Ashes Squad

[greg]

We may as well start thinking about the ashes squad that will be picked.At least that has something to with cricket that will happen anyway.

My squad would be :

Strauss (capt)
Trescothick
Cook
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Shah
Read
Jones
Panesar
Udal
Harmison
Hoggard
Mahmood
Plunkett
Broad

I wouldn't consider Simon Jones,Giles,Anderson or Vaughan as they have been out too long and we don't need a repeat of the last series over there when Gough and Flintoff didn't play.

[darksideofthemoon]

Yet you include Flintoff.
I think Vaughan, Jones, Anderson, Giles, Plunkett and Flintoff will be playing cricket in Australia before the warm up games.

[greg]

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

Yet you include Flintoff.

12 weeks is a bit different to nearly a year though.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Mine would be:

Strauss (capt)
Trescothick
Bell
Cook
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Read (1st wkt)
G. Jones (2nd wkt)
Harmison
Hoggard
Mahmood
Plunkett
Panesar
Loudon
Shah
Broad

Wouldn't include Udal, because I just don't think him good enough at England Test level.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

Wouldn't include Udal, because I just don't think him good enough at England Test level.

If Udal's not a good enough bowler why is Alex Loudon in the squad?

[Speedboy Salesman]

because I haven't seen Loudon play at England Test level...plus he's got many years on Udal. Udal is in his late 30s, where Loudon isn't.

[Ernest]

I think under the circumstances your team is as good as it gets, however I don't thing England need two spinners in the squad - if Panesar gets injured we can always call one up.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I think under the circumstances your team is as good as it gets, however I don't thing England need two spinners in the squad - if Panesar gets injured we can always call one up.

My squad? I see what you mean about the spinners, but I mainly think of using Loudon as more of a backup spinner like Pietersen is now.

[Rachael]

Let's break this down to roles... and just for one moment assume a perfect world in which everyone was fit, available and able to prove great form:

Openers: Strauss, Tresco, Cook
 
Middle Order batsmen: Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood, Vaughan
 
Wicket-Keepers: Read, Jones
 
Seamers: Hoggard, Harmison, Flintoff, S. Jones, Anderson, 
 
Spinners: Panesar, Giles

I've highlighted 5 players who are major question marks: Vaughan, Flintoff, Simon Jones, Anderson and Giles.

If he can get fit then Tremlett should perhaps still head the list of alternative seamers: he was top of the list before injury, no one has done anything to dislodge him in his absense and he remains a more confidence inspiring bowler than the likes of Plunkett and Mahmood. That said... I suspect the other two will travel.. the former solely because he can bat at 8 (shame about the bowling)... and the latter primarilly in the vague hope that he might suddenly become the finished article despite ample evidence that he ain't.

Ramps should be the other batsman.. but will not be. I can't see Shah making the tour either though: seems to me the primary drinks carrier is more likely to be either Ed Joyce or Rikki Clarke.

The other spinner will surely be Dalrymple.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

The other spinner will surely be Dalrymple.

No the Ashes I think is to important to experiment with a spinner who has done well only in a handfull of ODIs.
I agree Ramp's or for that matter Loye should go on form.
As for your seamers there are a lot of if's and buts, Simon Jones will not play IMO neither will Anderson, I think Mahmood has to go otherwise the same will be happening to him that happened to Read in the West Indies.