Pet hates

[Mark Kidger]

It's obvious from other threads that some people have extremely strong aversions (and sometimes preferences) for certain players above and beyond all logic and facts. Marcus Trescothick seems to be a prime example, with Ashley Giles another. Should such opinions/aversions have any place in team selection? Who are the most overrated players (or underrated) in cricket?

[Notts Exile]

Human nature I suppose. I never liked John Crawley (!) for some reason. Took me a long while to get used to Ashley Giles being a Test player too, and now he's doing his best to convince me I was ight originally!!

[Whips_off_the_bails]

So what are your irrational likes/dislikes, Mark?

Or do only people who disagree with you have them?

[Richard Jenkins]

Overrated: Andrew caddick. Ok the guy has got test match bowler written all over him and has class, I'm not denying it but boy I think he's overrated.
But he was picked, so I suppose he was/is good enough.
Peoople say that some counties are fashionable or not for England places, with lots of Essex players when Graham Gooch was skipper/in the team.
Under rated. Mal Loyle, Matthew Maynard, Salisbury( who could actually turn the ball please note all you Giles fans)
Of course, I am also vastly underrated(LOL!!)

[Mark Kidger]

Originally Posted by Whips_off_the_bails

So what are your irrational likes/dislikes, Mark?

Or do only people who disagree with you have them?

Good question. One never seems to think that ones own preferences are irrational! :-)

I don't get the calls for Crawley to be brought back and really can't fathom Collingwood's status as heir presumptive, but I'm not sure that I have too many very strong opinions on players. In the current side, apart from Giles - which I think can be justified on purely cricketing grounds - I have no really major problems. There are also no players who I would really push for selection, although I did go through a phase in the winter series when I thought that Rikki Clarke should be given a chance asap in a Test against proper opposition.

[Mark Kidger]

Originally Posted by Whips_off_the_bails

So what are your irrational likes/dislikes, Mark?

Or do only people who disagree with you have them?

Ps: I can't work out why Ashley Giles has a central contract and keeps being selected, but is that irrational? My thoughts mirror closely those of Notts Exile on this issue!!!

Are you ever irrational Clive? Or is that just for us highly strung scientific types who like to use numbers to back up our opinions? :-)

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Richard Jenkins

Salisbury( who could actually turn the ball please note all you Giles fans)

Ah yes, but there's no point in being able to turn it of you bowl long hops or full tosses as he did with great frequency when playing for England! (And, yes, I know Stuart MacGill plays for Australia doing the same!!)

[Moss]

Some player selections are bizarre.
Constantly sticking with Ashley Giles is one that mystifies me.
The old chestnut is that he's a spinner who can score runs, but is he really a crucial member of the lineup?
As someone said on another thread, the only member of the current Test lineup who is indispensable at the moment would have to be Thorpe.
The selectors had a bit of "fun" last year with Key and Smith from Kent - good County batsmen who struggled for form in Test matches.
Ed Smith in particular should be given another chance in the side, as he is a good run scorer, and the way Trescothick is playing at the moment is shocking.
Had any other opening batsman failed so dismally as him, he would have been replaced, but the impression I get from The Powers That Be™ is that Banger's place is sacrosanct.

Let Hussain get his 100 tests. Let's be sentimental. He's doing a good job filling in for runs, and there will be enough time to blood new players after his last test. If anyone needs replacing, it should be Trescothick temporarily.

While I'm here - why is Gough playing in ODI's again? Does this forward thinking bunch of selectors not understand that one day it's all about young blood, young blood, young blood, and then they bring Gough.
Caddick will be playing in the Test lineup against NZ next.

[Richard Jenkins]

"While I'm here - why is Gough playing in ODI's again? Does this forward thinking bunch of selectors not understand that one day it's all about young blood, young blood, young blood, and then they bring Gough."
Young blood needs old tricks. Otherwise the blood is smeared all round the ground.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Yeah I think goughie is as much for his coaching/role model input than anything else, although I did read he thinks he's in with a chance for the 2007 world cup !! As a commentator maybe, but cripes Darren, that pretty optimistic.

Pet hates ? Jack Russell. Stupid batting stance , crappy water colours and crappy facial hair and stupid hat. Go away.