he will offer us a different option that three otehr seam bowlers and it is good to have variation in the teams bowling as the sri lankans proved at the world cup. a spinner will give s something else to turn to should things not be going our way(which is unlikely against this relatively weak west indies team)
with flintoff looking to be sitting this one out with his ankle i tihnk that paul collingwood could offer something else for us should the need be with his medium pace. however with haoggard, harmison and plunkett i think we have enough pace and four bowlers should do against the west indies.
with shah appearing to be coming in m team would be this
strauss (C)
cook
shah
collingwood
pietersen
bell (prefer him at 6)
prior (wk)
plunkett(not that bad a batsman)
hoggard
harmison
panesar
should win series4 -0 especially with flintoff to some back in and maybe vaughen but still...where would he go? i think vaughan getting back in the team all depends on whether or not anyone doesnt paly well in the first test at all
cheers
Complain about this postFor such a big bloke harmi really does has a brain and heart the size of a pea.
Nothing to prove?
the bloke is a minow basher he has great stats vs the weaker teams in test cricket(bangladesh/new zealand/west indies) and awful stats vs the strongest teams
Complain about this postWe don't need to play 5 bowlers against the Windies. Even if Flntoff is fit, Shah sholud play. Bell, Pietersen and Collingwood can act as a sort of fifth bowler. Panesar should play regardless of the conditions, he's done nothing to be warrant being dropped.
Complain about this posti hope the press gives moores a fair crack of the whip.if the players give 100% ,we should win a series white wash.come on england.
Complain about this postErm Aggers, "contains more moisture than Mick Hunt,..." may not be your finest line as a broadcaster!? =:-/
Complain about this postIsn't Anderson in the middle of a Lancashire game? Is he allowed to just leave it and play for England?
Complain about this postI disagree with everyone about omitting Monty. I realise that both the conditions and the wicket will favour swing and seam bowlers, but I cannot see what James Anderson will offer that Harmison, Hoggard and Plunkett do not already give to the team. Anderson is a good new ball swing bowler, but we have a better one in Hoggard. Monty has proven himself on English grounds where people have said he would not get wickets (remember England v Pakistan at Headingley last summer). He offers variety and class, and is an vital option with the old ball should the weather be better than predicted or the West Indies batsmen prove themselve not to be as fallible against swing as we suspect they may be. If the ball is swinging around so much that we need a fourth seamer Paul Collingwood should be able to bowl reasonably effectively.
Complain about this postI see why people think Jimmy should play over Monty due to the conditions but I would beg to differ. Alongside Fred, Monty has been our best bowler over the last year and even if the conditions arent 100% favouring spin it offers variation. Im aware KP can toss a few down but that is only to use up overs whereas Monty is a genuine wicket threat. DONT DROP MONTY!
Also, if Fred cant play it has to be Owais Shah for me over another bowler.
Complain about this postI tend to feel that leaving out a spinner due to conditions always seems like a good idea before the first ball is bowled but once we get to the third day or so, matches usually need a bit of variety. If the pitch favours seem and swing then Hoggy, a rejuvinated Harmy and an inform Plunkett ought to be able to get enough out of it that Anderson would be a bit peripheral anyway... agree with the last post that Windies are vulnerable to spin and Monty should bed in for later in the summer... he's going to be integral to Moores' future teams so let's start as we mean to go on!
Complain about this postwhy don't we call up bopara? he can bat at 6 and bowl?
Complain about this postHarmison has said previously he will retire from Cricket at the age of 30. He has already given up ODI at the age of 28. His attitude is poor adn his bowling of late has been as well. He has a hell of a lot to prove and a few wickets against the West Indies will not mean much as they are nowhere near the force they once were. He is not a good tourist and I wonder if we can ever see the best of him as his heart is not in it. His comments lacked brains and lacked passion for his country.
Complain about this postAggers,
I watched Harmison bowl on TV recently in a county one day match and, despite his figures and the praise of the commentators, I was not impressed.
He still looks a different bowler now than in 2004/2005 and I think it's down to his run up. He is leaning forward more and trying to run in too fast and as a result he is not pivoting at the right angle in his delivery stride which is too chest on and lacking the height he had a couple of years ago. I am sure this is why he is spraying the ball to leg.
With a more side on action and delivering the ball from a greater height at the point of release, as was the case in 2004/2005, he will rediscover his form but he must change back to how he was bowling then to achieve this and he will only do this by reverting to the fluent and upright running style he had then.
I fear that he will be found out by stronger opposition when we play India later in the summer.
Complain about this postYes, last time we dropped Panesar at the start of a test series it worked out really well for us.
Complain about this postIt appears that Glamorgan have finally decided to risk a certain SP Jones in a 4-day match. Start praying now.
Complain about this postOh come on. Monty should be the first bowler to be picked regadless of the conditions. I'm backing Harmy as he's clearly up for it, but Anderson would bring absolutely NOTHING to the party. Na-da. The most refreshing thing about Harmy's interview was his support for Strauss as captain. If Strauss proves himself in this Test with a good score and with his senior players behind him who needs Michael "Mard-ass" Vaughan? India's going to be tough to beat so let's dispense with this part-time captain nonsense - appoint Strauss to the job and let him forge his own team without that creepy bloke with the dodgy finger and wonky knee lurking about the dressing room muttering about the Ashes...
