England test sides for Bang. & the Ashes

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I think its high time we wasted a few hours on this and nail a side(s) down so I can go to ECB high command and bypass the selectors and use common sense instead.

I'd go a bit experimental against bang, who early in the season away from home would struggle against a half decent pub team.

Tresco
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Vaughan
Prior (w)
Harmo
Anderson
Mahmood
Swann ? (or a.n.other spinner)

It has a bit of a second string look to it, but we are bound to get injuries and the likes of hoggy and thorpe arent going to gain alot playing against bangladesh. harmo neeeds rhythem as does anderson and if you look up "form player" in a book you get a picture of tresco ie in good touch great not in good touch awful. Any other seamers that might need going over ? Or any other spinner that might do a job (NOT Batty)

Team for the ashes is a no brainer except Jones/read peitersen/bell Jones/anderson. Isnt it ???

[Rachael]

I'd send this lot:

Butcher
Key
Bell
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood
Foster
Batty
Jones
Mahmood
Keedy

Should answer a few questions!

[Ernest]

Ok Rich lets have a look.

Chilton..
Sutcliffe..
Loye..
Vaughan.. (C)
Pietersen..
Prior.. (WK)
Strauss..
Harmison..
Mahmood..
Anderson..
Keedy..

Tea Boy Yates..

[Milo]

I'd play the first XI against Bangldesh (all other teams would - especially the Aussies). Give the bolwers the tonic (especially Harmison) of taking cheap wickets, and get the batsmen striking runs early in the season. I cannot believe anyone would think we should rest our players(especially after three months off) when there are so many good reasons to get them brimming with confidence. The Bangladesh tour is the great opportunity to prepare for the Ashes.

Trescothick
Strauss
Vaughan
Thorpe
Pietersen
Flintoff (if not fit - Bell)
Jones
Giles
Jones
Hoggard
Harmison

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

lets not forget Milo, all the test regulars will be playing cricket, and its arguable they'd have a greater challenge against county sides. But you put forward a good argument none the less.

[Ernest]

I think it is a good time to experiment, never mind my tounge in cheek Lancs team.

Mahmood..
Anderson..
Keedy..
I would try this Lanc's trio though + Prior.
He got a 100 for the A Team the other day.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I thought it was ern but didnt want make an **** of myself with my ignorance of lancashire cricket !

[Pete]

I'd leave Jimmy out of it if they were to experiment. It's not just that he was getting hit around by good players, but has generally been bowling crap.

He wasn't doing well in the one dayers against Zimbabwe and if he got carted by the Banglas, his confidence would probably be gone forever

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Pete

and if he got carted by the Banglas, his confidence would probably be gone forever

True, that is why it would be a good test for him, if he can't bowl decent against them, we will ring you Jimmy..

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

lets not forget Milo, all the test regulars will be playing cricket, and its arguable they'd have a greater challenge against county sides.

I think this needs looking at on a position by position basis... and I'd agree: entirely with the Ashes in mind. That's not to dismiss out of hand the idea of sending the full squad and trusting that bonding and confidence building can substitute for preparation.. but is simply to look at the alternative.

Let's start with Hoggard: carry drinks / toil in Bangladesh in conditions in which he's pretty much guaranteed to be impotent... or make the best of early season English conditions... preparing thoroughly on some of the very pitches on which he will need to be finding and controlling the sort of late outswing that might help him trouble the Aussies.

Stay at home!

Next G. O. Jones: 'keep and bat on sub-continental wickets where most of the bowling wil be slow.. and the slow bowling will be more attacking than the defensive stuff he'll 'keep to back home.. or stay at home.. get used to the ball wobbling in the air as it does in English conditions.. get used to the swing and seam movement of the early summer.. and get accustomed to batting int he sort of conditions he'll face this summer.

Stay at home!

At the other extreme: Butcher, Key, Bell, Pietersen and Collingwood. Every single one of them is in the selector's mind for this summer. Put them with Duncan Fletcher.. get them ALL into the side in Bangladesh... and work on the principle that if any / all of them are in contention to play the Aussies they should ALL be good enough to play Bangladesh.

I'd take Vaughan out as captain and to get easy runs: he seems to do **** in domestic cricket anyway, and to like touring.. and he needs to be able to shape the dressign room atmosphere and so on in Bangladesh. By contrast.. I'd leave Tresco to get used to home conditions: this is a guy who loves to get his preparation right... who doesn't always tour brilliantly... and who is perhaps more likely than anyone to benefit from a couple of months focussed entirely onthe summer.

I can't see much point in Thorpe touring.. or, for that matter, Strauss: the practice at home is likely to put them in better stead (should be tougher than in Bangandesh, anyway).. and if they go that leaves too little opportunity to the others.

That leaves Flintoff (wrap in cotton wool: great chance to rest him), Harmison (debateable: I can see arguments either way with him), Giles (should perhaps go.. but that limits chances to see the reserve / 2nd spinner) and Simon Jones (should definitely go, in my book.. and should shoulder the new ball responsibility and lead the attack).

I assume we can all agree that Anderson isn't to be even considered for at least 12 more months (and ideally 24): he needs to develop with the rest of the kids in the academy and at Lancs not put under pressure from the selectors and management.

That would leave only the question of who IS going to be in contention if one or more of the frontline bowlers is injured / otherwise out this summer... and whilst I suspect the answer might be Caddick / Saggers... or Gough... there can't be much of a case for sending any of THEM to Bangladesh - so it's someone like Mahmood (on the grounds that Lewis and Harrison would find conditions in Bangladesh rather less than helpful and would be better prepared playing county cricket).

That was my reasoning anyway!