Simon Jones

[Milo]

Originally Posted by Oliver

I remember Allan Lamb once going four years between centuries. He played every Test match between, but didn't get another century till the following West Indian series.

Lamby did get dropped though. The selectors finally lost patience with him after the Ashes series in Australia and dropped him after a woeful run of 12 months for the Pakistan home series in 87. I get your point though - he should have been dropped beforehand; he was still scoring runs in limited overs cricket but was out of the test side for 12 months missing both tours in 87/88 (as well as the one day side after the world cup). He went to South Africa and scored a lot of runs. Had the West Indies not toured in 88, he would probably not have been recalled.

[darksideofthemoon]

The thing is Harmison will run through county batsmen but when it comes to Test cricket he becomes a different bowler full of insecurities. He is supposed to be a strike bowler but prefers to come on first change. His brother took more wickets today in less overs.

[pie_chucker]

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

He is supposed to be a strike bowler but prefers to come on first change.

Since when?? Only in the one day game.

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

His brother took more wickets today in less overs.

But who bowled better

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by pie_chucker

Since when?? Only in the one day game.

Harmison was Fletcher's strike bowler in Tests. He used to open the bowling with Hoggard. After Australia he came on first change. Hoggard then took over that role.

Fletcher said of Hoggard: "He always struggled when he was the main strike bowler".

[greg]

I see Jones got 8 wickets in the match in a Worcestershire win,hopefully he is fit enough to play next week and repeat that performance.

He now has 14 wkts @ 10.64 this season.Not too shabby at all.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by pie_chucker

I will agree there though as long as Flintoff is in the team and Harmison is also thereabouts

Seriously a fit Flintoff coupled with an on form Harmison is thee premier lethal bowling duo England could muster.

Compare these two with Sidebottom and Hoggard opening the bowling, albeit that Flintoff would have to be fit, and Harmison on form.
In an ideal world Simon Jones would be fit an opening the bowling when conditions suit, but that IMO is not likely.

[pie_chucker]

Hamisons hitting form too. A hat trick today and 7 wickets in the match, with i think, them all bowled or caught behind.

We might get our "dream" attack back. Harmison, Flintoff, Jones, Sidebottom and Panesar.

Unfortunately the current head selector and coach would rather quit then pick that attack. Theres too much pace, and attacking intent there. With that attack there is the possibility of teams being regularly rolled over cheaply and that's no good for Moores and co.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by pie_chucker

Hamisons hitting form too. A hat trick today and 7 wickets in the match, with i think, them all bowled or caught behind.

Good county form has never helped Rob Key, and many many others - the time to recall Harmison is before he peaks for his county, and not in desperation later .

Originally Posted by pie_chucker

We might get our "dream" attack back. Harmison, Flintoff, Jones, Sidebottom and Panesar[...]Unfortunately the current head selector and coach would rather quit then pick that attack

Well if that dream was to become a reality, and being Flintoff is there we could also pick Hoggard - then I think it would be futile for the Aussies to bother to turn up come 2009.

[Rachael]

Http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai.../scprin103.xml

[Oliver]

Nice article there Rach.

And your point is?