Final Ashes Places

[Rachael]

It seems that the bulk of the Ashes squad is self-selecting: the six batsmen who contested the most recent Test at the Oval will go, as will Chris Read, Monty Panesar, Mathew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and (assuming he's fit) James Anderson. That leaves:

One batsman: Vic Marks mentioned Shah and Key, who have had poor domestic seasons, leaving room for a surprise inclusion.

One Wicket-keeper: possibly Jones, but Vic Marks notes he's struggling and Foster has "been in sparkling form with both gloves and bat for Essex this season".

One spinner from Giles and Dalrymple.

Two seamers, presumably from Sajid Mahmood, Stuart Broad, Plunkett, Jon Lewis and Graham Onions.

So.... a stack of candidates but limited places: I'll start a poll of the obvious names but if you want me to add any other names just let me know.

ps. Scyld Berry says "As England's 16 will include two wicketkeepers, it now looks to be: M Trescothick, A Strauss, A Cook, I Bell, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, A Flintoff, C Read, G Jones, A Giles, M Panesar, M Hoggard, S Harmison, S Mahmood, L Plunkett and J Anderson. The five reserves could be R Key, O Shah, J Dalrymple, G Onions and S Broad."

[Ernest]

You won't be surprised at the 6th I have chosen - except that I have Picked Jones as COVER for Read, and Lewis as COVER for Hoggard.

You will not be surprised I have picked Key - county form mean little when a player dons an England kit, Fletcher would do well to remember that.

I wished you had put an option for Ed Smith in your poll.

[Rachael]

My error Ernest... I initially asked for six picks when there are only five places available: you have to choose between Key and Joyce.

[Trescothick]

I opted for O Shah, G Jones, A Giles, S Mahmood and S Broad... Fairly prdictable choices IMO, Mahmood will be first replacement and I don't believe the others will get a game other than possibly Giles if they want two spinners which I hope they don't

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

I don't believe the others will get a game other than possibly Giles if they want two spinners which I hope they don't

So are you expecting Flintoff to be fit to bowl a full workload and bat at 7? Because if not... if he bats at 6... there's a small problem of who bats at 8: Giles is the only very credible candidate.

No-one at TMS liked the idea of dropping Panesar... but they agreed Giles is the obvious choice.

[Trescothick]

Originally Posted by Rachael

So are you expecting Flintoff to be fit to bowl a full workload and bat at 7? Because if not... if he bats at 6... there's a small problem of who bats at 8: Giles is the only very credible candidate.

No-one at TMS liked the idea of dropping Panesar... but they agreed Giles is the obvious choice.

I believe Flintoff will be taken by the occasion and rise as he did before.. He wil have prepared all year for this so I believe he will stand at No 6 and do a brilliant job hopefully...

He won't need to be No 6 either if we're opting for Bell and Collingwood, as risky as that sounds as we will only have Harmison/Hoggard/Flintoff/Panesar

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

My error Ernest... I initially asked for six picks when there are only five places available: you have to choose between Key and Joyce.

No problem Rachael - I am choosing Rob key.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

He won't need to be No 6 either if we're opting for Bell and Collingwood, as risky as that sounds as we will only have Harmison/Hoggard/Flintoff/Panesar

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

[Moss]

Joyce - Key's been a bit rough this season, and didn't have great success in his last tour of Australia. Joyce is new, but I think he shows good potential.
Dalrymple - Giles hasn't played for too long, and he's expected to plunge straight into an Ashes series? Dalrymple offers a bit more with the bat IMHO.
Foster - give him a go. A good season versus Jones's decline.
Mahmood - the lesser of the pace evils!!! He did well today in the pyjama game (although that counts for nothing) but he's still too flaky. I wouldn't pick Broad - to blood him at 20 in Australia is too, too risky. As for Plunkett - no.
Lewis - offers Hoggard-like consistency, accuracy and general cricketing experience.

On the subject of the Ashes, there is no way that Flintoff should be captain. Strauss has shown good leadership skills, whilst continuing to offer batting scores. Flintoff doesn't need this burden/distraction because we need him to perform with both bat and ball. Giving him the captaincy would be a bad mistake.

[adamberry]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I am choosing Rob key.

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?