Gilo still not fit

[flanflinger]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4634128.stm

Looks like Ash has not made the progress hoped by the management, and they may have to take two other spinners.

This could be a good thing as I doubt they would have played two SLA's in the team, so it could be a chance to get Monty in the team.

Even if Giles does make the plane, I feel they have to choose Monty, as they may have to draft in a replacement last minute.

However, the other question is that the management are confident in Giles as a spinner, I doubt they have the same confidence in Udal and Monty/Blackey/Louden and they may have to play two spinners and lose one of Jones/Hoggard/Harmison..

Had they had a fit Gilo they may have been tempted to play the four seamers + Giles, if they do not have tKoS they may have to include the additional spinner.

[greg]

Leave him here and get him fully fit for the summer.No point taking him if he is only half fit.

[Teatime FatCat]

I couldn't agree more. Leave him at home. He wasn't good enough in Pakistan because he wasn't fully fit, so it's pointless taking him to India with the same level of fitness.

The smart money seems to be on Blackwell taking over, which I think is wrong as he doesn't turn the ball as much, and is another 'containing' spinner - also there seems to be something lacking in his batting at the highest level, so he offers no advantage there.

Take Udal, Blackie and Monty and let them battle it out in the warm up games, for everyone who argues that you can't take a rookie spinner to India as he will get mauled, I'd argue that you should try one out as the conditions will encourage them and force them to bowl a more attacking line.

To be honest, they should be taking Swann, Monty and Keedy IMHO

[Vrock]

If I remember rightly Vaughan said that England wouldn't take anyone on the tour unless they were 100% fit, Gilo won't be fit so we should leave him in England and take either Blackwell to boost the batting or Panesar depending whether the selectors want someone more aggresive.

[Victor Frankenstein]

We'll more than likely get cained to all parts by India with or without Giles so may aswell let him get completely fit and bring him back in the summer. I'd play Panesar as Blackwell has so far proved incapable of stepping up with the bat, so the reason for leaving out Panesar is that he can't bat, but he can bowl, so i'd go with him as he'll probably average the same as Blackwell with the bat but hopefully bowl better.

We have two warm up games before the first test, i'd play udal and loudon in the first game and udal and monty in the second, see how it goes. I would possibly consider not playing Hoggard in either of the first two games and playing all three spinners just so they all get two games to impress, the best two getting the test places, unless they're all rubbish in which case just go in with all seam.

[freddie flintoff 142]

get gary keedy in! (first post in months and im backing a lancashire player........ how predictable!)


on a more serious note, blackwell for me, like for like, bowls well slow left arm, controlling ratherr than threatening, and i reckon he could surprise a few, also caple of clobbing a few runs - think about KP, freddie and blackwell all in good batting form!

Not a great udal fan but you work with what you've got and maybe too much is expected of yound monty.
either way gota back who ever plays...............

and in the words of liam gallager Hello..... its good to be back

[Andy Mellon]

Welcome back FF_142!

I'm with you on Blackwell. He does have batting ability - much better batting ability than Gilo, and therefore should be able to fill Ashley's batting shoes relatively easily. I wasn't convinced about his bowling, but he did very well in Pakistan in the ODIs and he had a decent County season with the ball. THe problem with Blacky is that he hasn't performed with the bat in his international career. I think he sees his role as the biffing pinch-hitter and gets out all too often trying to fill that role, however, he might change his approach slightly for the tests and he may surprise all of us by grinding out a few runs!

[Vrock]

That is certainly what would be needed if Blackwell played, England's batting is more likely to collapse than others so he may be required to bat for a sustained length of time, I just feel that he won't have a great chance of taking wickets against some great players of spin and I think England need someone who will look to take wickets, not keep the run-rate down.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

According to none other than boycs, blackwell has just as much variation as giles (not that thats much), I think he topped the bowling averages (england anyway) in the ODIs in Pakistan, AND scored the fastest first clas century last season.

[Teatime FatCat]

That's all well and good, but picking Blackwell and Udal (if he bowls like he did in Pak) is like fighting fire with - well, a warm flannel!