the middle allround order

[Richard Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Oliver

Fortunately RMJ (said he as he waved his bat to the crowd in celebration of another half century) young Mr. Flintoff seems to be as good a bowler (if a little less dangerous) as all the other England pace boys, and he does seem to be able to bat a bit. So whether or not he's a good enough bat, he should stay in the side because his bowling's pretty useful.

His action is more natural than Craig White's (which at his fastest, included a huge delivery stride, that would certainly put a hell of a strain on his back...it did, and he can't do it now). Alex Tudor, according to one of his MANY physios, isn't really built for the five day game...so probably won't make it back, and Chris Lewis wasn't big on the work ethic...too pleased at just making the International scene, we will see his like again, sadly. But we won't see him.

Lehmann and Bevan never bowl do they? I think you might point out to the professor that there are quite a few top ranks bats who bowl a bit. I still think that if Trescothick runs back into form and he is retained for the forseeable...I still think he should bowl MORE.

Yes I suppose you have a point Ollie!
But let's put all rounders into two catagories, those whose batting average is better than thier bowling average and those whose bowling average is higher than the batting average.
I think Flintoff is slowly moving toward the first catagory, but work still to be done. Even greats such as Pollock are starting to bowl within themselves (to sustain their careers?)
Lehman and Bevan aren't really allrounders, just fiddlers. Most of the England team could probably bowl if they wanted.

I think both vaughn and Trescothic should bowl more in tests.

[dezz]

ive got a better idea pick 4 bowlers so tresco dosn't have to embarass himself. (johnson,jones,anderson,harmison) you can't lose, but johno will probably break down so tresco would be used. anyone but giles though! pointless, such a negative attitude to his bowling (useful batter, good fielder) that sort of thing from fletcher dosn't help him get the results he wants out of the slow bowler giles

[Tom Partis]

Johnson should not be in the team before hoggard. if we play four seamers, they should be harmison, hoggard, jones and anderson with flintoff backing them up.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Bit light batting wise Tom. Surely early in the season 3+freddie butch and even tresco would free up an additional batting place ?

[Tom Partis]

yeah, true, in which case i would leave out anderson as i think he is probably more effective in ODI's

[Trescothick's Footwork]

My ODI team :-

Vaughan
Trescothick
Strauss
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Blackwell
Read
Johnson
Gough
Anderson

I think that's a pretty good team, I would have Thorpe, Harmison, Butcher, Giles and G Jones in the squad as well. The likes of Hussain, S Jones and Hoggard I consider to be test players for one reason or another. Bell is generally considered to be the most talented of the 2nd string players from county cricket, and he scores at a fair whack as well. I admit to being totally ignorant of his fielding. If Blackwell gets hit around too much, we have another 4 part-time bowlers as well to do a job. It's better than having only 4 recognised batsman and 3 recognised bowlers as England had on Sunday. 5 Batsman, 1 Wk, 4 Bowlers, and one hitter/bowler is the way to go IMO.

[Victor Frankenstein]

i'd have hoggard instead of johnson, i think hoggard is a good white ball bowler, although i think his strength is usually in opening so i guess with gough and anderson in he's negated slightly.

Maybe s.jones isn't such a bad pick, if he can work on his line a bit, lee's bowling works better in one dayers than tests and jones is a genuine wicket taker, could be a good death bowler when people are giving it a bit of room, like gough is.

Is it just me or do we never bowl enough yorkers these days at the death?

[R W S]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

Is it just me or do we never bowl enough yorkers these days at the death?

I'd go farther and say we should develop the yorker for use in test cricket as well. Especially will our tall bowlers. I'd like to hear Joel Garner's advice on the topic.

[Notts Exile]

I can't understand the reluctance to bowl it in Tests. Especially at the start of an innings it can be a really dangerous ball. Being 6'4" myself it's one In regularly use, not always with success though!

[Tom Partis]

yeah, whenever i get the chance to play cricket, which is rarely, i like to use the yorker. i guess the reason for not bowling it is the fear that it could easily become a full toss and get walloped for 4, but a couple of 4 balls are worth a wicket any day of the week in my book.