Time to sort some things out...

[Rachael]

RMJ - I wasn't anticipating playing Read as a keeper: Jones needs to keep to actually get some confidence up behind the stumps. Read, however, needs more runs under his belt. IN a game like this he's quite capable of playing asa top 6 bat: his 60-odd off 100 or so balls in the earlier warm up games showed you what he's capable of - and England need him to get that sort of innings under his belt almost as much as they need Tresco to do so!

The spinners question is tough: ideally we'd play only one... but as both need time in the middle... they may both play... and that's irrespective of the pitch.. and principally because we want to rest Harmison and Jones.

[Farmer Giles]

Morning on this board RDT. Amazing how many TMS regulars are emigrating! I posted this earlier on TMS, probably to you, but I have read that Fletcher is thinking of bringing in Gough and Johnson for the ODIs. With the amount of cricket around these days, players will need to be rested, so we need a big squad.

[Farmer Giles]

RDT again. Still not quite got the hang of this board, so how come your name appears as a moderator?

[Rachael]

Um - Mike's options for moderator were not exactly extensive at the start!

[Rachael]

FG - damn BBC board has died again!

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by CJ D

What purpose do you think this warm up game will serve? Is it a chance for Collingwoood, Batty or G. Jones to stake a claim for inclusion in the next test, or just a chance for Read, Giles and Tresco to get some confidence up?

Is there any real pressure on the sides present incumbents? does the current management policy of giving people an extended run open the door for complacency?

So many questions .

In days gone by CJD the purpose of the first class MCC XI tour match, was less of a warm up and more of a carnival "let's show off our boys to the natives" thing.
Go and play in some picturesque village, a bit off the beaten track and try to interest new fans into taking up the game.

Sadly now, it's all about money and the ultimate competition of the ICC Test rankings. The crowd doesn't matter anymore, nor does the result and I suspect those warm up matches are not as well attended as they could be.

THIS warm up game is all about getting the bit-part players into "nick" should unforeseen circumstances arise necessitating their inclusion in the Test match XI. I don't think it matters particularly, if anyone stakes a valid claim for inclusion. I suspect the Test XI will remain unchanged unless something very strange happens to the conditions. Or whatever were the words Vaughan used before the second Test

[Farmer Giles]

You are so right Rachael. It gets really annoying and unless they sort it out, there will be no-one left, or ta least not any good ones. You can't spend five minutes waiting for a posting, then get the 'service not available' page up. It happens time and time again. I cannot believe that a multi-billion pound organisation like the Beeb cannot sort out a site like this one. Mind you, I suppose if this site had thousands of posts pouring in, it might be in trouble as well. No excuse for Auntie though.

[Richard Jenkins]

Afternoon all.

Ok, yes rest them then. You need a big squad for a good team. And there's not much point busting a gut if it means loosing to NZ or the Ashes agian. I've seen the bigger picture.

[Farmer Giles]

Afternoon RJ. I wonder why the word 'toil' is highlighted in red. Not an obscenity I know about. Still, I suppose it could mean something in another language.

[Richard Jenkins]

Afternoon FG!
Yes you can highlight the words you like by clicking on the big A and choosing a colour
Nice effect isn't it?
Earlier today SL were doing ok.
Back to black and sensible mode for a nice discusion on what changes to make to the England team for 3rd test; Will giles go,
Will G;Jones play instead of Read
Will S.Jones back hold up?

Were abouts in Yorkshire are you from Sheffield is a town I knew well.(Till they cleared attercliff)