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2nd Test

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flintoff's at it again amla goes leading edge back over flintoff's head but a diving vaughan snaffles the chance! 76-4 England right back in contention
 
C C Csiders said:
Not it's not! Essex bias is so wearing on here regarding cricket. Add to that Vaughan's place needs to come under scutiny - a duck for him, and we are in tyrouble at 27-2.
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I'd like to offer my apologies for hoping that the best wicketkeeper in the country actually plays for his country - clearly being selected for England is nothing to do with your batting as Ambrose has failed to make a total of 50 runs in his past seven international innings in all forms of the game. I'll continue to push for Foster's inclusion in the England side until he gets selected, based on having watched him regularly over the past decade for Essex. Admittedly I'll see more of him than any other cricket, but in the past 2-and-a-half seasons I haven't seen anyone better. I think that this is borne out by recent comments across the written and spoken media suggesting that a return to the international fold is well overdue.

Ravinder Bopara has been disappointing in one-day cricket for England recently. Although I thought he was unlucky in Test cricket in Sri Lanka, I can see the reasons why the selectors returned to Strauss, although I admit I didn't agree with them at the time. Remember, Strauss was one big century away from being dropped when he strode out to bat in the Third Test in New Zealand. Despite his recent ODI form, Bopara is the form player in List A county cricket. He has scored more runs (637) this season at a higher avergae (53) than any Englishman other than Mark Butcher, Usman Afzaal and Stephen Peters (yes, the very same released Essex batsman now at Northants). That average was achieved in more innings (14) than any other player, and only two of those were not out, including his 201* at Grace Road, only the ninth time that anyone has made a double-century in one-day cricket. His career average in List A cricket is 35, higher than international players such as Brendan McCullum, Michael di Venuto and Craig Spearman. He is the best player in one-day cricket in English county cricket - well, the best that qualifies for England anyway, so he deserves his chance. He will have to make runs, though.

As for Alastair Cook, he averages more (42.66) in Test cricket than either of the other prospective openers in the England team (Strauss - 42.33; Michael Vaughan - 42.30), so it is harsh to call for him to be dropped during a bad run. He will be working hard with Andy Flower and Graham Gooch to put things right, but clearly he has been down the pecking order in terms of criticism because Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood have been struggling more. Bell's 199 (which I hope will be a springboard to consistent scoring as he has flattered to decieve far too often) and Colly being dropped will transfer pressure onto him, but like Bopara above, I don't think it's Essex-bias that means that people here think he should be selected.

However, I would drop him for the ODI series at the end of the Tests because I don't think he is a one-day player. He may emerge into one in the future, but at the moment he probably doesn't have the range of shots to prosper in that format of the game. Instead, I'd pick either Robert Key or Joe Denly...from Kent - and coming from an Essex fan, that's quite something. ;)
 
David Lloyd came out with an absolute gem during the tea interval, describing Ashwell Prince he said "When he's ready to receive he just drops to his knees" .. who'd have thought it, poetic smut from Bumble !!!!!!!!
 
ended the day 50-2. Nasser said half way through england batting that if the scoring carries on at this rate england will still be behind by the close of play tomorrow. i think it will be a miracle if we're still batting by close of play tomorrow.
 
SUFCEssex said:
ended the day 50-2. Nasser said half way through england batting that if the scoring carries on at this rate england will still be behind by the close of play tomorrow. i think it will be a miracle if we're still batting by close of play tomorrow.
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I would hardly call it a miracle if it rained in Leeds.
 
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