Can we win with this England Squad

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

These are the entrusted men for the retention of the Ashes and I believe in them.

Colly, were they fit the majority of us would have no issues. But, the fact of the matter is that Giles thought his career was over a few months ago. Do we really know if he will ever bowl as well again as he did last summer?? Do we know if Jimmy Anderson will go straight back to bowling as he was in Mumbai? We remember the last Ashes tour when Freddie and Gough travelled unfit and did nothing. We remember the long line of fast bowlers shipped out to Oz only to return crocked. I just wonder if we learned anything.

[Collyisamackem]

We don't know that, but there are still two months to go. What if Anderson gets Champions Trophy games under his belt and gets fit in time? Or Giles for that matter (though it would be harsh on Dalrymple and Yardy)?

[Cliff-UK]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Colly, were they fit the majority of us would have no issues.

We can chill on this score. Ther is rthe reserve squad of 14 players - check out who's in it. It's reproduced in an earlier post from me in this thread.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Cliff-UK

RS Bopara (Essex), SC Broad (Leicestershire), R Clarke (Surrey), JMW Dalrymple (Middlesex), SM Davies (Worcestersire, wkt), EC Joyce (Middlesex), RWT Key (Kent), J Lewis (Gloucestershire), G Onions (Durham), MJ Prior (Sussex, wkt), OA Shah (Middlesex), TC Smith (Lancashire), CT Tremlett (Hampshire), MH Yardy (Sussex).

Don't know why but this excites me more than the announceing of the actual squad (too predictable)- Bopara, Broad, Smith and Davies, all young guys in the start of their careers, who could go onto great things.

It is good to see the selectors continuing to look forwards and it just proves the depth of young talent we have out there..

[Cliff-UK]

I agree Flanster- no surprises in the main squad but we now know who is definitely in the frame over the nexxt few years. And it will be exciting to find one of these lads getting an Ashes test if someone does have to pull out. Bopara could be an amazing cricketer. But could Broad stun the Aiussies like his Dad. Fantastic to see it.

[Alison]

I'm rather concerned at the number of players in the squad, including the captain, who are currently injured...

Particularly since after the past year I have no confidence in the assessments given by the medical team...

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Alison

Particularly since after the past year I have no confidence in the assessments given by the medical team...

Four diagnoses proving to be somewhat askance is indeed pretty worrying. I am not all that in favour of taking injured players, perticularly ong-term injured players. Exceptions can be made for key players such as Freddie, and his injury is the shortest term of the bunch. But taking Anderson and especially Giles? I like our Ashley, but he hasn'y played any cricket this year, and I haven't heard any news of great progress. I fear Ash may turn out to be useful only for his steady handling of a drinks tray.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by greg

My feelings about Tresco are well documented and i am amazed about Anderson being picked.

Well England need to keep the team to play in the Tests as near as possible to the Ashes winning side of 2005.

We have lost Simon Jones but if England are relying on one player then they won't win the Ashes.

I don't see a problem with Anderson - he has some overs in which to get fit - seeing Broad I don't think he is ready yet.

Lewis could come in if Hoggard is injured, but only for that reason - it was stage that a lot was made by commentators about Mahmood going for 20+ at the Oval - so did Lewis, it was deadly batting, rather than poor bowling.

Yes England can and probably will retain the Ashes with this squad, to be honest it is more than I dared hope for.

I wonder if some England players have been to a secret boot camp, strange they are nearly all fit to go now.

[Alison]

Originally Posted by Ernest

strange they are nearly all fit to go now.

I wish I could feel as confident as you do that they are nearly all fit to go, unfortunately, the shambles the medical team have been making of diagnosing and treating players' injuries this past year makes me worry that several of the currently unjured players will break down before the first Test...

[Rachael]

Can England win with this squad? Only if the management have a MASSIVE change of heart before the series starts: the squad is weighted around playing five batsmen and bowling the Aussies out for peanuts... where the only hope lies in an extra batsman and looking to bat the Aussies out of every game.

The Aussies will go into each game thinking "we cannot lose" because they KNOW they have the batting to bat for so long on ANY true pitch against ANY attack that the their worst-case scenario is a draw. England need to start with the same confidence.

Winning two games (though a notable achievement) is going to lose a well-deserved gloss if the Aussies win the other three games: winning two and batting out time in the others would be far, far more impressive.

ps. Even THINKING that one could win a series WITHOUT having the batting to bat out draws is obnoxiously arrogant, displaying uncalled for contempt for worthy opponents: either arrogance or ignorance, as the only other explanation is failure to recognise that Aussie pitches are almost always VERY true and rarely give bowlers a chance.