Test series vs New Zealand

[Yorkshire Blue]

Vettori has more test centuries (2) than Sidebottom has first class fifties (1).

Sidebottom's top-score in first class cricket is just 54, but I expect he'll get a test 50 sooner or later.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Vettori has more test centuries (2) than Sidebottom has first class fifties (1).

Sidebottom's top-score in first class cricket is just 54, but I expect he'll get a test 50 sooner or later.

I checked out Sidebottom's highest test score I think it was 31. Mind you I think his average score was about 19, so not too bad & as you say it should improve.

 

[Pubey]

what a load of crap!

 

[C C Csiders]

I think we have seen the best of Harmison and Hoggard now, and it might be time to move on.

 

[Pubey]

no wonder we couldn't hit the target!

 

[number11]

I think we have seen the best of Harmison and Hoggard now, and it might be time to move on.

will be a sad day when Hoggie can no longer do it, as he has been a stalwart for the past few years. He deserves another home series to see whether he has still got it, as by all accounts this pitch is flat. Also, its not like the other bowlers have DEMANDED inclusion....Anderson Plunkett and Broad have the attricutes to be a good attack but need to step it up.

Harmy, always gives the impression that he likes his job about as much as I do and bowling is just little to stressful and tough, and therefore he will be no great loss. As Athers or Nasser said last night, it is looking like 2004/05 was the blimp and he is just average but had a good few series, rather than he is word class and having a dip in form...

 

[Pubey]

Harmy, always gives the impression that he likes his job about as much as I do and bowling is just little to stressful and tough, and therefore he will be no great loss. As Athers or Nasser said last night, it is looking like 2004/05 was the blimp and he is just average but had a good few series, rather than he is word class and having a dip in form...

agree with that. i think we need to get either anderson or broad in for the next test

 

[number11]

agree with that. i think we need to get either anderson or broad in for the next test

Yeah, Ive always liked Anderson, but he has been so frustrating. Hopefully he gets a load of wickets playing for his new zealand team, then turns them over in the 2nd test, that would wind them up nicely! Broad is going to be the future and I really hope he comes good, especially as he could be someone to get 50's at number 8.

 

[C C Csiders]

Yeah, Ive always liked Anderson, but he has been so frustrating. Hopefully he gets a load of wickets playing for his new zealand team, then turns them over in the 2nd test, that would wind them up nicely! Broad is going to be the future and I really hope he comes good, especially as he could be someone to get 50's at number 8.

I suggest Broad might actually be Freddy's long-term replacement. Capable of getting a TM century.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Yeah we need to start building now towards the next Ashes (2009?).

Harmison on form is awesome but it just hasn't happened now for too long and you can't live on former glories forever.

 

[Pubey]

I suggest Broad might actually be Freddy's long-term replacement. Capable of getting a TM century.

started as a true all-rounder didn't he? he has showed a lot of potential and so i think it's important to start to introduce him in games where the wicket definitely favours the batsman. some energy and zip is needed from our bowlers, and broad may bring this. along with the chance to get a fairly decent knock in the tail too

 

[number11]

I suggest Broad might actually be Freddy's long-term replacement. Capable of getting a TM century.

I hope so, guess its about what direction they want to take him.

You look at the likes of Irani and Craig White, quality county allrounders, never able to put both apsects of their game together at international level (White came closer and looked genuine international class for the year or so before his injury). However when they both had to give up bowling they went onto new levels as batsmen and held down places in the counties on that alone.

To get Broad's batting up to scratch may have to take away time he would use to work on his bowling. Similar to Gough, he looked like he had something with the bat when he first emerged, but he completely neglected batting to become a world class bowler. Or Pieterson who was an offspinner, but neglected bowling to work on his batting. Would you reduce Broad's bowling to improve his batting? Tough call. Im not convinced he will ever be capablle of a top 6 spot, but maybe a 7 or 8 chipping in with useful runs a la a Pollock or Vettori. Hopefully he will be a good international for a number or years in any event.

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

I suggest Broad might actually be Freddy's long-term replacement. Capable of getting a TM century.

I'm not convinced by Broad yet, would he receive the same hype if he didn't have a dad who played for England who's got lots of friends in the cricket media?

Unfortunately England are a very average side at the moment, too many players' careers from the 2005 era have nosedived and they haven't been replaced. A bowler such as Anderson wasn't good enough three years ago and he isn't really good enough now.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I'm not convinced by Broad yet, would he receive the same hype if he didn't have a dad who played for England who's got lots of friends in the cricket media?

Unfortunately England are a very average side at the moment, too many players' careers from the 2005 era have nosedived and they haven't been replaced. A bowler such as Anderson wasn't good enough three years ago and he isn't really good enough now.

