2nd Test

[number11]

England gone for Sidebottom over Anderson.

Have to say Im surprised a bit by this.....Anderson has long been earmarked for a long test career whereas sidebottom has become a bit of a journeyman county player...albeit fairly sucessful one. Its a decision contrary to Fletchers old philosophy of going for those he deems to have what it takes for test cricket, irrespective of form, rather than those that are in form on the county circuit.

Will be interesting how it pans out. Personally I would love to see Anderson have a season of county cricket, bowling plenty and getting his game in order. Sadly with the spate of injuries we have I can see him flitting in and out of the test side all summer.

 

[Pubey]

feel sorry for anderson, he needs experience so that he can build his consistancy... i know very little about sidebottom but left arm swing isn't something the windies will be used to facing.... the weather won't help this weekend again so lets look to get some runs on the board today and maybe be a bit more adventurous if we have to declare at a later stage

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Bah, slow connections. I see you've already got a thread going.

I think Sideshow Bob over Anderson is a fair enough call. England need someone to replace Hoggard and an attack of Harmison, Anderson, Plunkett and/or Mahmood is just too erratic. Sidebottom should be able to offer some control in tandem with Monty, something we desperately missed without Flintoff and then once Hoggy went down injured. The last England left-armer I can think of would be Mullally, who was economical as he just bowled wide of off-stump the entire time. Hopefully Sidebottom can be slightly more threatening.

I think he's also been selected with half an eye on ensuring rough on both sides of the wicket for Monty - the Windies are about 50:50 between left and right handers.

 

[C C Csiders]

Always thought Mullally was quality - Southend born, of course - my dad worked with his dad before they moved to Perth (Aus), I think it was.

The only other left armers pace bowlers I can think of who have played for England in recent years, were both poor (and that's being kind) Mike Smith (Gloucs) and Paul Taylor (Northants).

I would guess, that between Sidebottom, Smith and Taylor in their combined 4 or 5 Tests they have a combined wicket haul of 2 (both Taylor).

 

[number11]

Bah, slow connections. I see you've already got a thread going.

I think Sideshow Bob over Anderson is a fair enough call. England need someone to replace Hoggard and an attack of Harmison, Anderson, Plunkett and/or Mahmood is just too erratic. Sidebottom should be able to offer some control in tandem with Monty, something we desperately missed without Flintoff and then once Hoggy went down injured. The last England left-armer I can think of would be Mullally, who was economical as he just bowled wide of off-stump the entire time. Hopefully Sidebottom can be slightly more threatening.

I think he's also been selected with half an eye on ensuring rough on both sides of the wicket for Monty - the Windies are about 50:50 between left and right handers.

Yeah generally the recent left arm seamers have not been too sucessful...Mike Smith and Simon Brown never were too threatening!

Left armers give a bit of variety but odds are stacked against left armers being sucesfull given their line of attack and LBW laws. Think of the number of left handed batsmen (who benefit from LBW laws) and many of the greats have been lefties, and many teams have half a top order of southpaws, going against the law of averages......but left arm seamers seem to defy the law of averages.

Still lets hope Sidebottom offers the control our attack needs

 

[number11]

Always thought Mullally was quality - Southend born, of course - my dad worked with his dad before they moved to Perth (Aus), I think it was.

The only other left armers pace bowlers I can think of who have played for England in recent years, were both poor (and that's being kind) Mike Smith (Gloucs) and Paul Taylor (Northants).

I would guess, that between Sidebottom, Smith and Taylor in their combined 4 or 5 Tests they have a combined wicket haul of 2 (both Taylor).

Think you can add Simon Brown in their? Durham seamer? Think he was a left and played once.....maybe during the summer we played Pakistan and India...1996? Think he was wicketless as well!

 

[Pubey]

cookie and strauss are looking solid at the moment.. good start already

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Yeah generally the recent left arm seamers have not been too sucessful...Mike Smith and Simon Brown never were too threatening!

Left armers give a bit of variety but odds are stacked against left armers being sucesfull given their line of attack and LBW laws. Think of the number of left handed batsmen (who benefit from LBW laws) and many of the greats have been lefties, and many teams have half a top order of southpaws, going against the law of averages......but left arm seamers seem to defy the law of averages.

