Changes in the England team? (Tom Partis branch)

[Mark Kidger]

It's why he was not considered for the Carribean tour. As far as I recall, knee surgery, which always sounds worrying.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Johnson hasnt proved himself against decent opposition yet, not his fault admittedly.

[Rachael]

I'd go for Caddick for the NZ series I think: the idea of Caddick and Harmison in tandem with Hoggard at first change is just too appealing. With 6 specialist batsmen plus G. Jones... I'd make it a straight choice between S Jones and Flintoff, selecting for bowling alone and on the understanding that it's to be a dependable unit of a four man pace attack.

I'd expect Freddie to win that contest... on the grounds of reliability... because unlike Jones I'd back him to perform pretty reasonably in every spell: Jones might do better at his best.. but that's a big might.

jones has had a bit of a taster.. and has seen what is expected of him... and should go back to county cricket and keep working to get back. He's clearly not fully recovered from the injury just yet... and he knows that he will get further opportunities if he bowls well - so rotate him out.

I'd not bother with the others with the others right now though: the competition should spur on Johnson and Kirtley... and it's got to be healthy that Anderson is being kept out of the limelight and can go back to county cricket without such a weight of expectation: he's going to be around for at least the next decade and possibly for a bit of the one after that - so why rush him?

[Mike_Hock]

Why send him back to county cricket? Fletcher, Vaughan and co. have obviously seen, heard something that they liked as he now has a contract. Its nice to see a bowler who gives as much as Goughie did!

[Mark Kidger]

Rachael, you would really risk Caddick after a serious injury with little cricket to prove his fitness? The Test series starts in a few weeks. At most he'll have a couple of county games and one against a UCCE. Is that really enough? He only started bowling in the nets in March, wasn't it? You're unhappy about Jones playing and he has proved his fitness (or lack of it) on two tough tours and had played 2nd XI games last summer and had a long stint at the Academy before being selected even for those.

[Victor Frankenstein]

My understanding of the contract system was not just a case of just picking those players (although i realise that's the main weight of it) but also so the ECB can keep control over what that player does, ie so a bowler is not overbowled and his recovery is kept in check etc.

I see what you're saying about jones, he did perform well and does have a contract so sending him back to county cricket might look like a negative move, but i was more inclined to think of it as an opportunity to get himself back to his pre-injury level by having more opportunity to bowl away from the spotlight. This is all based on the assumption that caddick is back in form too though and seeing as he's been out for a while too perhaps it would be unnecessary, but caddick is a proven performer whereas jones is still on the potential list imo as whilst he had some amazing spells he also served up some dross (not that others didn't too but he did it the most).

If they're the usual may wickets then batting won't really matter all that much as it's just a lottery, so perhaps caddick in for giles and keep jones in too, tell fred to concentrate on his batting for this series or something.

[Mark Kidger]

Picking Caddick after a year out with a major injury and very little bowling of any kind would be a huge risk. We all wanted Gough back because he was a proven performer and it really went wrong for him. If he had come back later in the series he'd have been a match-winner, as it was it drove him into retirement.

[Victor Frankenstein]

yeah i guess, but the situation is slightly different this time i feel with the time of year and the expected type of pitch. Still, as i said, i'd only do it if caddick showed form and Jones would get in some county games otherwise he might aswell just play anyway if he's fit (jones that is).

[Mark Kidger]

If people are worried about Jones not being completely recovered I can't see how Caddick can be regarded as any fitter. Suppose he gets 8 wickets against Cardiff UCCE, what would that prove?

[Rachael]

Point taken Mark.. but surely it's a bit like comparing Read and Trescothick with the bat: even when neither were contributing... you had the reassurance with Tresco that he has shown in the past that he CAN contribute.