A few thoughts on England

[Rachael]

Well said RWS.

It's also worth noting that Anderson was rapidly approaching the point where he was unselectable even when bowling well: the kid was running down the middle of the pitch and was getting a reputation for doing so; umpires were looking for it from the first delivery.. and had he continued with the same action the liklihood is that he'd very rapidly have reached the point when he was barred from bowling within his first spell of every innings.

That, as I understand it, forced the coaches to intervene: they had to change something or accept that (like Kirtley, who could never be picked in case he got called for chucking) he'd never be selected for Enlgand.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Rachael

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the kid was running down the middle of the pitch and was getting a reputation for doing so; umpires were looking for it from the first delivery...

Not sure that was the major issue. For me it's his head positon, many people say that it's beacuse he looks down when he bowls, but many bowlers do that, it's actually that his head falls away. This means he is not in control of the ball when released. I am more worried about that. He does bowl wicket balls but he also bowls some real tripe. He needs to find some consitency before he can regularuily take test wickets.

[R W S]

Cooley plays part in England success

While pacemen such as Harmison, Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard took much of the plaudits during the run of seven straight wins against New Zealand and West Indies, Cooley’s work behind the scenes cannot be underestimated. Click the headline to get the full story.

[Nandos the Gooner Mark II]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

For me it's his head positon, many people say that it's beacuse he looks down when he bowls, but many bowlers do that, it's actually that his head falls away.

Quite right. A prime example is Shaun Pollock. He looks down after he bowls, but that certainly hasn't affected his bowling, and that is because his head doesn't fall away and his body stays straight.

[Ernest]

The reasoning over his head possition when he was bowling was, he was more prone to get injured, but with Troy Cs, coaching, he has lost a yard of pace, and he he not the bowler he was.
Atherton on talkSPORT.

He was consistant, but was dropped for no reason, don't forget his age, he can't bowl now, bet he can't remember a cricket ball is round.
Like Read, his face did not fit,

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

He was consistant, but was dropped for no reason, don't forget his age, he can't bowl now, bet he can't remember a cricket ball is round.
Like Read, his face did not fit,

Not too sure about this one. I personally think he was picked too young.

In Zimbabwe he was asked to fill in for Harmison, but bowled so badly that he was left out of the last ODI, and I think he also played himself out of a Test match place. Don't forget that he played in the last few Tests against the West Indies and Jones was the one on the fringe.

He does need to get his head postion right, SKY did an analysis between him and Pollock, they do have very similar actions (I noticed that when I first saw him bowl) the difference is that although Pollock looks down on delivery, Anderson looks down and his head falls away, if he can get this right (and that takes coaching and Troy C is one of the best bowling coaches around) then he could rival Pollock for accuracy and ability.

I think England would love for him to be playing, but until he can maintain some level of control he will always be second to Jones and Hoggard.

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

He was also dropped on the basis that his test match performances (other than a 5-for in his first match against Zim) weren't all that special - it never seemed to me to be for any personal reason.

[Beny]

I'm surprised at all this talk about Anderson's action being strange... Certinly his action is no more strange than that of Harmison or even flintoff and Jones, whos actions are not you're normal 'modern' day actions.

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

What does a normal modern day action look like Beny?

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Beny

I'm surprised at all this talk about Anderson's action being strange...

Beny I don't think it's strange. having looked closely at his and Pollocks (which is one of the best) I think they have a very similar approache a good high arm and wrist position, they both drop their head at similar times, where things differ is the Anderson's head then falls away which inevitably pushes the ball straighter. I think apart from that he has a good action. But your right both Flintoff and Harmison have unusual actions, even McGrath with his short pidgeeon steps could make more of his run up, and there is nobody in the world better than him.