Broad definitely benefits in the media from the writers having all played with his father. Most of them still call him Chris rather than Stuart, which rather gives the game away.

Whilst he definitely has potential, I still think his bowling is a bit hittable, he doesn't seem to be either a skiddy bowler or a bouncy bowler. To me at the moment he lacks something: he doesn't have extra pace, and despite his height he doesn't get the bounce of a Harmison or a Tremlett. I think he is capable of putting on extra pace (he's been adding a yard of pace each of the last couple of seasons), and hopefully he'll start to extract some more lift with that extra pace. Given his height he should be creating far more bounce.

His batting does look richly promising. I think he'll eventually bat 7 for England and make test centuries. It will take time, but just regularly playing at test level will help his batting come on loads.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Yeah we need to start building now towards the next Ashes (2009?).

Harmison on form is awesome but it just hasn't happened now for too long and you can't live on former glories forever.

I think England need to get away from the idea of building everything around the Ashes. The biggest test for the next decade will be winning in India anyway.

The trouble with Harmy is that he is still worth his place in the team. Whilst he could have been a Curtly Ambrose type player, he's instead a Devon Malcolm type player. No-one else in the England set-up is as likely to conjure up a wicket on a dead-track as he is. That does assume he isn't bowling at 80mph like yesterday, but with his extra pace and bounce he is a master of the leg-side strangle.

But who can we replace him with? Tremlett has the bounce (although not the pace), but is so injury prone he makes Harmison seem reliable. Saj Mahmood has the pace, but is more of a skiddy bowler (more Simon Jones/Darren Gough) than an extra bounce bowler. Hoggy and Sideshow may be reliable but lack that bit extra in their armoury.

Plunkett and Anderson can bowl in the high 80s, but aren't express pace and are more swing bowlers. Neither can maintain a line either.

Who does that leave? Onions? Amjad Khan, Kent's injured Danish fast bowler?

Personally I think Saj Mahmood is the pick of the next (what needs to become current) generation, but it would be so much easier to ease him in if we had a 5 man bowling attack.

ps Really disappointed with Cook last night. He did all the hard work and then threw it away instead of going on to make a big century.

 

[number11]

Well, a bit of a bizarre 3rd days play. England just avoided the follow on but are 6 down (albeit one nightwatchman). Just the one recognised partnership now, Collingwood and Ambrose who are both set, to take time out the game and get as close to New Zealands total as possible.

The game has progressed at an excrutiatingly slow rate, look at Pietersons innings, but this could in the end save England with a draw. They will need to bat until at least an hour after lunch tomorrow so avoid too long a session batting fourth to save the game.

Draw looks favourate, but New Zealand will fancy their chances. Going one down in a best of 3 series will be tough to come back from. England will be releived to get out with a draw and hope to improve for the remaining 2 tests.

 

[Pubey]

yawn-o-rama! 199runs in a days play is staggeringly slow, even on a flat, slow and low wicket. a little bit of turn might be getting panesar moist but there is nothing there for any of the seamers. fingers crossed the groundsmen at the grounds for the next tests are watching this, cos it's dire!

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

It's turgid cricket on turgid pitch, it's no wonder there's hardly anyone watching.

Harmy needs a rocket up his ****. He's capable of bowling 90+ but only wants to do it when he has a pitch that suits him. Hoggy is on his way out I feel, which would be a shame as it's down to him that Mrs BB now takes such a keen interest, but he has back problems and I know from personal experience that bowling and a dodgy back don't go together. I think Mahmood is the one guy we have who is capable of bowling 88+ and moving the ball in the air, and he needs to be given an extended run.

 

[number11]

It's turgid cricket on turgid pitch, it's no wonder there's hardly anyone watching.

Harmy needs a rocket up his ****. He's capable of bowling 90+ but only wants to do it when he has a pitch that suits him. Hoggy is on his way out I feel, which would be a shame as it's down to him that Mrs BB now takes such a keen interest, but he has back problems and I know from personal experience that bowling and a dodgy back don't go together. I think Mahmood is the one guy we have who is capable of bowling 88+ and moving the ball in the air, and he needs to be given an extended run.

Blimey, how did Hoggie get your Mrs interested!! For me Monty and Pieterson (for differing reasons!!) are the only players my missus recognises!

I think Hoggie deserves a home series before being discarded due to his unstinting service. Only 31 and until recently has not been plagued by injuries. Harmy is a waste of a place if he is only going to throw down 80mph tempters. Mahmood has the attributes but hasnt exactly been blowing away county batsmen. Still, Fletcher had a hunch on him, and not many of Fletchers hunches failed. Oh for those days.

 

[MrB]

It's that shaggy mane of his she finds so alluring, let's hope she never meets you Mark.....