Complain about this postDropping Panesar right now would be criminal, so much so it surprises me you even suggested it. We saw in Australia that dropping him for any reason just isn't good. He was the first spinner in donkeys years to take wickets at headingley, never mind the fact that it was a selection of the finest batsmen in world cricket.
4 bowlers is enough for playing the windies, and i think 3 seamers is also enough. Bell, Collingwood and Pietersen can bowl well enough to fill in overs, if need be, and theres always Shah too.
Complain about this postI support england passionatley BUT I disagree with the guy that said we should all get behind the lads in this new era and that the reason why england failed at the big stage is down to the media???
No, it was down to Fletcher, out of form/p*ssed off Freddie, a team not motivated!! I went to Oz and spent a lot of money, great time but frankly embbarassing!! I am entitled to have a go at them........as they didn't perform, especially Harmy...he looked terrible and Aggers is right he hasn't really done the biz since 2004 west indies series. He was very ordinary in SA and it was Jones who England have missed the most. Harmy does have a lot to prove....as Broad, a fit Jones, Onions and Plunkett are knocking on his door
Complain about this postWhat puzzles me most about Harmison is that it it is true that he was not exactly overbowled before the Ashes but how do other players manage to get it right without many matches before serious international cricket? Look at Asif last summer; he had no preparation but bowled magnificently in the last test. McGrath hadnt played state cricket for ages pre Ashes yet still managed to bowl far too well for the English batsmen. It says a lot more about mentality of the player than anything else.
Having said that I will be cheering Harmison on hoping that he can perform as we all know he has the ability.
To conclude I suppose you dont need to be a rocket scientist to be a cricketer; maybe Harmison was just trying to prove that with his admission that he hadnt read his own book.
I'm off to Waterstones!!!!!!
Complain about this postI am also a huge fan of Monty's, however, if the conditions don't suit playing a spinner then there is no need to. I am sure Monty will not see this as being dropped as such but rather playing to the conditions in order to win the test.
As for Harmision I think he does need to prove himself again and I am sure he will having got some good overs under his belt for Durham bowling a good pace and taking wickets. Hoggard will also be a huge threat to the Windies if the ball swings.
Play Shah at 6 with a 4 man attack. We should win this and the remaining tests in the series easily if the weather doe not prevent it. However, I hope that Windies put up a good battle as a bad Windies team is a huge blow for Test cricket.
Complain about this postI fully agree with others about keeping Monty and playing Shah. I would go further re Harmison though and simply not pick him as soon as others have regained fitness. While Harmison may take wickets while conditions are helpful and the opposition weak and under-prepared, it is clear that he does not have the mental strength to play test cricket under pressure against the top opposition. For that reason I would leave him out and go for Broad instead when fit, plus that would stop us having too long a tail as well.
Complain about this postAs for others in the team, I must admit to having reservations about Prior but I am ok to give him a chance even though personally I would have gone for Foster at this stage. The other big questions are where will Vaughan bat when he is fit, I think no 3 which is hard on Bell; and who will drop out for Trescothick when (hopefully) he is ready to play again. This final point is my one reservation about Strauss as caretaker captain as I think he will be the one who should make way if Trescothick does return, but I realsie that this may be a minority view.
I feel that steve Harmison has put himself under enormous pressure. But we can only comment on what we see on the cricket field and he has done remarkably well in the start of the county season.
But what we all want to see Harmison getting wickets for England and if he can do that on a consistant basis for England this summer then everyone will be happy.
He really needs to lead the English bowling attack. But for now one would think that its best to forget Australia and judge him on performances for England in this 'need to impress' summer.
Complain about this postThis is ideal for the new coaching team - A big name side, in a bad spell, at home. I'm sure there will be some scares along the way, and maybe a defeat in a match or two, but England will have done something seriously wrong if they lose the series.
Complain about this postIt may be imprudent to presume West Indies would be a walkover. England are the better team in test matches, but the West Indians are capable of competing well when least expected.
If West Indies are bold enough to shift Gayle to no.5 and put up Smith and Ganga to open, they would do much in blunting England's seaming advantage while retaining their firepower. Ganga has the ability to play overs and Smith, as opener is a call of faith and declaration of intent of establishing an opener for the future. Gayle, who is recently struggling with the moving ball, could adopt greater responsibility in the crucial no. 5 spot, where, he gets the chance to settle in before the next new ball and reverse swing come in, and can handle Monty.
If the order of Morton, Chanders, Gayle and Sarwan from no 3 through 5 play to their strength, England might want all their seaming options, and in best bowling form as well.
Complain about this postI am very sorry to see Jonathan Agnew appearing to endorse selection of an all seam attack for Thursday. When when when wil commentators and more importantly selectors realise that an attack with the variety of wrist or finger spin is simply not viable for a balanced test side. I have watched test cricket for forty years and have lost count of the times we have omitted spin and then by the second or third day, when a pair are set and we are chasing leather all over the so-called seamers paradise and the commentators on TMS are saying every ten minutes "the captain could do with changing the pace, anything, just to break up the batsman's rythm. It never never works.
Complain about this postYes, very clever Aggers, what we need now is to put all of our bowling eggs in one basket. Now thats the way to hatch a plan (bad analogy I know).
