A Fair Swap..>

[Ernest]

Say we had the choice for this summers series against Australia, who would you like to see left out of the Australia team, to make life easier for England?.
Could be Warne, could be McGrath, sound easy but the snag is, out of the series winning team against South Africa, who would you be willing to part with to play for Australia?.

Or you can give just one, or two seperate answers.

[Rachael]

No point in selecting an out and out batsman: they've so many they don't know who to leave out as it is. A missing bowler ought to be far more significant... but now Gillespie and Kasprowicz are stepping up to be counted and Lee is finally regaining some form that ain't necessarily a good call either.

The choice to see ommitted might be Gilchrist: I think the Aussies have decent alternatives.. but I think having a newbie in place of such an influential player would have an impact.

Who would you give up on the English front? Geraint Jones: I suspect we'd be better off without him anyway.

[Ernest]

I take your point about the Australian batsmen Rachael, so I have no problem in saying I would like Australia to leave out Warne.
On the England front it's a little more difficult, key for Pieterson, trouble is, Pieterson is not proven.
Sorry Kirsty,maybe Gilo ans give Keedy a spin(scuse the pun), but no I think Gilo might just trouble the Aussies.
So it has to be GO Jones for Read.

[Trescothick]

I'm not sure abot the Aussies... But i can't believe people have mentioned G O Jones before Robert Key. Key is a simple swop and Pieterson must be put in the team against Aussies as i've said before...

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

I'm not sure abot the Aussies... But i can't believe people have mentioned G O Jones before Robert Key. Key is a simple swop and Pieterson must be put in the team against Aussies as i've said before...

Too right Tresco. Key will get murdered. Pieterson is untested and perhaps a risky (but exciting) option. What about M.Butcher? (howls of protest) He singlehandedly defeated the Aussies one time scoring 190 odd and i personally think he will rise to the occasion and bat sensibly against the Aussies

[Trescothick]

Originally Posted by Seamer

Too right Tresco. Key will get murdered. Pieterson is untested and perhaps a risky (but exciting) option. What about M.Butcher? (howls of protest) He singlehandedly defeated the Aussies one time scoring 190 odd and i personally think he will rise to the occasion and bat sensibly against the Aussies

That is exactly my point and we need to take risks to have a chance to win... Mark Butcher should defiently be 12th man ahead of Key becase your right he can do some amazing things but we want Pieterson in front.

[Seamer]

I believe that Pieterson has a first class average of 54 scoring over 5000 runs. There is no doubt that he can play the longer game. England would be crazy not to take a gamble with him. Recent history has shown that it takes individual brilliance to take down the Aussies. Pieterson could be that man
(personally i wan,t him to play because i like attacking test cricketers)
Butcher can be a match winner too on his day. Replace him for Thorpe perhaps?

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

Mark Butcher should defiently be 12th man ahead of Key becase your right he can do some amazing things...

But he can't do any very amazing things if he's 12th man, can he? He's either got to be in the team or out, surely?

[Leafy Seadragon]

Ernest,
Probably not an answer to the same question, but as an Aussie, the player I am most worried about us losing is McGrath. He's currently irreplaceable IMO. Warne is incredibly valuable, but MacGill has stepped up before (2nd highest test wicket taker in the world the year Warnie missed because of his Mum ). However, in McGrath's absence the Aussies couldn't even roll India (arguably the worst tourists in the world) in Oz.

I still think Warne is better than MacGill, but in terms of player missed most, its got to be McGrath. As a caveat, we Aussies thought that about Craig 'the Kid' McDermott before he broke down at the start of the 1993 Ashes tour, when a certain Merv Hughes stepped up

[Ernest]

Hi Leafy S,
I think that IMHO England will manage to play McGrath ok, like they did with Pollock in South Africa.
McGrath does not have Atherton as his bunny these days , but if England have a weaknes it is against spin, Flintoff will play any seamer, but I would rather Warne not be there.