England Squad For First Test v New Zealand, Thursday 15th May...

[Ernest]

 
 England squad:
 MP Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt)
 AN Cook (Essex)
 AJ Strauss (Middlesex)
 KP Pietersen (Hampshire)
 IR Bell (Warwickshire)
 PD Collingwood (Durham)
 TR Ambrose (Warwickshirewkt)
 SCJ Broad (Nottinghamshire)
 RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
 MS Panesar (Northamptonshire)
 JM Anderson (Lancashire)
 MJ Hoggard (Yorkshire).

No place for Harmison - Hoggard returns, and Flintoff misses first two Tests as expected.

LINK:BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Hoggard recalled to England squad

[greg]

Looks a straight choice between Hoggard and Anderson for the 3rd seamer position.I know who i would prefer to have in the team but both men are taking wickets this season so if Anderson keeps his place then i wouldn't be too surprised but Hoggy has the better test record to fall back on.

[Moss]

Anderson is still too wayward. When he's good, he can take a 5for, but when he's bad, he gets carted around all over the place. Hoggard has the more enviable record, and I would start with him.

I wonder if Harmison will retire from International Cricket in a fit of pique?

[pie_chucker]

The problem with Anderson is that he can be great in one innings and **** the next. If we are playing 4 bowlers then we simply cant afford that luxury. For me Hoggard should play but I doubt he will, Moores will go for Anderson.

[Collyisamackem]

Originally Posted by Moss

Hoggard has the more enviable record, and I would start with him.

I wonder if Harmison will retire from International Cricket in a fit of pique?

Miller said the other day that Harmison's attitude is good, he's been dropped so I think everyone laying off and letting him find his bowling again would be a fair idea, no?

I would pick Hoggard for his control and that he is our best bowler, Sidebottom is the most in-form and has an outstanding county record, but before he has taken 250 test wickets (Hoggard is the only one of our bowlers with a 7-for against Australia) he has some catching up to do. Anderson has more pace than Hoggard, and that may swing (no pun intended) it his way as both are performing (disregaring CricInfo's prejudicial write-up of the Lions game where Hoggy created the pressure Tremlett and co fed off) but Anderson has the place already and probably warrants another series to settle down.

Moss, is your signature Welsh? If not it looks close, but there aren't enough 'dd's, 'ff's and 'll's for me to be completely sure!

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

Moss, is your signature Welsh? If not it looks close, but there aren't enough 'dd's, 'ff's and 'll's for me to be completely sure!

"The land of my fathers, the land of my choice": see Welsh National Anthem