Harmison very much has something to prove so what we'll do is heap pressure on him by dropping our best (and only) spinner.
Seems to be the only idea England have - "We need a change - lets drop the spinner! We have dibbly-dobbers anyway!"
The issue here is not the bowlers although they need to perform. The issue is top-order batsmen scoring big, i.e Bell, Cook, Strauss and Vaughan. KP and Colly will peform.
Complain about this postI thought the days of horses for courses selction was over. Monty is our first choice spinner and every Test side should contain at least one front-line spin bowler. NZ would never entertain dropping Vettori in such circumstances, and it goes without saying that Murali is the first name on the Sri Lanka team sheet regardless of conditions. Remember Monty took vital wickets against Pakistan at Headingley last year (Inzy and Youssuf as I recall), we should show faith and pick him to perform in all conditions.
Complain about this posti really think utter condemnation of dropping Monty would be in order.
there are no circumstances where going into a test without a spinner are accepatble
smacks of negativity
Complain about this postRe: Jeremy et al
I think its sad at the moment the way cricket is set up, and Harmison's recent problems only highlight this. With the preparation for ODIs and Tests, most of the squad play very little county cricket. In my opinion an entire rehaul of county cricket is required so that there can be a definite link between the level and Test cricket. At the moment we play 45 over cricket in ODIs despite it being 50 in ODIs, and very few of the England team actually play for most of the season. A setup where England players actually play some domestic cricket is necessary to see who really has the potential to perform at international level.
Complain about this posthow the hell can the selectors still overlook ramps? i know its not a long term thing, but another hundred today...hes just making runs for fun now.
Complain about this postI would always have Monty in my team whatever the conditions. If the ball seams off the pitch it will also spin off the pitch. Does anyone remember how devastating Derek Underwood was in conditions like this?
Complain about this postIf three seamers can't do the job on a pitch that suits them, then four won't either. Pick the four best bowlers and leave it at that - and if anyone thinks Anderson is a better bowler than Monty then they should lay off the Bostick.
Complain about this postAnderson shold play . Anderson at his best is our best bowler but he jus needs a longer go in the side when this happened in that 1 day series against Aus he was unplayable . Jus play Anderson instead of Fred and push Plunkett up the order our top order should have had lots of runs on the board before plunkett gets in against a dismal W.I attack an if they dnt we can bowl them out quicker. Owais Shah is a waste of time he is never going to be first choice.
Complain about this postThe first comment above says "It just seems crazy now that players feel that they have to give up one form of cricket" to get plenty of overs and find some bowling rhythm.
Complain about this postHow come Glenn McGrath never felt that he needed to give up one-day cricket to be a good test bowler? Look at how many matches he played in both forms of the game after the age of 28 - as Harmison is now - and Harmison's decision looks self-indulgent and the reason given insupportable. All the talent in the world is not indispensable if it is not being used by the player in question. Someone like Broad, for example, may be raw and ultimately less talented (we will no doubt find out in time) but even if he bowls his first ball to 2nd slip and takes his wickets at a cost of 60 each he won't have done any worse than Harmison in the last 5 matches he has played especially given Harmison's far superior international experience. In terms of talent Harmison may be the best we have, but blithely assuming that you will be picked come what may is an invitation to be dropped.
Hubris is inevitably accompanied by Nemesis.
The first comment above says "It just seems crazy now that players feel that they have to give up one form of cricket" to get plenty of overs and find some bowling rhythm.
Complain about this postHow come Glenn McGrath never felt that he needed to give up one-day cricket to be a good test bowler? Look at how many matches he played in both forms of the game after the age of 28 - as Harmison is now - and Harmison's decision looks self-indulgent and the reason given insupportable. All the talent in the world is not indispensable if it is not being used by the player in question. Someone like Broad, for example, may be raw and ultimately less talented (we will no doubt find out in time) but even if he bowls his first ball to 2nd slip and takes his wickets at a cost of 60 each he won't have done any worse than Harmison in the last 5 matches he has played especially given Harmison's far superior international experience. In terms of talent Harmison may be the best we have, but blithely assuming that you will be picked come what may is an invitation to be dropped.
Hubris is inevitably accompanied by Nemesis.
Anderson should have been in the team ahead of Plunkett. He is now a more mature and more accurate bowler than Plunkett and he swings the ball both ways and move it both ways off the seam. I find it extraordinary that he has been discarded especially as he always performs very well at Lords bowling from the pavilion end.
Complain about this postI agree totally with Jonathan Agnew regarding Harmison, he's got plenty to prove after a dreadful Ashes. Sure he wasn't the reason we lost the Ashes, but his performances over the last two years haven't been good and he shouldn't be an automatic pick. His arrogant attitude hasn't been matched by performances.
I do disagree regarding Monty though. Panesar should definitely play in the Tests, how often did you see the Aussies not playing Warne, or SL not selecting Murali. This smacks too much of the attitude prior to the 1st Ashes test when Monty was dropped. We need to play our best bowlers.
Certainly Flintoff shouldn't be selected purely as a batsmen, even the suggestion is laughable after his batting performances in the last year. Even if he is selected, and that should only be if he's 100% fit fow bowling it should be as one of 4 specialist bowlers.
