Andrew Strauss - Genuine Opener?

[John]

Oliver,
I think even with Harmison in form they will struggle but it will be a close contest.
Englands summer hangs by a fine thread getting Harmison back to form. It really goes to show why England are likely to remain a good Test side rather than turn into a great one. You see a great side can expect players to pull out performances. Although England have it in the batting Dpt their bowling is still a bit short.
Thats why I have speculated how they can change their bowling for the summer. And people on this site have convinced me that the present bowlers are the best. They will just have to sink or swim in the Ashes.

[Teatime FatCat]

I think one of the reasons for the Aussies dominance is also their strength in depth, if they were to be hit with injury / and loss of form they have Katich, Elliott, Hussey +2 and Hodge to come in for their batters and Bichel, lee, Hogg, Watson and MacGill to come in for their bowlers.

I think our batting is groovy, if KP gets picked, then you have Bell, Key, Butch and possibly Hutton and Ed Smith in the wings. However if we lose Freddy and Gilo to injury and Harmy and Hoggy to form, we are looking at Jones, Anderson, Batty, Kabir Ali and Jonathon Lewis as an attack.

Hmmmmm!

[Milo]

I think the Australians showed in the home test series to India (when Warne and McGrath were absent) that Bichel, Lee and a half fit Gillespie are not good enough to lead the attack. They may have been good back up bowlers but given the extra responsibility they came up shy. Brett Lee even failed with the new ball against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, one of which was at Perth if I remember correctly.

Now, if Kasprowicz and Lee have the new ball this summer then, maybe then, we might be bringing back the urn.

[John]

Teatime,
I totally agree.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

and Bichel, lee, Hogg, Watson and MacGill to come in for their bowlers.

Let's hope we face that lot then

[Paoli]

Originally Posted by Essex Eagle

Figures are impressive but im not convinced.

He does have a tendency to plant his foot and play round his pads occasionally.

How wrong that was some 9 months ago??

[Rahul_Dravid]

Yes,Strauss is a very good player.He has good foot movement and he plays positively.The only thing I would suggest is that he is less hesitant when he plays a stroke,he should be commited to it.He usually gets out because he is very tentative,he pushes out at the ball without very much confidence.

He should brush up on his swing bowling.I have seen that he is trouble when he is faces swing bowling.