Final Ashes Places

[Collyisamackem]

This was quite tough, but I went for:

- Jones: His keeping is now good enough and his batting will come back with confidence. He has always given 100% and deserves another chance in the future, though Read is in possession for the foreseeable future, daft hooks notwithstanding.

- Shah: I liked what I saw in India, and as a reserve batsman I think he's got the stuff. Key has been out of form and Joyce would come behind Shah in my pecking order.

- Plunkett: Bowled well in tests and ODIs up to the Sri Lanka ODI series. Big potential and he can bat, he was just loaded with a little bit too much expectancy for a young guy at 8, and Mahmood has hardly doen better aside from the one game yesterday. Plunkett already has an ODI fifty in Pakistan.

- Mahmood: Despite my comments on his abtting, he has potential and has performed better in tests than ODIs. I'd take Lewis but it's much less likely to swing out there and once it doesn't the Aussie batsmen will size him up. I see Lewis as a good ODI player for us and should join the squad then, but for tests I'll give Mahmood the chance.

- Giles: It's ridiculously unfair to consdier leaving him out of the squad. He has served us tremendously at 8 and with the ball, as well as his reliable fielding and experience. We need him out there with Monty to pass on experience and keep Monty confident, although I think Monty will play ahead of Gilo.

As for the captaincy issue, I know Ern won't let go of Freddie doing everybody's job but Strauss has to do it. We need to share the mental load and Strauss has captained excellently against Pakistan, using Monty and the seamers brilliantly. Freddie has to bat and bowl well, and doesn't need to captain (and thus wear himself out completely, which would happen Ern) because I'd back Strauss to replicate MPV and out-captain Ponting.

[flanflinger]

Silly question, but do we know the date when the squads get annouced?

[DaveGillespie]

Tomorrow (Tuesday 12th) at 3pm.

Interestingly, Cricinfo have tipped Tremlett in their preview. Maybe a steer from somewhere?

[Rachael]

Now that WOULD please me... especially if it was in the main party rather than as one of the five extras: Mahmood's been showing signs of real progress in the last two ODI.... but he'd be a real liability in Australia (with every slightly off-line or off-length ball likely to get carted)... where Tremlett doesn't seem to have any problem offering his captain control even if the wonder-balls are rarer.

As a side note... Tremlett can bat: he's no Giles... but he's a better bet at 8 than Mahmood!

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by DaveGillespie

Interestingly, Cricinfo have tipped Tremlett in their preview. Maybe a steer from somewhere?

And no Giles intrestingly!!

[Rachael]

The "extra five players" bit makes selection a lot more interesting.... but in an ideal world it seems to me the five need to be young fringe players: I can't see any merit in having seasoned players like Butcher, Giles, Lewis and co on local standby... if they are fit they need to be in the main squad (possibly carrying drinks), leaving the youngsters to concentrate on net sessions at the academy.

I'd like to see the academy hosting Joyce / Shah, Mahmood, Dalrymple, Broad, Onions.

[Moss]

Tremlett's been in form, and I was surprised he wasn't picked for the one dayers.
Besides, he's already experienced the Aussies, given that he brought drinks out in their presence last year!

[adamberry]

Well, quite.

I was disappointed that Tremlett wasn't picked last year in any of the final XI's, yet this year his bowling's been much better. OK, so he hasn't taken as many wickets, but he's shown himself to be capable of keeping a run rate down and playing a containment role.

I'd probably take Tremlett ahead of either Broad or Mahmood, not sure who though.

[Trescothick]

Butcher anyone??

[greg]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

Butcher anyone??

In place of Trescothick?

Should be on standby in case Tresco lets us down and cries off.