Separately Vaughan's getting inflated opinion of himself too, complaining that he was he ignored in Australia. He shouldn't have been out there anyway, instead should have been getting the match practice he so desperately needed.
Complain about this postI read Harmison's comments in the Wisden Cricketer a couple weeks ago, and reading his "nothing to prove" interview verifies completely the fact that he's well and truly out to lunch and well, he's out in them thar pasture and it'll take a mighty cowpoke to pull him back into the ranch.
He's got to realize that he can't dangle on chances forever -- if he's not willing to live and cherish the moment like Colly does, then he needs to step the hell back and think about what the hell he's doing. Perhaps it's time for a new career?
Complain about this postJonathan!.
I thought that you have got yourself out of the rubbish mode during the WC, but sadly you have not!. what is this theory of 4 pace attack? unless and until Simon Jones is back fit and firing, we don't have a test quality pacer to support Fred, Hoggy and Harmy. already Fred is not sure to play. Plunkett is avrage in ODIS, and so is Anderson. Panesar, our 3rd best bowler giving way to either is absolute nonsense.
Please comeback to your senses!!!!.
Complain about this postuh-huh. yeh. good one aggaz.
"grievious bodily" harmison deserves a shot at proving people wrong. but something tells me moores won't be as tolerant of his moaning and meanness in the dressing room, and his crap on the pitch. i hope this is his last chance. but i do also hope he comes right and knocks em over for nowt.
heartening to hear him sucking up to the new captain too. if this is the start of a new strauss era, as i sincerely hope it is, then he's done well to get in there early with some grade A brown-nosing.
panesar must play. end off. he's our best bowler.
and SURELY bopara must play instead of Flintoff? i mean. surely?!?!?! it's a like-for-like swap, so the rest of the A team can remain unchanged. it's such a good opportunity to give him a go! surely the guy deserves a chance after a good world cup and good form this season for his county?
s'gorra be.
Cook
Bell
Strauss (c)
Pieterson
Shah
Collingwood
Bopara
Prior
Plunkett
Hoggard
Harmison
Complain about this postFor sheer silliness this is on a par with your idea (adopted by England management) that Panesar should not play in Brisbane last winter. Anderson has been spraying it for 1-37 on a seamer that Ali earlier took 8-50 on. Anderson is BACK UP only. Panesar is, indeed the third best bowler plus crucial for an attacking option in the middle overs. He is able to take wickets on many different types of pitches.
Complain about this postI do wish you'd get this nonsense about dropping Monty out of your system Aggers. If two of their batsmen get really in, we shall certainly need him.
Anyway, surely a damp but drying out pitch at Lords is likely to give him a bit of help?
Complain about this postdrop monty you must be kidding
Complain about this post... basically , jamal-campbell-ryce is the best playa in da world.... JAMAICA 4EVA
Complain about this postNormally I would favour a balanced attack and playing Monty. However, with three seamers that can be a little wild and Collingwood barely a county fourth seamer, playing Monty when he is unlikely to get either many overs or much help from the pitch is a luxury. James Anderson is lucky that Broad and Lewis are injured and that Sajid Mahmood has finally been sent back to play some proper cricket for Lancashire: Had either Broad or Lewis been fit, or Mahmood's radar been a bit better, he surely would not have been considered.
What worries me more is that Andrew Flintoff has had a rest and has barely bowled so far this season, but he is is injured already. Last season what looked like a minor injury led to a long lay off.
Steve Marmison seems to be the only one who has not noticed the correlation between overs bowled and wickets taken. By all reports he's been very fast, he's taken a lot of cheap wickets and has been very economical. Many fans who have backed him consistently since 2002/03 want him to come out roaring and prove to everyone that he's every bit as good as we have said. He owes it to his many fans as much as to anyone.
Complain about this postReasons not to drop Panesar :
1. Last time West Indies played in England GILES took 22 wickets which was more than any other bowler. I'm no fan of Giles.
2. When Giles played West Indies at Lords he took 4/129 and 5/81 which suggests Panesar could be effective. Harmison had match figures of 2/150 by the way
3. Panesar will tie up one end even if he's not taking wickets. If three seamers aren't making inroads then chances are the fourth best won't either so we would need a plan B better than Collingwood, Bell and Pietersen. Anderson has a poor Test bowling average and take away his cheap wickets against Zimbabwe and it would be 44.09
4. His 27 wickets at home have come at 26.85 with an ER of 2.56 and an SR of 62.96. Those wickets came against better players of spin than West Indies.
5. England seem to have favourites and their leaning towards them has resulted in one series win in the last five. England won the series against Pakistan WITHOUT Vaughan and Flintoff, and WITH Panesar as part of a FOUR bowler attack. The absentees Fletcher moaned about with respect to the Ashes were largely absent from the Pakistan series yet he didn't moan about it then
On the flip side Panesar's five county championship wickets have cost 49 apiece and he's had a disappointing World Cup although not that bad an Ashes considering
LVCC - 5 wkts @ 49.00
World Cup - 7 wkts @ 54.86
Ashes - 10 wkts @ 37.90
My major concerns at the moment is the England side seems to be built around Flintoff, Graveney and Vaughan have too much influence, England obsess over keepers and five bowlers and frankly little has changed despite a new coach. Makes you wonder if Graveney wasn't the problem not Fletcher. The 'performance squad' is the selectors making a bold statement that there's nothing wrong with the players/selections or policies and implying losses were down to bad luck, Fletcher or who knows what.
