Bell called up - Butcher out of Tour

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Jones hasnt REALLY convinced (certainly not vaughan anyway) and we couold well be looking at make or break for jimmy anderson as well. Can you imagine those two opening the bowling if hoggy and harmo were injured ? kabir didnt do alot for me and swann did or said something that ********** someone off so he aint going to play either. mahmood might be a good bet though.

[Glamorgan Wanderer]

I think it is far too early to be talking about make-or-break for any of the names mentioned RBLC - it is just too soon in their careers. The names I mentioned are prospective international players coming through the system but are not necessarily ready just yet.

If our front-line bowlers were injured tomorrow you would be much more likely to see the return of Caddick, Johnson, Saggers or Kirtley in the short term.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I'd really like to see a fit Johnson (is there such a thing??) against quality opposition like SA. He's always done well for england but mainly its been against the likes of Zim and bangladesh, not exactly testing.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Moss,

Hick,Raprakash,Crawley,Malcolm,Ed Smith,Key,Foxy Fowler,Edmunds,Tuffers,Never had the extended runs, their Test place was always in danger.So they were always under pressure.
This is just the tip of the iceburge, the England selectors, have ruined many careers with their impatient attitude to new players.

Must say D Pringle got more than his fair share of chances, I and see him now, bright summers day, stroling to the crease, I can also remember his cheerfull boyish grin, as he walked back to the pavilion, with yet another duck.

Such has been the England selection policy, that saw Devon Malcolm destroy South Africa, only to be dropped, a short time later.

Small rated rant over.

well some of the indians and pakistan's often say the same thing about their respective boards must be hard for the selectors, it is all fair enough in hindsight criticizing their choice, but how do we know the 'other option' would have been any better lol.

[flanflinger]

RDisNo1,

I often use the example of Lathwell and Thorpe. Both debuted in the same game. All the hype and publicty surrounded the new batting sensation thet would be Lathwell. Lathwell was the future.

But Thorpe, no hype, got on with the game. Scored a Hundred and then went onto a highly succesful Test career, often heralded as the Best English Batsman of his generation. Lathwell went back to County Cricket, never made an impression and left First-Class Cricket before his thirtieth Birthday.

The fact is that Test cricket finds you out. You can have all the talent in the world (Hick, Ramps, Crawley) but often the most succesful have less natural talent, but great ability to concentrate and grit out an innings (Thorpe, Hussain)

[John]

I was watching Botham and LLoyd they both think highly of Key. Personally I can't see what they talking about but they have played and watched a lot more cricket than me.

[Rahul_Dravid_is_No.1]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

RDisNo1,

I often use the example of Lathwell and Thorpe. Both debuted in the same game. All the hype and publicty surrounded the new batting sensation thet would be Lathwell. Lathwell was the future.

But Thorpe, no hype, got on with the game. Scored a Hundred and then went onto a highly succesful Test career, often heralded as the Best English Batsman of his generation. Lathwell went back to County Cricket, never made an impression and left First-Class Cricket before his thirtieth Birthday.

The fact is that Test cricket finds you out. You can have all the talent in the world (Hick, Ramps, Crawley) but often the most succesful have less natural talent, but great ability to concentrate and grit out an innings (Thorpe, Hussain)

exactly (well i dunno who lathwell is, before my time) but test cricket exposes real playerrs and shows who really are the best for sure. btw what happened to ramprakash? he was the only england player i liked but i was like under 10 the last time i saw him play