Still lets hope Sidebottom offers the control our attack needs

Alan Mullally was certainly never going to get any lbws two foot outside off stump! The lines do make it difficult for left-arm bowlers, but you've just reminded me of another England left-armer, Mark Ilott. I remember him getting a hattrick of lbws at Northampton, and he finished with ridiculous figures of something like 9-19. Could Essex do with someone like Ilott now.

 

[number11]

Alan Mullally was certainly never going to get any lbws two foot outside off stump! The lines do make it difficult for left-arm bowlers, but you've just reminded me of another England left-armer, Mark Ilott. I remember him getting a hattrick of lbws at Northampton, and he finished with ridiculous figures of something like 9-19. Could Essex do with someone like Ilott now.

Yeah, when Essex had Illot, Cowan (who showed enough early ability and promise to tour ...West Indies I think), backed up by Irani, with Such and Childs as spinners that was a good attack! Didnt need to field 8 allrounders then!!

Always felt Illot was victim of the bad old days of the test selection merry go round.

 

[number11]

Strauss goes. He will start finding his place increasingly under threat unless he gets a score soon. Could depend on Vaughan's willingness to open though.....

Or Tres's mental state...

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Yeah, when Essex had Illot, Cowan (who showed enough early ability and promise to tour ...West Indies I think), backed up by Irani, with Such and Childs as spinners that was a good attack! Didnt need to field 8 allrounders then!!

Always felt Illot was victim of the bad old days of the test selection merry go round.

Yeah, I remember when Essex were good. All 5 were English as well, meaning we could get in a quality overseas player to anchor our batting. Not that our batting was too shabby then either.

Don't think Illot quite had the class, but he wasn't really given the opportunity either.

And I see Strauss is out. He must be under pressure for his place now, when Freddy returns. His top score in his last 15 innings for England is just 54.

 

[C C Csiders]

Cook out to the last ball before lunch to Chris Gayle. As Geoff Boycott would say "that's poor is that". 91-2

 

[Pubey]

come on vaughy!!

Michael Vaughan my Lord... Michael Vaughan!!!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

come on vaughy!!

Michael Vaughan my Lord... Michael Vaughan!!!

My idea of nirvana is to see Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen bat for an entire session. I am deeply jealous even of those who are watching on TV at the moment.

 

[Pubey]

i know... skysports live commentary doesn't quite do it justice... i'm supposed to finish at 3 today but im caining throuihg my work so i can chip off early.. get home, crack open a beer and watch a bit of the match... ahhhhhhhh

also this morning i spied some Tescos Rolo Cookies on the side, i might have one of them just to make it even better!

 

[number11]

My idea of nirvana is to see Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen bat for an entire session. I am deeply jealous even of those who are watching on TV at the moment.

Michael Vaughan 2002 (and first week of 2003) was the most sublime period of classically batting Ive ever seen. Him playing his cover drives and KP biffing it to all parts would indeed be TV Heaven.

 

[SUFC_Al]

i know... skysports live commentary doesn't quite do it justice... i'm supposed to finish at 3 today but im caining throuihg my work so i can chip off early.. get home, crack open a beer and watch a bit of the match... ahhhhhhhh

also this morning i spied some Tescos Rolo Cookies on the side, i might have one of them just to make it even better!

ah the finer things in life :D

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Vaughan's got his 50. Apparently its only his 15th test 50 - bloody impressive for someone with 15 test match centuries under his belt.

 

[SUFC_Al]

Vaughan's got his 50. Apparently its only his 15th test 50 - bloody impressive for someone with 15 test match centuries under his belt.

you're right there YB, SZ's resident cricket statistician!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Vaughan's got his 50. Apparently its only his 15th test 50 - bloody impressive for someone with 15 test match centuries under his belt.

Fcuk me that is impressive. Did a quick google search (you've got to love google, came up with the answer first time), and according to an old Stump the Bearded Wonder, it is the third best conversion rate in test history. Only Bradman and Dean Headley's grandfather can boast better records amongst those with 10+ test centuries.

Shame this has probably just jnixed him, as he's into the 70s.