Flintoff returns for Lanashire against Surrey:16-19 April.

[Collyisamackem]

200 wickets don't just come from one match though Statto, that was my point. I just wish he'd add 5mph to that and he'd be right in there. Besides, the ECB never seem to give up on Simon Jones.

Anyway, must go. Durham will struggle to beat Lancs' 143, currently 84/7 with Anderson taking 4. Meanwhile, Sidebottom has 3 (wickets) for 2 (runs) against Kent.

A bowlers' day perhaps?!!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by greg

Can we pick an all rounder who can't score a run?

No batsman scored any runs today greg. Claydon with 40 - the much critisised Loyes close 2nd with 39, and Mahmood did not get carted Colly 1-27 of 8, and was 3rd top scorer with 31 (out of both sides), scoring more than the entire Durham side bar Claydon.

To your original pint greg, it should be noted that Vaughan was picked when he could not score a run, and unlike Flintoff he did not have his bowling to earn a place in the side.

Flintoff and Anderson took 4 wickets each on this bowlers day, can't judge an all rounder or a batsman on this wicket.

20 wickets for 257 on day 1 of a county match shows it's a seam bowlers track.

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by Ernest

No batsman scored any runs today greg. Claydon with 40 - the much critisised Loyes close 2nd with 39, and Mahmood did not get carted Colly 1-27 of 8, and was 3rd top scorer with 31 (out of both sides), scoring more than the entire Durham side bar Claydon.

To your original pint greg, it should be noted that Vaughan was picked when he could not score a run, and unlike Flintoff he did not have his bowling to earn a place in the side.

Flintoff and Anderson took 4 wickets each on this bowlers day, can't judge an all rounder or a batsman on this wicket.

20 wickets for 257 on day 1 of a county match shows it's a seam bowlers track.

Not if Mahmood and Claydon can get more runs than the batsmen. Claydon's highest f/c score.

[Collyisamackem]

Originally Posted by Ernest

and Mahmood did not get carted Colly 1-27 of 8

Seriously Ern, sense of humour bypass?! Even a joking comment about Lancs from (read this ->) a Durham fan who wants to see Durham win can't go un-reacted to! Relax, seriously.

And Statto, ask any bowler who has bowled against Yousuf in England to tell you how hard he is to get out on any pitch. Anyway, it's a Di Venuto hundred for us or nothing if we want this game.

[greg]

Seeing as my dad went up to Old Trafford yesterday i asked him if it was the pitch,good bowling or poor batting that was the reason for the low scores and he said the bowling was ok but the batting was dreadful and there was nothing wrong with the pitch (56-0 today shows that may be correct,if it was a poor pitch more wickets would have gone this morning).The interesting thing he said was that Harmison bowled well and had no luck,Freddie is bowling very well as he took 4 of the 6 wickets in the day which went at the other end to the main action but there are rumours his ankle is still causing problems.

Also said Anderson bowled well so no point picking him as it will take a few months till he bowls well again.

[Statto]

According to Cricinfo:


Deficient techniques rather than deficient pitch were to blame on a day the county batsmen did not acquit themselves well on a bouncy Old Trafford pitch in conditions where the bowlers could swing the ball.
Although Lancashire finished on top, leading Durham by 29 runs, the Man of the Match to date was Durham seamer Mark Davies, who started the entire batting nightmare by ripping through the home side's middle order to return his best career figures of 7 for 33. True, he benefited from some incompetence at the other end, but that should not detract from a masterly performance.

Looks pretty much like what I said yesterday to me, so it isn't just my take on what happened.

[greg]

I see Freddie has got yet another duck today.If he plays in the test match i guess he can go in at 11 after Monty.

[Collyisamackem]

Originally Posted by Statto

According to Cricinfo:

he benefited from some incompetence at the other end, but that should not detract from a masterly performance.

Looks pretty much like what I said yesterday to me, so it isn't just my take on what happened.

If you're just saying it was because of conditions and batsman error, then are you also acknowledging the phrase 'masterly performance' in there? The point is Davies has performed at a far higher level than other county bowlers over a 50+ match career, I'm not just highlighting one game. He took a 7-for for Notts last season on loan, so ask Stephen Fleming and Ryan Sidebottom what they think of him. I'm not saying he's necessarily the quickest, neither is Chaminda Vaas, but the performances are there and the likes of Sidebottom, Shah and others are now playing or being looked at for county performances whereas before they weren't.

Anyway, disappointing to see Freddie get a pair and also to be clean bowled by a part timer (Garry Park, our former backup wickie) on a day where Paul Horton made 108. I really hope he stays fit and starts scoring runs, but I would not select him for New Zealand - which batsman of Cook, Vaughan (despite the NZ series, he's the captain for now and will play), Strauss, Bell, Collingwood and Pietersen, and which bowler of Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panesar and Broad does he deserve to kick out of the side? Broad possibly, especially given his performance for Notts today, but Flintoff has to be in the side as an in-form all-rounder as others have said, including Ern I believe, not as a number 8 or 9.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by greg

I see Freddie has got yet another duck today.

Yeah Yeah - guess what Durham 19-2.

Flintoff 3 overs - 2 runs - 2 wickets.

6,7,8,9,10.11 - does not matter where he bats when he bowls like that, don't you agree greg?.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

Anyway, disappointing to see Freddie get a pair and also to be clean bowled by a part timer (Garry Park, our former backup wickie) on a day where Paul Horton made 108. I really hope he stays fit and starts scoring runs, but I would not select him for New Zealand

Disapppointing : Yes Colly, but to be fair Old Trafford taking swing and allowing bounce is no way a player can play himself into some forrm.

I agree at the moment Flintoff is not a World class all rounder, but his bowling is as good as any other bowler in the World, and that counts Lee and any other.

Also England have got together a batting coaching team for Flintoff, so with luck he should be peaking by 2009 as an all - rounder.

If Fit - I would select him as a specialist bowler, he will give England that variety it has lacked.

Harmison.
Flintoff
Anderson
Sidebottom/Hoggard.
Panesar.
One day soon his batting will click, so this 5 man attack is better than most.