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Originally Posted by Rachael  IN those conditions, Broad is of limited use: the alternative to Hoggard would have had to be Anderson, simply because he's a genuine swing bowler. |
I could say a lot of things about the above statement but most of them would get me into trouble so It'll suffice to say that I do not agree with that statement in the slightest. It actually surprises me that someone with such an obvious depth of knowledge of the subject matter would hold this opinion.
England at the moment do not appear to have the slightest clue as to how to assemble a bowling unit capable of bowling effectively on Sri Lankan wickets and this is the reason they will lose this series and end up 5th in the table. What I can tell you is that swing bowlers are not the solution to bowling effectively on these wickets. Vaughan (and Moores) appear to have this thing at the moment about swing bowlers and this is one of the reasons they've struggled in this series.
How can you say Broad would be of limited use in these conditions because he's not a genuine swing bowler when Harmison, the only other specialist seam bowler playing took 3-72 compared to 1-75 for Sidebottom and 0-97 from Hoggard? Even Bopara as useless a bowler as he is in Test Cricket bowling seam up took a wicket.
It may have escaped your attention Rachael, but if the ball swings, then it will probably seam around as well and Harmison did not take all his wickets due to height and bounce but by seaming deliveries, Broad being a similar bowler to Harmison, in my mind would have been as equally effective.
Therein lies the problem, England have consistently got the mixture of bowlers wrong, not bowled well or at the wrong lengths on all the pitches they've played on, Panesar has been largely ineffective as well and a losing series is the result.
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Originally Posted by Rachael In fairness... Hoggard's fitness was more than adequate for bowling cutters, and in that mode he is very effective: Mike Selvey reckoned Hoggard was being a bit tentative with the new ball... but all concerned seemed agreed that Hoggard's second spell was excellent and seemed to be delivered without any obvious discomfort. |
Bowling cutters? I despair. Is Hoggard a swing bowler or not? If he is, why an earth are you content that his fitness allows him to bowl cutters when his main strength lies in swing?
England consistently got their bowling selections wrong and will lose the series as a result.
Great job Peter Moores you clown.