Complain about this postDoesnt Steve Harmison's attitude sum up the difference we saw during the last ashes series? Could you imagine Glenn McGrath uttering those words? I doubt a player lacking in passion for the game would last long in the Australian team. Yes I am an aussie but, the lack on mongrel in the english team was very apparant. Hopefully they will have a better 2007 series as the West Indies are really a shadow of their former selves. International cricket really needs a strong english team.
David
Complain about this postIt's interesting you say that Freddie probably won't be picked just for his batting. I don't think Freddie should bat at No. 6. He is more than capable of getting his test place solely on his bowling so why not let him bat at No 7 (or even No. 8 depending on who is wicket keeper). Then you have six front line batsmen and a much stronger tail, and, hopefully less pressure on Freddie to deliver every innings.
Complain about this postI notice Ramprakash got another century (4 so far this season). plus one in a uni game I think
Complain about this postis it only me? I just cant stand Harmison or his ignorant and stupid comments. Just before the ashes series he said ' I will do anything for England' and then left before the one day series when we were searching for bowlers.
He now thinks he has nothing to prove? he has to prove he can play for England, 1 match winning performance in 20 tests? thats abysmal, if there were any good replacement, he would be sent back to Durham for life. Get fit Simon Jones and replace the pathetic Harmison please.
Paul
Complain about this postoh for God's sake - when is this guy Agnew going to be dropped. his analysis is even less exciting than his cricket was! can't the 大象传媒 afford Boathm???
Complain about this postI agree with you aggers, Harminson has plenty to prove.
He thinks he got bad press because his first ball in the ashes went to second slip. I think he should watch the replays and listen to people who were there - he turned around and laughed when that ball went astray.
Our opening bowler in the Ashes series delivered a shocking ball and laughed!
If Steve Waugh or Nasser Hussein or Ricky Ponting had been captain, Harminson would have been told off, taken off, and sent home. Not for the bad delivery - but for finding it amusing.
England can do without him - he has a great deal to prove and on this occasion his mouth will not suffice.
Complain about this postI agree with you aggers, Harminson has plenty to prove.
He thinks he got bad press because his first ball in the ashes went to second slip. I think he should watch the replays and listen to people who were there - he turned around and laughed when that ball went astray.
Our opening bowler in the Ashes series delivered a shocking ball and laughed!
If Steve Waugh or Nasser Hussein or Ricky Ponting had been captain, Harminson would have been told off, taken off, and sent home. Not for the bad delivery - but for finding it amusing.
England can do without him - he has a great deal to prove and on this occasion his mouth will not suffice.
Complain about this postNice comment Jeremy, 'It just seams crazy...'. Is the spelling of the word seams purposely done as we are talking cricket??
Complain about this postI think it's right to think that Flintoff won't play - if he can't bowl he plays as a specialist batsman, and he certainly hasn't justified that recently. Playing him would be a kick in the teeth for other all rounders like Bopara or specialist batsmen like Shah, because it would give the impression that Flintoff's place in the team was impregnable when he hasn't earned it, and that would be bad for the team.
Complain about this postAm I the only one who thinks that who wins this first test is irrelevant when compared to laying down some ground rules for the players? That we need players who, as well as having the talent, also possess fire, passion, guts and commitment to the team?
Can we please put across a meesage to the prima donnas?
o Harmy - yes, you DO have something to prove
o Vaughan - less of this "I was left out of the loop" waffle. Concentrate more on getting your batting going, less on thinking you are a reincarnation of Brierley.
o Bell - concentrate on - your concentration.
o KP - yes, you are a magnificent batsman, but lose the "I am bored, so I will try for a flashy shot" syndrome.
o Colly - the "future captain of ODI" chat appears to be affecting your attitude. Concentrate on your cricket.
See what I mean? And a message need to be given to others.
o Hoggy - you are a gem. Please ignore the damning with faint paraise - needs the new ball etc. You work hard and are committed. Right on.
o Monty - Aggers, for whatever reason, is always the first person to say you should not be picked. Forget him. Us old 'uns, who remember Titmus, Underwood etc,, know the value of including a spinner!
Complain about this postAll this about Harmy??? When he was knocking the Windies over for fun a few years back and crushing the Aussies in the 2005 ashes he was considered the best bowler in the world because of his abiity to pitch the ball on a lenghtish and stick it up the batsman! He was awesome and nobody can deny it! The key word ABILITY-something that is natural to Harmison and he still has. Give the big man a chance, stop talking rubbish about his psychological state and give him the cherry and cheer him as he runs up and knocks over Gayles off peg! All the bowling attack needs is a leader, not freddy or hoggy, but harmy! He's awesome and if we encourage this awesome ability instead of having a go then we would be seeing the giant doing the biz again!
Also, when Tait got tonked in 2005 the ozzies never lost faced! Now look at him! One of the best now! lol. just shows how negative we are in this country!!!
Complain about this postJonathan Agnew is irredeemably dull! Can't the 大象传媒 afford Botham?
Complain about this postI am living in USA and have just found out that the 大象传媒 does not have web audio rights for the summer's cricket in the USA.
