Who do you fear Ashes 2005 (e)

[Leafy Seadragon]

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

I actually think Tait has load of potential and will improve and muture well. The Question is will he be another Lillee or another Lee?

Expect that he'll be better than Lee as a minimum. Lilleee? Probably not, but here's hoping...

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

To say he had a couple of bad weeks is putting it incredibly mildly, it is kind of like playing the opening pair from the Brisbane under 18s ahead of the Australia A opening bowler.

Again, happy to be corrected if wrong, but didn't he have a couple of bad weeks (as opposed to seasons)? Given that they were locals and the team was going nowhere (and couldn't be relegated(?)) why not focus on local talent rather than hope an o/s player, who's only there for a spell, comes good. Reasonable thinking that I would support from any team

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Beny

Ern, Flintoff is not a specialist Bowler but because the others were not proforming as they should have, Vaughn was forced to overuse him, probebly contributing to his injury and damaging his batting. Flintoff did an ok job but the bowling unit was unprofessinal because they brought it to that point.

Beny all last summer Flintoff was Englands best bowler, he was by the size of a atom, the 2nd best in South Africa, the bowling would not function as a unit with out Flintoff.
If he was not a specialist bowler, why is he first change?, and at times opens the bowling, don't let the tag all rounder fool you, he is like Botham before him a bowler first, contrary to popular belief IMHO.

I agree with you Beny, he was overused with that injury, I think it fair to say he should not have bowled on South Africa, so we both agree Flintoff was a crucial component to England bowling.

Unprofessional bowling units do not win Test series in South Africa Beny, keep in mind Flintoffs injury, and Harmisons bizzar form.

[John]

I looked up Flintoff average for his last 19 Tests he averages around 25 per wicket which is very good for first change.
Will he be fit for the first Test? They need him fit for as I have stated before in my view the bowlings a problem.

[Ernest]

I agree John, England don't have what you would call large reserves of bowlers waiting in the wings.

But I think Flintoff will be turning out for Lancashre in their first match as a batsman only, so the signs are good, England need him against Australia, thats for sure.

[acker]

I am a little bit surprised that "Flintoff" is polling so strongly in this.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by acker

I am a little bit surprised that "Flintoff" is polling so strongly in this.

Well, I'm a little bit surprised that YOUR surprised, Acker !!!

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by acker

I am a little bit surprised that "Flintoff" is polling so strongly in this.

The guy might well prove a thorn in the side with both bat and ball... deepening the betting order... and adding depth to the bowling.. and might, therefore, bring a balance to the side that it could not otherwise achieve.... but he'll be important in terms of the balance of the team not for posing huge problems in either discipline.

That said.. it's hard to single out any OTHER player who's likely to stand up and be counted: Tresco's more likely to average 35 than 50... Vaughan batting in the UK isn't a thought that fills one with confidence... Thorpe's likely to be solid rather than spectacular... as are Giles and Hoggard... and Harmison's more likley to be as frustrating as Caddick than as consistently wonderful as Ambrose. The two Jones' look the least likely to convince and we don't even know which of Butcher, Key, Bell, Pietersen, Prior, Collingwood and so on might play a part.

Can you really pick out Strauss as the most likely bet on a process of elimination? That's a big call based on just one season in Test cricket (especially as the guy has never realy been marked out as anything special: it's not like he was a Michael Clarke, getting hailed from the rooftops before he'd even started).

All being well, Flintoff's like to make a contribution: might not be anything special but he's got enough strings to his bow to be a safe bet as a player who WILL stand up and be counted. Let's just hope, though, that he's comprehensively eclipsed in all disciplies - otherwise this really might be another 9-10 day series with a familiar end to the story.