Team for the 1st Test

[Moss]

That would make sense, but Harmison is a Fletcher favourite, so even if he plays poorly, he won't be dropped.
Look at the track record of player's whose form has dipped but are Fletcher favourites.

[danandi1]

don't think the selection matters as much as many are suggesting. We have a squad filled with very good players, we cannot know who will perform on the day.

It will make negligable difference if Bell and cook bat at 2 and 3 or 3 and 2. Jones and read are good keepers who can bat. Giles and panesar are both good spinners who can take wickets.

You can look at statistics, but all it comes down to is the performance in these five tests which is too small a performance frame for these differances to come through.

If it goes wrong people are always going to say we should have played so-and-so but you can never tell what will happen.

Personally I would go for:
Strauss
Cook
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Jones
Mahmood/Anderson
Harmison
Panesar
Hoggard

[flanflinger]

Can't see why you would have Anderson or Mahmood, Anderson has been vastly superior in the warm ups. No question in my mind that he should be in the XI, and Mahmood should only come in if Harmison is unfit..

[south beds mikey]

Originally Posted by greg

Nooooooooooooooooo.

We can't leave out Monty and play Giles but i have a horrible feeling it will happen.

Just wanted to add my whole hearted support here for Greg. I know I'm hugley biased here but surely we must pick bowlers who are more likely to take wickets, not who are more likely to get the most runs. For the same reason Harmy ABSOLUTELY must play. One of the few England bowlers who the Aussies have genuine respect for in recent years. The Gabba should be right up his alley and hopefully his best mate can get the best from him. Still believe Strauss should be skipper not because Freddy is not up to it, I just believe his work load is huge as it is. Not long to go now. COME ON BOYS!!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

No question in my mind that he should be in the XI, and Mahmood should only come in if Harmison is unfit..

It's a strange one with Mahmood FF - I don't think he is here as cover for Harmison, he can swing the ball - but Hoggard is fit, I think he was selected with Simon Jones being injured in mind, he does take wickets.

[flanflinger]

Fine, but it appears that he lost his battle with Anderson (for Jones slot) very early on in the tour, so his only hope was that Harmison was unfit.