Help ! Does anyone know where I can listen to the 大象传媒 feed or indeed any audio?
Cheers.
Complain about this postAs ever the selection of the test team for the first test match of the summer occasions great interest, not least this time because of the new coach鈥檚 influence upon that selection. Some inclusions will attract criticisms in certain quarters of course, as they always do, but perhaps this is the right time to reflect upon the general good health and even-handedness of the selection process in England, where ethnicity is not a consideration, and where selectors take a measured view of the players鈥 needs.
Complain about this postIn stark contrast to this we have seen in the last week how matters are handled in Pakistan. In recent months its millions of avid cricket supporters have had to accept the fiasco of the first conceded Test Match in history, followed by the Pakistan Cricket Board鈥檚 attempt to dismiss the nandrolone scandal in the lead up to the world cup, and then of course the tragic and mysterious death of Bob Woolmer. One would have thought that the PCB would be doing everything at this stage to begin to restore some credibility in the eyes of the rest of the world. Apparently this is not the case.
In the past week one of Pakistan鈥檚 brightest hopes for the future, Imran Farhat, who made what should have been a match-winning 91 in that ill-fated Oval Test, has been sanctioned and publicly humiliated by the PCB for committing the cardinal sin of contacting one of the selectors to ask why he had been left out of the present Pakistan one-day international squad. No sooner had he made his private telephone enquiry than the selector went public and made an official complaint against the young player. In support of this very odd behaviour it was further asserted that nowhere in the cricket-playing world do players talk to selectors about such things. This of course is complete nonsense.
According to press reports, the question was asked because the chief selector had previously assured the player that he would be included despite needing to miss a practice match in order to be at the birth of his son. This assurance was worthless however, as he was not selected, and amazingly his absence was then cited as the reason! It does not take much imagination to understand how this kind of thing impacts upon the morale of individuals and the team, and it is little wonder that Pakistan, despite its seemingly endless supply of potentially world-class players, has, through mismanagement become the mediocre cricketing nation it now is.
We can be grateful, I believe, that in England we have a very different system, in which everyone is both accountable and supported. In this environment a young man such as Monty Panesar may approach the chairman of the selectors and, without fear of censure, ask what he needs to do in order to be considered as an England player. The players and the selectors have realised that they are members of one team, and that they need to discuss together the requirements of the business, which provides them all with a living. English cricket has had its share of failure in recent times, but with such an approach it is also guaranteed to have its successes in the future. Anyone who is good enough and sufficiently determined should get the chance to share in that success. It鈥檚 an exciting prospect.
As for Imran Farhat, he is still a young man. It appears he already has some English connections, so perhaps he should gain a residential qualification here, and in time become part of the multicultural, multi-talented future in this land of opportunity.
Good piece for once Aggers but I can't take many of the comments seriously. There's more grammatical errors than Henry Blofeld's had hot dinners. I realise that the brave new world of blogging tends to blind people to the need for comprehensible English but the quality of written English on display here is extremely poor. In fact it's downright disgraceful. What is happening to our schools? Seemers? I rest my case.
Complain about this postI do hope you're just snatching at a passing by-line, Jonathan, as far as Panesar is concerned.
Complain about this postTo drop him would be utter ad-hocery.
With due respect to Hoggard (and acknowledging that conditions will probably suit Hoggy today) Monty is now our best bowler. He has shown he can fulfil a role (not always the same one) in any conditions.
His name should be the first bowler's on the sheet for the foreseeable future.
To all the people criticizing Aggers for the comment about the moisture in the pitch, please check the line again.
"...contains more moisture than Mick Hunt, the groundsman, would like"
Nothing wrong with it.
Maybe you need a lesson in grammer......
Complain about this postHarmison owes England big time, since the middle of the Ashes 2005, he hasn't performed, remember bowling at McGrath at Old Trafford, never looked like bowling him out. Apart from Old Trafford last year, he's been missing, so it's time to deliver. Not sure about Anderson though, I'd have sent him back to Lancs for the whole season to find consistency, same with Mahmood.
Complain about this postNotwithstanding Harmison's iffy form, England probably has the best bowling attack in the world, now that McGrath and Warney have bowed down to Father Time. The batting, however looks fragile, and it might be a good idea for KP to go up the order to No 4, or even No 3.
Complain about this postWeather permitting, anything less than a whitewash against the worst Windies team to tour here in decades will be viewed as not good enough.Hopefully Harmison has got his act together.Hoggard will always bowl it in the right area.Plunket still has a lot to prove as does Anderson if he plays.Flintoff should not be risked.Monty should play because you always need some variation.For me we are still not selecting the best bowlers at our disposal but Peter Moores should sort this out fairly quickly.
Complain about this postThe batting should be more than adequate against a poor Windies attack.
I suppose Harmison had to be selected. No coach would be bold enough to make such a fundamental change to the core of a team right at the start of his tenure, but it is with no joy that I see his name on the list. In my humble opinion he simply does not have the correct attitude to play test cricket for England. Harmison would clearly prefer never again to set a foot outside Durham, and I for one would wholeheartedly support him if he decided to make such a lifestyle choice. Since 2005 he has only ever bowled well in, isolated, random bursts, and he seems to regard pulling on the Three Lions as a massive chore, and a painfully granted favour to 鈥淭eam England鈥. Hopefully, if Simon Jones can return to something like his best, Harmison鈥檚 days will be numbered.
