Ashes Squad

[Quagmire]

This is the team that I think should play.

1. Trescothick
2. Strauss
   
3. Cook
   
4. Pietersen
   
5. Bell
   
6. Flintoff(c)
   
7. Reid
   
8. Harminson
   
9. Hoggard
   
10. Panesar
    
11. ? Giles if fit (Sydney test only)
    

The last bowling place is the biggest problem for England. (Jones is out, Anderson wont play, Mahmood is not up to it yet, neither is Plunket) I have no idea maybe put in one of the experienced county cricketers.

For the Sydney test England should play Giles as well as Panesar, if Giles is fit

If no bowlers are up to it maybe throw in Collingwood as an extra batsman and he can pitch in a couple of overs here and there. He has bowled well against Australia in the past in the ODI's but his batting has lacked against the Australian's so its a 50-50 in my opinion.

[Collyisamackem]

Collingwood has played one test against Australia, not much of a basis for a judgement on his ability, especially not compared to Bell's own performances against the same opposition last year! It's a tough one, but it would seem that if we revert to five bowlers it's between Colly and Bell.

[Quagmire]

I did say in ODI's, will the five bowlers work for England like it did last year? If the fifth bowler isnt up to scratch its going to be a problem because they are losing a batsman that they could have put in instead.

[TopperHarley]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

In Australia we have pitches that will be good batting surfaces: Ideal for players like Trescothick, Pietersen and Strauss. Cook, it could go either way.Bell I'm afraid has that knack of in his first couple of overs getting a knick as he tentatively plays at a ball, and Colligwood I feel will be average at best, maybe not enough to win the Ashes.

Tresco has been poor but i believe the ODIs will let him swing the bat, time the ball a bit, get some quick runs and boost confidence. Its not as tho hes turned to a bad player over a summer. Infact I remember an almost perfect innings in twenty20 against Sri Lanka and some good knocks in the ODI and a centruy in the test. So lets stop these overreactions about Trescos form and remember that our top 6 batting line up is not invincble, far from it.

Apologies for the lack of inflection in my written word. I did not mean that all of Englands batting line-up was invincible with the exception of poor tresco. I did however point out that his lack of form would be a concern. England management would normally look on tres, Strauss and KP as their "bankers" for a couple of big knocks with the bat during a series. tresco seems to be slightly off kilter at the moment.

All i meant with the "question marks" comment was purely in regard to runs made against pakistan, and whether the incumbent batsmen woudl travel to austrailia (which they all will)

I also pointed out that, even though tres did not perform as well as we would have liked over the course of the series, that he was not the most likely to make way. That honour goes to a chap who made 186 three tests ago! So its not like i have it in for old Marcus!

[Harmy's Army]

Assuming S Jones isn't fit and Freddie is, I think that 4th seamer slot is still up for grabs - neither Mahmood nor Plunkett has done enough to guarantee their selection (either with ball or batting at 8). With this in mind I am really looking forward to seeing how Broad performs in the forthcoming ODIs - if he shines he may well force his way into Duncan's reckoning - as Pietersen did with the bat last year pre-Ashes in the ODIs at the expense of Thorpe. Everything so far written about this kid points to him being very special.

An idea mooted by Agnew (particularly after his dismal recent form) was for Tresco to drop down the order and Cook to open with Strauss - Tres being a) a far more accomplished player of spin (Warne when he comes on to bowl) and b) averaging only 26 as an opener down under.

My provisional team would look something like:

Strauss (c)
Cook
Trescothick
Pietersen
Bell
Flintoff
Reid
Broad
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

Making up the squad: Giles (if fit - Dalrymple if he isnt), Collingwood, G Jones, Shah, Joyce., Plunkett, Mahmood

[Speedboy Salesman]

I'm not sure if Broad is ready for the Ashes.. Inexperienced seamer, the Australians could possibly wipe the floor with him.

[Vrock]

I agree SS, Broad is still bowling limited spells and limited overs per day for Leicestershire. He needs another winter to really build up his strength so that he can bowl more overs in a day and throughout the season.

We don't want to wrap him in cotton wool but he needs to get the chance to develop before being unleashed on test cricket for a whole series. Maybe in the final test as a wild card if we've already lost the series and one of our main bowlers are injured.

[TopperHarley]

I would agree with vrock. But i dont see it happening as far as england management are concerned.


Broad could benefit from an A tour where he can spearhead a bowling attack, bowl a lot fo overs and learn from people around him (presumably one of mahmood or plunkett will also be on t' A-tour along with many coaches) rather than mix drinks in aussie changing rooms.

however, given the buzz that has developed, unless he has a torrid time in the ODIs, i can see him being taken.

[redback]

England must pick an experienced squad to tour Australia as its a very long tour with no easy warm up games all the squads you guys have picked, how many have actually toured Australia not many ,could be your downfall

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by redback

England must pick an experienced squad to tour Australia as its a very long tour with no easy warm up games all the squads you guys have picked, how many have actually toured Australia not many ,could be your downfall

Darren Gough for the Tests then redback? Bring him out of Test retirement?