Time to sort some things out...

[Rachael]

Well - I try to be discrete on the BBC site: I certainly don't want to get any sort of reputation with the mods.

Good to see a whole host folk came over today though: the fact of the boards not working properly probably drove people to it... but I don't mind how they get here as long as we get something working that's a bit more reliable than the BBC thing and doesn't close at 10.00pm!

[Richard Jenkins]

I think Anderson deserves another go, but why Read and Jones? Why Batty and Giles? you need a balanced team Rachael, And this isn't it.
I'd choose.
Tresco, Vaughan,Collingwood,Clarke, Flintoff, Read,(wk) Harminson, S.Jones,Hoggard,Giles,Anderson.

[Mike]

Richard, with your bowling attack, the opposition probably wouldn't make enough runs for our boys to chase if we batted 2nd. I think the match should provide the batsmen with plenty of batting time. Tresco and Read need a good innings to restore some confidence, Flintoff doesn't lack confidence but needs more practice to improve his temperament. He needs to practice working the ball around and finding singles instead of looking for boundaries all the time. The other guys are in the one-day squad so they just need a hit-out. Can't see anyone coming into the Test team while they are winning. Harmison and Jones need a good rest. Anderson and Batty need a hit-out.

[Rachael]

Richard: this is warm up game, not a test - the result is an irrelevence. It also leads on to back to back tests. The nature of the schedule has 2 consequences: {i} there's going to be a huge strain on the bodies of the fast bowlers (including Jones... who is still not fully fit); and {ii} there's no other opportunity to give touring guys time in the middle to prepare them for being injury replacements in the final test.

Collingwood needs to play in case any one of the top 5 is forced to withdraw / dropped. Clarke needs time in the middle as cover for Flintoff, G Jones needs time in the middle as cover for Read and likewise Batty for Giles.

That doesn't leave too many options: wrap Harmison and Jones in cotton wool, rest Butcher and Thorpe for definite... and you are down to Hussain / Hoggard for the final spot: Hussain if he wants to get some time smashing the ball around and playing some shots.... but Hoggard if you want to minimise the workload on Freddie... and both if you can negotiate 12 a side.

I really don't see that a conventionally "balanced" side matters overmuch: ona tour match like this Clarke, Flintoff, Read and Jones can all be asked to move up the order and shoulder more responsibility than they would in a test... and with a middle order that reads BAtty, Giles, Hoggard there's strength in depth.

The side I listed would have 6 guys who should be comfortable as batsmen (assuming G Jones is a bat who can keep, not a keeper who can bat) plus 4 fast bowlers and 2 spinners: that's pretty balanced!

[Mike]

I agree, Rachael. I'll be very surprised is Harmison or Jones plays at the expense of the backup players.

[Richard Jenkins]

I don't want to bat second. If we win the toss, I'd bat first and then aim to blast em out; If we don't bat twice, we get the rest. If we lose the toss, and they bat first, still try to blast em out cheaply and then score bucketfulls.In theory.

[Rachael]

RMJ: the last thing we want is an easy win! If Harmy comes in and gets 7-12 then how the **** are Batty, Giles, Clarke and Anderson going to get any overs under their belt?

This was a major problem with the 1st and 2nd warm up games: the opposition capitulated so abjectly that after 2 matches Jones still hadn't bowled as many overs as he should have done in a single innings!!!

It would be far better to see Anderson, Clarke, Batty and Giles toil for a day and a half than to bowl them out cheaply!

[Richard Jenkins]

Two wicket keepers and two spinners?( unless I've made an error)The result is an irrelavance? It is important for England to win this match, Winning habits are good things. I'd think about two spinners for a test match on a favorable pitch, but here?
If you want G.Jones to have a knock/ wickie practice, drop Read and put G.Jones in. Sure rest those who need it, But if you wrap up a game early, then you get the rest any way; And back to back test matches. There is only going to be six or seven days play maximum in those games, so what's the problem?
I agree with Collingwood.
Ok sometimes games can be used to have a look - see, but not at the expense of winning.

[Richard Jenkins]

Killer instinct Rachael. They are not out there for fun. if you pick those four then you definately will see them toil for a day and a half. Ouch. Which leaves no options for the fourth test match if Jones does get injured in the Third test match.

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