Complain about this postHi will you be podcasting the Teat Match with the West Indies? I would reall appreciate Aggers & Co providing a summary of the days play as they did for the world cup.
many thx Martin p.s keep up the good work - it' very much appreciated
Complain about this postAny news on when the match will actually begin today?
Complain about this postGiven the rain that we've had, I guess there'll be a delay of some sort?
Glad to see that Aggers has kept up his membership of the seam bowlers union. Also glad to see some common sense in the comments rebuking his short sighted philosophy.
Complain about this postWe don't consider dropping Hoggard on flat tracks and we shouldn't consider dropping our best spinner just because it looks like a green seamer. If Hoggard, Plunkett and Harmison aided by a more than capable Collingwood can't bowl out a poor West Indies side then that is when you need a spinner NOT another swing/seam bowler. Let's hope that Peter Moores isn't as myopic as Aggers (or Duncan Fletcher for that matter).
I also hope that Matt Prior can prove himself a good enough batsman to bat at 6 in the future because on his World Cup form I would have had Fintoff batting no higher than number 8! I'm also worried about his ability to bowl sides out. Hoggard, Harmison and Panesar have all bowled teams out when conditions suit them (and sometimes when they don't) but Flintoff hasn't looked like a strike bowler since we won the Ashes.
Here's hoping the weather let's them play a 5 day match to a conclusion.
Come on England!
Jonathan Agnew has got this completley wrong. Monty has to play. The west Indies have 4 or 5 left handed batsman, Monty is a slow left arm spinner and will have all the rough made by the stomping feet of harmison , hoggard ect to aim for.
Complain about this postCoupled with the fact that Monty is one of the best prospects in world cricket, Agnews comments are very wrong.
I feel you must start with Panesar and hope the top order batmen don't let him down.The form of your top order is crucial to the whole series.
Complain about this postI have to say I agree with what Simon Broughton wrote about Harmi. I remember watching him at Trent Bridge against New Zealand in 2004. He didn't tear in to bowl at the Kiwis, he was smooth and assured. And there was something very intimidating about that. He just seemed to know what he was doing and the confidence to know that it would bring him results, that the guys at the other end were not enjoying playing him.
It is very disappointing that he has turned his back on one day international cricket. At his best he is so difficult to play and therefore valuable in any form of the game. To just give up like that when things aren't going well stinks, he should work on it and get it right, find ways to find his form. And maybe seek the help of someone who can send him out there to play in the right frame of mind to play, with that confidence that I saw in 2004.
Complain about this postDrop Panesar? You have to be kidding me!
So, who is going to be the spin option? Only KP by the looks of it and he isn't 100% fit is he? It would be a ludicrous decision to drop Monty in favour of Anderson, who fails to blow me away.
Shah in at number 3, Bell and Colly to drop down the order and IF Flintoff doesn't make it then bring Anderson in. He was only called up as cover for Flintoff and thats precisely what he should be.
Complain about this postI understand the anger and frustration that England supporters feel about the SH situation. I think much of it is justified. And a little humility from SH would go along way towards rehabilitating him.
'Rehabilitation' is a strong term. But I think that's precisely what we're talking about with SH. It's not just a return to duties.
But I'd say this:
It concerns me that Shaun Tait's incurable waywardness (of line) is celebrated rather than ridiculed. "It keeps the batsmen on their toes". "They never get the same ball twice". I think Tait is at least as wayward as SH. And he's at least as ineffective as SH WHEN he's strays in line. Their speeds are more or less the same: both can bowl in the mid 90s.
I'm not saying that Australian press celebrate Tait's apparent inability to repeat his action. I'm saying that English press celebrate one but ridicule the other.
We hear the standards of (some aspects of) the modern game bemoaned by the English Press, the vast bulk of whom are former players.
I think that the standards of cricket writing in this country have plummetted.
If there is a seige mentality developing in England's national sports teams, the press should take some of the responsibility. (Consider the timing of Angus Fraser's article on Fletcher.)
Of all the current cricket writers, only CM-J harks back to an era typified and dignified by Alan Lee.
I'm only in my mid-40s; I belong neither to the MCC nor the Barmy Army (only the latter holds any charm for me). Cricket is important to me. But the cricket press has become bland, trite and often vindictive, as tho' the press and media provide the raison d'etre for the game.
I thought it was US who did that.
Complain about this postIm really looking forward to seeing more of Broad in the future. This lad for me earlier on in his career as all the attributes to be a really class pace bowler. Only time will tell if he can go down as 1 of the greats but he certainly has everything in my opinion to make it. I think Harmison is a disgrace his attitude in Australia was a joke and no matter how good a bowler he is he should not have been playing for England again. England will win this series comprehensibly a dont think the west indies will create a scare and a disaster for English cricket this summer. England are a great test side the thing what let us down in Australia was poor preparation going into the tournament just small things what all linked together No Panesar in first tests, not enough warm up matches, Nervous batting in second test knocked the stuffing out of us. England to win every test that is played unless rain prevents.
