I'd like to know

[Zainub]

I'd like to know everyone's thoughts on the following players

Player 1) Martin Saggers: Seemed to have gone in oblivion since making his test debut which I thought would never come against Bangladesh when England went there...where is he now? Is he in any kind of form?

Player 2) Ed Smith: Another one of those players who seem to have completely gotten out of the limelight since making a couple of test match appearences in 2003 against SA, in which I think he did well, and was unlucky to have been dropped. I loved his accent. I hope it hasn't changed. I heard he changed his county? Where is he now?

Player 3) Will Jefferson: Can't be fascinated enough by this man, it helps that he plays for essex though! Fairly tall, isn't he? And can bat. How do people rate him? Any chance of him making the England side in case by next summer either of Trescothick or Strauss undergo dramatic loss of form?

Player 4) Darren Maddy: Why hasn't he made it to the England one-day team yet, seems a much better player then someone like Solanki to me! Sometimes I feel England just keep Solanki in their side because of his fielding...

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Zainub

Player 3) Will Jefferson

Jeffo has not had a good season. His batting has not been as good as last year. However, he seems to have sorted his back out a bit and has been able to bowl a few overs, including taking a wicket vs. Yorkshire. The main problem with Jeffo being called up for England is a perceived weakness in his fielding - he shells catches fairly often. I would imagine that he's quite a long way behind in the pecking order as he wasn't even selected for the winter A Team by the England selectors. Alistair Cook is more likely to get called up. Jeffo needs a big winter, and a huge summer next year to get his name back in contention. He's 6ft 11.5in tall. Always amusing to see him standing next to Andy Flower in the slips

[Zainub]

He can bowl too?!? And has a catchy nickname too. I quite like the sound of Jeffo...Brilliant. Too bad his fielding isn't top notch, hopefully he'll improve. And his back with stay alright. Thanks for the info, Andy.

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Zainub

He can bowl too?!? And has a catchy nickname too. I quite like the sound of Jeffo...Brilliant. Too bad his fielding isn't top notch, hopefully he'll improve. And his back with stay alright. Thanks for the info, Andy.

I was going to post what Andy did about Jeffo!! I think he's a pretty useful player!!

Ed smiths been busy writing books I belive!!

Don't know why Maddy hasn't been selected for the OD side at some point!

Not sure what's happend to Saggers - bit of a one test wonder!! I remember a lot of surprise over his selection and specualtion that he wouldn't get a wicket in the game, only for him to get a wicket in his first over, may even have been his first ball.

[Paul31]

I loved his accent. I hope it hasn't changed. I heard he changed his county? Where is he now?

Why would a grown man's accent suddenly change? I think he is with Middlesex now.

[Paul31]

Originally Posted by Kirsty Harris

Don't know why Maddy hasn't been selected for the OD side at some point!

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/co...yer/16876.html

Maddy has played 3 Tests and 8 ODI's for England.

[Zainub]

Well you said it your self, because he changed his county. I was under the impression people living in different parts of England have decidedly varying accents…I was thinking may be if he moved to a new place his accent would have sounded like that of the new place (yes, I really am that naïve).

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub

I was thinking may be if he moved to a new place his accent would have sounded like that of the new place (yes, I really am that naïve).

True Zainub, moving certainly can impact and even alter a person's accent but that is much more common at age 7, and quite rare at age 27!

[Paul31]

Originally Posted by Zainub

Well you said it your self, because he changed his county. I was under the impression people living in different parts of England have decidedly varying accents…I was thinking may be if he moved to a new place his accent would have sounded like that of the new place (yes, I really am that naïve).

I was about to suggest that you are naive, but thinking about it, my girlfriend has picked up a very annoying West Midlands accent since we moved here.

However, since Middlesex and Kent are both in the south, there probably isn't too distinct a difference, and Ed Smith's posh accent is probably down to his time at Cambridge University or the fact he probably went to a public school.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Maranello

True Zainub, moving certainly can impact and even alter a person's accent but that is much more common at age 7, and quite rare at age 27!

That's true. But you can find exceptions to that rule all the time. Especially when some one from the sub-continent moves to Europe or the Americas. In fact I've got this SWAT whos live in my building and she makes such a pathetic fake Russian accent after spending just the 14 days in Moscow. It's like I'm listening to a mix of Benazir Bhutto and Svetlana Kuneztsekova (spelling?)...

Originally Posted by Paul31

I was about to suggest that you are naive, but thinking about it, my girlfriend has picked up a very annoying West Midlands accent since we moved here. However, since Middlesex and Kent are both in the south, there probably isn't too distinct a difference, and Ed Smith's posh accent is probably down to his time at Cambridge University or the fact he probably went to a public school.

It's my theory that ladies pick up accent far quicker then gents, but no verification obviously. It's more pretending I believe than actually acquiring. Anyway I knew Ed (he even has such a posh name!) went to Cambridge but had no idea he also went to public school. Thank you for the information anyway.