What changes would you make to the England squad?

[Speedboy Salesman]

It seems that the batting has been extremely poor in this test in Napier, with Broad making second highest scorer in the 40s Even Monty's gone to track to get a ton


Ok, what changes would YOU make to the England squad, and what would be YOUR First XI?

[Rachael]

Assuming Flintoff's still not fit, my current best XI would be more or less the same XI I'd have used throughout this series:

1. Cook
2. Vaughan
3. Bell
4. Pietersen
5. Shah
6. Collingwood
7. Mustard
8. Broad / Swann (depending on the pitch)
9. ?
10. Sidebottom
11. Panesar

Of course... if Flintoff were fit he'd slot back in as the 3rd seamer (albeit up the order), and if Hoggard had found some form he'd take an automatic spot: the "?" would ideally be one of that pair... and in the unlikely even of them both being fit, "Broad / Swann" would have to go - but for now, Anderson will do.

Bottom line: I'm not concerned.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

It seems that the batting has been extremely poor in this test in Napier,

Not just this series SSM - the England batting has been fundimentaly flawed and weak for decades.

Even the Ashes winning sides of 1981 and 2005 was won by the bowlers propping up the batting.

Headingly 82 would not have been won only for the 8 wickets from Bob willis.

[pie_chucker]

One change I'd make is to fire Peter Moores!

A the end of the day its a results business and we haven't had them. A win against a very poor WI is all we have had and for me that isn't good enough.

[Aurelius]

1. Cook
2. A.N. Other
3. Bell (reluctantly)
4. Pietersen
5. Collingwood (c)
6. Ambrose/Mustard
7. Flintoff
8. Broad
9. Sidebottom
10. Hoggard
11. Panesar

I would put in another batsman, but I think another would be fairly superflous. Instead, I prefer a side that can take 20 wickets, and at the moment I think Sidebottom, Hoggard, Flintoff, Broad, Panesar and maybe Collingwood is their best shot.

[acker]

I notice the numbers on the "test caps" England is up to six hundred and something while Australia is only just about to hand out number "400"

Now I have just seen 2 teams put up in this thread listing "Mustard" as the wicket keeper. I suppose it has been a week and a half since Ambrose scored his century, so that will teach him for being complacent.

And some listed a question mark as getting a run in the sqaud rather than Anderson, makes it a bit tough when your nations supporters dismiss you from the team in favor of somebody unknown. Even if Anderson takes 10 wkts in this match I fear for him, because like Ian Bell there are a lot of England supporters who appear to have an axe to grind about both of them.

Then we have the classic English thought pattern that old favorite players not in the current squad have improved so much outside it that they need recalling, namely Flintoff and Hoggard. Notably Harmison after burning about 15 bridges more than any of the unfortunately disliked and possibly despised collection of recent test wicket keepers, obviously finally burnt one to many (possibly the one in front of his house)

ackers ashes provisional

Alistair Cook
Michael Carberry
Ian Bell
Kevin Pietersen
Paul Collingwood
Robert Key
Tim Ambrose
Stuart Broad
Ryan Sidebottom
James Anderson
Monty Panesar

12th man
Liam Plunkett

And avoid the temptation of trying to change it every match, and surprisingly they might get some confidence and settle.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

1. Cook
2. A.N. Other
3. Bell
4. Pietersen
5. Collingwood (c)
6. Ambrose (wkt)
7. Flintoff
8. Broad
9. Sidebottom
10. Hoggard
11. Panesar

I like your squad Aurelius, except I would definately have Ambrose in as wicket keeper. A lot of people on here are calling Carberry to be on here, and he's looking good at the moment so I may have him in at no.2.

[greg]

Well i would start by dropping Anderson for hoggard and then move onto the batting.

Vaughan is under serious pressure as are Strauss and Bell.I guess we need to see what happens tomorrow before deciding on how many get dropped.

[cantplaycantalk]

Time for Vaughan to follow Trescothic into a quiet retirement, and I'm not convinced by Strauss in his current form either. For me I could be a little controversial and go

A Cook
Carberry/Key
Rampraca$h
Pietersen
Collingwood(c)
Bell
Ambrose+
Flintoff
Broad
Sidebottom
Panesar

For me bringing in Ramps adds a bit of age and experience to the side which has a lot of yongsters in it, and I think Ramps has improved out of all recognition to his younger self.
A middle order of Ramps,Peitersen and Collingwood is an absolute powerhouse and gives us the chance to use Bell as no 3 IF an early wicket falls.

For the bowling All the bowlers offer something different, Flintoff is fast and accurate, Broad is tall and bouncy, Sidebottom is a class act on current form, and Panesar is a good and improving spinner.

For backup I would have Hoggy, and Anderson with Greame Onions who looked the best of the rest on the Lions tour.

For Keeper duties, it is down to Ambrose's qualities as a batsman, he is just simply a more complete batsman than Mustard and I think could be the long term answer to Englands batting needs.

[cantplaycantalk]

ONE Day and 20-20 side would have some differences from the test side as follows.

Mustard +
Carberry
Yardy
Peitersen
Collingwood(c)
Flintoff
Ambrose
Rashid
Mascarenhas
Broad
Sidebottom

Yes I would play both Mustard and Ambrose they have proven that they are among the most destructive batsmen in England in the shorter form of the game but Mustards keeping is simply better, standing up to the quicks.
Bowling with Flintoff and Sidebottom opening up and supported by Broad, Collingwood, Mascarenhas as seamers and Yardey and Rashid for spin.
I've included Carberry ahead of Key as an opener because his fielding is better. To me this is a dynamic side with a lot of explosive batting.