Top England Runs Scorer will be Kevin Pietersen
Most wickets will be taken by Matthew Hoggard
Most runs for west indies will be Sarwan
Complain about this postMost wickets for West Indies will be collymore
Panesar should definately be in. In the conditions, Collingwood could easily be the 4th seamer - given the Windies batting line up, I wouldn't be surprised to see him run through them. But if the windies do get a partnership going, you're going to want something other than fast/medium fast. And with rain breaks scheduled, stamina shouldn't be a problem..
(Actually, as I write, looks like Panesar is in.)
But what I really want to see is 4 innings victories, a century or 3 for each of the top 7, everyone gets wickets, and Monty gets a 50. Go England!
Complain about this postRe: Post No. 75
Excellent stuff. Thanks
Complain about this postJust read Post No. 71.
Absolutely spot on. Loved it.
PS. that fine old opening pair M. Bannister and H. Crun send their regards!!
Complain about this postto ralph (90)
The difference is that Harmison is the only show in town when it comes to pure pace. He knows he is the only bowler England can choose who is capable of it. Its a pity.
Complain about this postAggers, you would not make a good selector. Any two-bit armchair pundit can tell you that you never go into a Test match without a recognised spinner.
Going with the pace attack has worked out so many times before, hasn't it?
Not sure what your issue is with Panesar, but Jimmy Anderson has no right to expect a place in the 11, especially against someone with Monty's good Test figures.
Come on Aggers, leave the pace-bowl bias behind you!
Complain about this postActually it is not interesting that Flintoff as a batter is a non starter - he averages 32 and has done fairly consistently and that makes him a very poor no 6 batter. Indeed without a wicket keeper who can bat in my team he would have to fight for 1 of the 4 bowling positions. Also England's best performance since the 05 Ashes happened without him - he ain't Gilchrist or Kallis lets be honest for once.
Harmison has only played well since his brief sojourn at world no 1 on wickets that suit him. he even said on his day no one can do what he can. It is just people who do that take wickets at considerably less than 30 a piece (60 in an excreable winter). At 28 it is only selection conservatism that has not sent him to prove himself over more than 3 games. We hang on what people could can but are not doing longer than Australia for me.
Indeed it is a shame that the selectors are/would have given Vaughan, Flintoff and Harmison easy reps against weaker opponents. Vaughan and Flintoff need to prove they can stay fit and Vaughan needs to show he can bat. Harmison is a lucky lucky boy no one else has truly stepped up and our selectors continue to indulge him like a baby.
Complain about this postHappy Birthday TMS Team. Coming in perfectly onlne here in Paris tres bien. Au revoir
Complain about this postRe Shackleton.
Complain about this postHow refreshing to even hear a mention of the truly GREAT Derek Shackleton! What a disappointment that the mention of his name was the entirety of the discussion.
I'm still unsure whether Derek was really Test material or just a great 1st Class bowler. He was consistantly rejected by England in favour of Trueman, Statham etc.
Just look (and broadcast!) his record:
Nearly 650 1st class matches
Bowled nearly 160,000 balls. (Probably no one of his pace bowled more overs, and following yesterdays discussion reinforces the notion that "Bowling gats you fit for bowling - & keeps you fit")
2857 wickets
Average 18.65
Econ rate 2.01
Best 9 for 30, but took 8 for 4 and 14 for 29 against Somerset. (Luckily Vic Marks not at this Test! ) and 5 wickets in 9 balls aginst Leicestershire in 1950. (Sorry Aggers)
He would open for Hampshire and bowl 'till lunch, wearing a patch the size of a dinner plate on the pitch, such was his accuracy. (Probably Ingleby-McKenzie forgot about him!)
He was the top wicket taker on the Indian Tour of 1951-2 yet never featured thereafter.
Please redress the media silence about this truly great bowler,
Regards,
Eric Tripp. (Hampshire & England supporter naturally)
Re Shackleton.
Complain about this postHow refreshing to even hear a mention of the truly GREAT Derek Shackleton! What a disappointment that the mention of his name was the entirety of the discussion.
I'm still unsure whether Derek was really Test material or just a great 1st Class bowler. He was consistantly rejected by England in favour of Trueman, Statham etc.
Just look (and broadcast!) his record:
Nearly 650 1st class matches
Bowled nearly 160,000 balls. (Probably no one of his pace bowled more overs, and following yesterdays discussion reinforces the notion that "Bowling gats you fit for bowling - & keeps you fit")
2857 wickets
Average 18.65
Econ rate 2.01
Best 9 for 30, but took 8 for 4 and 14 for 29 against Somerset. (Luckily Vic Marks not at this Test! ) and 5 wickets in 9 balls aginst Leicestershire in 1950. (Sorry Aggers)
He would open for Hampshire and bowl 'till lunch, wearing a patch the size of a dinner plate on the pitch, such was his accuracy. (Probably Ingleby-McKenzie forgot about him!)
He was the top wicket taker on the Indian Tour of 1951-2 yet never featured thereafter.
Please redress the media silence about this truly great bowler,
Regards,
Eric Tripp. (Hampshire & England supporter naturally)
Whoever is responsible for updating the 大象传媒 Cricket Website, will they please make sure the information is correct!
Jack Russell scored 94 on Test Debut in 1988 not 1984 v. Sri Lanka!!
I would be more than willing to help out to keep the information correct and up to date!
Complain about this post