Andrew Strauss - Genuine Opener?

[Kirsty Harris]

I can't quite see Tres batting down at number 6...

Tres is a great player, just in a bad trot at the minute. It wouldn't help him batting lower. Maybe tomorrow, maybe Sunday, but soon he is going to get back in the groove and smash the ball about like the Tres of old!!

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Apparently he started at 6 at zummerzet. I suppose the ODIs might help him back in the groove. Vaughan isnt filling me with confindence either, so somebody has to buck up or push off down the order. And with trescos ,"individual" technique he's first in the queue.

[CJ D]

Tres had a good start to COunty cricket as so many youngsters do in their first season - the second on is always crucial as the old pros have generally sussed them - as happened to Tres - he only really found his way back into the side because he could bowl some reasonable (just quicker than) medium pacers and they used him as a bowler who could bat (coming in at 7 or 8). He then got his bearings back with the willow and made a good fist of it - I have always been surprised that he has not bowled more.

I don't think he could ever be rated as a "bits and pieces" player as he is generally worth his place in the side as a genuine batsmen - the bowling is just a bonus.

[Mark Kidger]

Originally Posted by CJ D

Tres had a good start to COunty cricket as so many youngsters do in their first season - the second on is always crucial as the old pros have generally sussed them - as happened to Tres - he only really found his way back into the side because he could bowl some reasonable (just quicker than) medium pacers and they used him as a bowler who could bat (coming in at 7 or 8). He then got his bearings back with the willow and made a good fist of it - I have always been surprised that he has not bowled more.

He was one of the stars of the successful Under-19 side, which is what brought him to my attention. His figures outside Tests though are quite dreadful - take out his Test runs and he only averages 31.7 in first class cricket. That's the sort of level where a player is in real danger of not even being retained.

[Trescothick's Footwork]

Originally Posted by Mark Kidger

He was one of the stars of the successful Under-19 side, which is what brought him to my attention. His figures outside Tests though are quite dreadful - take out his Test runs and he only averages 31.7 in first class cricket. That's the sort of level where a player is in real danger of not even being retained.

Luckily for us, and the England team, since Graveney and Fletcher have been in charge we now pick players of talent, not their record in the abysmal county championship. Vaughan, Tres, Colly, Freddie, Clarke, Jones, Harmison.......half the team now in fact.

[high_on_linseed]

RBLC is right, Tres is nervy at the moment. But I think he is a player who runs on nerves and adrenaline - hitting hard, and can create fireworks if hes in the zone. But making daft mistakes if hes not. So, hes not likely to just slow down, hang around, and give support to Vaughan, who is after all the main event. So, yes, move Tres down to six, and, yes it seems Strauss is the leading contender to come in as opener.

[high_on_linseed]

Originally Posted by Trescothick's Footwork

Luckily for us, and the England team, since Graveney and Fletcher have been in charge we now pick players of talent, not their record in the abysmal county championship. Vaughan, Tres, Colly, Freddie, Clarke, Jones, Harmison.......half the team now in fact.

Got to take issue with this. Quite often, the best test players are also the ones who average well in the counties too - read all of the aussies who milk our atttacks for runs, from Law to Langer. English qualified players include Hussain, Thorpe, Hick, Crawley, Freddie last year. For bowlers, add Caddick, Murali, Saqlain, Warne, Bicknell, Hoggard, etc, etc.

You name the talents England have picked with poor county records whove been successful. Yet you conveniently overlook the failures - Key, Afzaal, McGrath, Tudor, etc. So, its not as simple as all that. Yes, in some cases, players can be successful without having been that prolific in the counties, but in most cases, good county stats provide a fair indication of quality. Vaughan didnt have a great average cos of the home pitches he had to play on. Clarke actually does have a fine, though short, first-class record, at least with the bat. Jones, though promising, still has plenty to prove in my book...

[high_on_linseed]

'Fraid I disagree Kirsty. It would help Tres batting lower. He wouldnt have the responsibility of protecting the middle order, wouldnt have to face the new ball either.
The Kiwis are renowned for planning how to get batsmen out, and they would figure Tres out pretty easy. However, its much harder to implement a plan to a player if theres already seventy overs in the day been bowled and the fielding team are tired.

Id drop Tres down to Six, and axe Giles for the NZ tests.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by high_on_linseed

So, yes, move Tres down to six, and, yes it seems Strauss is the leading contender to come in as opener.

HOL

Whilst I certainly agree on giving Strauss a chance at the top of the order, I'm not convinced in my mind the Trescothick will do any better down the order than he will as an opener. His problem is one of form and consistency - how will that help batting down the order? Also who's being replaced by moving Trescothick down the order - Hussain?

I think it may be worth a try, but not convinced it would be a good long term solution to Englands problems. Also I think Collingwood is going to be mighty miffed if Strauss gets the nod in front of him for whats effectivelly Hussains slot.

Scott

[high_on_linseed]

As I said to Kirsty: First, hed be protected from the new ball. Coming in at six, hed have a nice battered old one to biff around if things went according to plan. Secondly, it would be harder for the Kiwis to implement the plan theyve already worked out to dismiss him seventy overs into the day with fielders tiring. Lastly, it wont so much be helping Tres as be helping Butch and Hussain who are more often having to scrap it out against the old ball, rather than play their natural (and certainly in Butchers case naturally agressive) games.

No, I wouldnt drop Hussain, Id drop Giles, and play six batsmen.