Changes in the England team? (Rachael branch- Goatman sub-branch)

[cantplaycantalk]

If Collingwood plays well he gets Hussains slot, If Strauss plays better than Trescothic he gets the openers slot, Pietersen gets Giles slot. (I would say Giles is just keeping the place warm for Pietersen at the moment but results show he is more stopping it getting dusty than actually keeping it warm )

To have Strauss Collingwood and Trescothic all fighting for 2 places is very good for England. As things stand Collingwood has the central contract so will probably get the nod ahead of Strauss as he appears to have been identified by Fletcher as Nassers replacement.

My guesses anyway

[Victor Frankenstein]

wasn't his contract more for his one day duties? although i guess he was first drop in when hussain missed a test in sri lanka. I rate collingwoods temperament, i don't think he'd let england down in any way, but i can't see him dominating attacks or taking a match away from the opposition (except in one dayers) for any length of time, i guess he'd be a good foil for thorpe though to get the score ticking over like australia do so who knows.

[cantplaycantalk]

Do you see Hussain dominating attacks?

I see Collingwood as a player who would be very handy for stopping the traditional middle order collapse....

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Mark Kidger

Can't find your reply anywhere Scott!

Mark

They're under posts #2032 and #2034.

Scott

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

Is this the austrailia with 3 seamers and warne, plus a few overs from lehamn, martyn and the like ? Lets trust our 3 + freddie to do the job, at least in the NZ series before we start, well not so much adding a bowler more taking away a bat. The bowling is fine , the batting isnt.

So fix the batting - then that will be fine and so will the bowling! Adding in an extra batsman in that Giles/Bowler slot is NOT the answer to our batting problems - fixing them is.

Scott

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Mark Kidger

This sounds like Ollie, the BBC cricket editor, who assured me just before the series with South Africa last year that the side was there for the taking and that if we didn't beat them then, we never would!

Pollock is still a very good bowler. Ntini is a tiger at home. South Africa still have a very good pace attack and plenty of depth in the batting. Getting even a draw in the series is not going to be easy and if we are even to think about beating Australia we need to beat the likes of South Africa first. Remember how badly England were hammered in the last series there?

Mark

I've never reckoned Ntini as a bowler, quite how he picks up so many wickets is a bit of a mystery to me, the only thing I can think of is that he bowls in partnership with Pollock, who ties down one end and batsmen foolishly try and score reckless runs off Ntini.

As long as England fix their current batting problems, I have great hopes for them getting a draw at least in SA, England are no push over any more.

Scott

[Kirsty Harris]

Scott

I agree! If the batsmen in the side do their jobs, then we wouldn't need extra batsmen!! I think that having a longer batting line up can lead to complacency - i.e 'if I play a silly shot and get out, Joe Bloggs is still to come in'.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

Scott

I agree! If the batsmen in the side do their jobs, then we wouldn't need extra batsmen!! I think that having a longer batting line up can lead to complacency - i.e 'if I play a silly shot and get out, Joe Bloggs is still to come in'.

Kirsty

Careful, you're not allowed to agree with me - no-one ever agree's with me !!!

But yeah, thats pretty much my opinion - don't plaster over the cracks with an extra batsman because the battings broken - fix it! I'm convinced that England may well play 4 specialist seamers + Freddy, fairly soon, at least until Pieterson comes into the frame - and he could well be an excellent replacement for Giles.

Scott

PS Are you involved in Womens Cricket at all? Or follow the England Womens Cricket Team?

[Kirsty Harris]

Scott

I refuse to get my hopes up too much about Pieterson - I remember the same hype surronding Hick! We shall see. Anyway, leave poor Ashley out of it! The game wouldn't be the same without the big fellow trundeling in!

[Kirsty Harris]

Scott

I did play a little bit of cricket at uni, but I buggered my knee!!! I try to follow the Women's Cricket side - I've seen a couple of international games!