Final Ashes Places

[Rachael]

I've gone for Joyce on the batting front (though I'd rather take Ramps), Foster as 'keeper, Lewis as seamer, but both Giles and Dalrymple as spinners as I simply don't see any point in taking the other seamers: guys like Broad, Mahmood and Onions just don't strike me as ready for an Ashes series even if they ARE the future of the English Test side.

[Mike]

I'm 100% with Moss' selections - including Strauss for Captain. Flintoff has enough responsibility with his batting and bowling duties.

[Trescothick]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I don't quite understand your post Tres, if Flintoff plays - his optimum possition is at 6 - he was a disaster at 7.

True however it would be pointless to have someone like Collingwood or Bell at No 7 as they build an innings rather than Flintoff who can build when appropiate at No 7 and also hit out when apporpiate... Thats my only reasoning. i do not believe Bell and Collingwood will both play in honesty so Flintoff will be batting at 6 anyways!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by adamberry

On what basis? Key has had a miserable season in terms of run-scoring, quite the opposite to Joyce. Surely it'd be better to take the person in the best form?

Like Rachael I would have taken Ramp's if we are talking form, but key has more experience that Joyce so he gets my vote on that alone, also on form he will destroy any attack.

Also adam county form has this habit of not following a player into the England side.

Look at the last time Key was picked against the West Indies I think - at county level his average was second to none, he destroyed the Windies in their county fixture, but that form never followed him into the England side that summer.

So IMO county form is only a guide, look at Flintoffs form for 2 years, coaches other than Fletcher and he would have been out on his ear, but he came good - same could happen with Key.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Mike

I'm 100% with Moss' selections - including Strauss for Captain. Flintoff has enough responsibility with his batting and bowling duties.

It's the Ashes we are talking about Mike - I doubt if Flintoff will let England down if captain, if anything it raised his game while in India.

Unlike Bothan he would be a competative captain, as for the rest of the team England should keep as near as possible to the 2005 Ashes winning side, with the exception of Bell who could be replaced with Collingwood.

If Hoggard is not Fit then the obvious choice is Lewis, but not as well as Hoggard.

Spinners England should only consider Giles or Panesar, of the others on show - Ponting and co will cart them all over the park.

Mahmood is the obvious choice - but only if simon Jones is not fit.

Broad Onions nor Lewis should IMO not be considered as a replacement for Jones.

[Quagmire]

Ok hands down Strauss should get the captaincy; Flinoff already has so much to do as well as his body is playing up. He might not even play, and if he does there is a realistic possibility that he won’t be fully fit. Strauss on the other hand is a opening batsman and all he has to think about is scoring runs. The ashes are big responsibility for a captain and Flintoff already is expected to do so much and he isn’t even fit at the moment.

[greg]

I just hope we don't consider Asley Giles for the squad as he hasn't played all summer and would be too great a risk on top of other risks like Flintoff and Anderson.We don't want a repeat of Flintoff and Gough from 4 years ago.

[Mr Hutt]

I dont think England should play giles, he has not played a match all summer, and i do think broad lewis and saj mahmood should go to Aus. Broad should get his baptisam in fire and blood, best way to bring him up to maturity i think!!! he will become a great bowler. As far as joyce and foster are concerned they are automatics to replace tresco and read if needed. the captaincy should stay with strauss, he is definately the better captain, and flintoff can concentrate on contributing, if he can play the full ashes that is, i somehow doubt it looking at what happened to akhter. Monty is going right? so why do you lot need another spinner

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Flinoff already has so much to do as well as his body is playing up. He might not even play, and if he does there is a realistic possibility that he won’t be fully fit.

If he is not fit then the question of him being captian is not relevent.

What I saw earlier in the year when Flintoff was out of sorts with the bat - was a return to form when he was captaining the side, every player is different and Flintoff is mentaly strong as it is.

Also I think in India he showed he was a better captain than Strauss, not often England win there.

I was watching cricket highlight on C5 about 5 this morning and I saw Yardy bowl for the first time, he out shone the England offy with ease turning the ball square, I don't think it will be long before this guy is looking like a Warne, no he's not a leggie but a SLA can be just as good.

I wonder greg if the England players are quite as injured as we all think - I would not be surprised if England turned up in Australia with 99% of their players fit, maybe for once they have shown some sence as rested a few players when injured - not allowing them back in other words.

[TopperHarley]

Batsman-wise I would take Ramps, but it's not going to happen.

Aussie's main bowling weapon is Warne, and shah is a by far the best player of spin, plus he has a good bit of fight about him.