English Cricket going down hill?

[Milo]

I agree with this YBF. I edited my post about one minute before yours came up to include this point.

[Leafy Seadragon]

Given that the original thread (and survey?) were started several months ago, and there has been some intervening form swings, I am interested to know whether people would change their voting on this poll from their original choices. The vote that stands out is the two brave (confident?) souls willing to put McGrath ahead of Harmison. Other possible changes include Lehman, who now looks like yesterday's man (although his English experience might still sway selectors). Does everyone still think that Harmison is a match for McGrath (not just on his day but as a prediction for the whole Ashes series)? Or am I missing something? Yes, I am biased & Aussie (so you could argue I missing quite a lot), but ...

[Paoli]

Exactly. McGrath is now streets ahead of Harmison. And Thorpe is ahead of Lehmann. And Tresco is in better Test Form than Haydos. Dizzy and Hoggard are close.

[Milo]

The only thing I would be willing to reconsider are the Langer-Strauss and Kasprowicz-Jones decisions (admittedly I missed out Ponting when I originally voted and found I could not edit it once I had submitted).

I still think Langer will have a better series than Strauss - I think the third seamer one is still close. Not too convinced in Kasprowicz even though I saw all his tests in the Winter.

McGrath-Harmison and Martyn-Vaughan were no contests in my mind. And they still are.

I've been predicting Australia's retention of the Ahes by the end of the third test for months. I see no reason to change my mind. Even the England players are starting to talk about 2007. I personally believe 2009 will be the year we come very close.

[Kirsty Harris]

Well, I am not prepared to write of the chances of Harmison on the back of one disappointing tour. There is every chance that he will be in excellent form this summer. That isn't to say he WILL be, but there is, IMO, a good chance he will fair much better this summer. If the Aussies out there want to write him off, so much the better for Harmison!!


Other than that, I pretty much feel we are much the same situation as before the SA tour, although Strauss has certainly closed the gap substantially, and may even be a better bet than Langer.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I'd say he's at least as good as langer, and better than hayden on current THATS CURRENT FORM PEOPLE. Harmo is like a box of choclates, you never know what you're gonna get.

[Kirsty Harris]

And that really is the ultimate point, isn't it?

I mean, we can speculate all we like on how players much up against each other on paper, but it all depends on how players perform this summer, not how they have performed in the recent past. It may well be that many of the players not rated so highly here (on both sides) are the ones that actually make the difference!

Vaughan did well against Australia last time round, but may struggle this time.

Warne has always enjoyed bowling against England, but it isn't impossible that he will have a (relatively) poor series.

Only time will tell!!

[Leafy Seadragon]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

Well, I am not prepared to write of the chances of Harmison on the back of one disappointing tour. .... If the Aussies out there want to write him off, so much the better for Harmison!!

Kirsty, I don't think any Aussies are willing to write off Harmison (at least not in England), but the point I was making is that in the original poll, all but two posters (three now with Bevo) considered Harmison likely to be a match or more for McGrath over the Ashes.

Its often been stated that 'form is temporary, class is permanent'. McGrath has both. I think its fair to say the jury is still out on Harmison in terms of 'class' (it is early in his career) and he has limited recent form. We're not writing him off, just suggesting that he has a lot to live up to if he really is going to shade McGrath in the Ashes.

He may rip the Aussies apart, England may win back the Ashes on the back of it, I'll be crying my beer & the English will be rightly jubilant. But I'd much rather be relying on McGrath come the Ashes

[bevo]

true , harmison is not yet the "elite player" mcgrath is but maybe time will tell , hopefully for england