Team for the 1st Test

[flanflinger]

Well Ashley will be bowling with Monty in the warm up game. Lots of selection issues still in the mix so please submit your team for the First Test here...(might even give out a prize for the first person to get the team 100% correct!!)

Trescothick
Strauss
Cook
Pietersen
Bell
Flintoff
Read
Hoggard
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar

The changes that I might consider
1. Flintoff is fit to bowl 20 overs a day - remove Anderson and add Collingwood at 6 - Flintoff drops to 7
2. Pitch looks like taking spin - remove Anderson and add Giles at 8
3. Trescothick still seems distracted - remove Trescothick replace with Collingwood - Cook moves to open

[Notts Exile]

I'm worried. I can't disagree with any of that!

[greg]

Sounds sensible to me but i reckon Giles,Mahmood and Jones will all play instead of Panesar,Anderson and Read.

[cantplaycantalk]

Strauss
Cook
Bell
Peitersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Read
Giles/Mahmood
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar

Not sure about Trescothics mental strength at the moment and the others are all averaging very well, also not sure about Tresco's footwork on these fast bouncy? Aussie wickets.
Tresco may well be an excellent player but the rest of them have done nothing to deserve leaving them out and I think he will need to show some very good form in the warm ups to convince me that he has his head screwed on the right way round at the moment.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Well Ashley will be bowling with Monty in the warm up game.

Fletcher has indicated that his first choice line up would be as for last summer... but with a fully-fit Flintoff coming in for Mahmood. That would allow Read to bat at 8 and leave a tail of just Hoggard, Harmison and Panesar.

Fletcher's lack of confidencein Flintoff's bowling-fitness suggests Plan 'B' is going to be adopted. This clearly involves dropping a batsman (probably Collingwood) but I suspect it also means dropping Panesar: a lot will depend on form in the warm up games... but we've already heard that England expect to use the spinner for containment rather than attack in the Brisbane Test.... and I just don't see Fletcher wanting to go into a match with a tail that rivals the classic "Mullally, Tufnell, Malcolm" line up.

If Flintoff bats at six... then unless Mahmood turns in a stunning performance in the warm up games we should perhaps expect 8-9-10-11 to read Giles, Hoggard, Harmison Anderson.

[Collyisamackem]

I think:

Tresco
Strauss
Cook
Pietersen
Bell
Flintoff*
Read+
Mahmood
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar

I'd go with that if Anderson replaced Mahmood, and I really want Colly in but it's clear we'll need to play 5 bowlers so that Fred doesn't collapse.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Rachael

but I suspect it also means dropping Panesar: a lot will depend on form in the warm up games... but we've already heard that England expect to use the spinner for containment rather than attack in the Brisbane Test....

I do worry that Panesar could get omitted, because of the longevity of the tail. However, I am hopefully that Fletcher sees sense and goes with an attacking spinner. I fear he won't though..

I am not certain where you have heard they are looking for a containing spinner though, what is your source on that one?

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

I am not certain where you have heard they are looking for a containing spinner though, what is your source on that one?

I'm pretty sure it was in 2-3 places: must have been either Sunday or Monday in the papers and somewhere online. The gist of the reporting was that England were concerned about getting through the difficult overs after the ball had gone soft.

I think Fletcher was being reported... possibly saying something to the effect that he didn't think even an attacking spinner would pose many problems on the Brisbane pitch: I get the impression the management forsee new-ball breakthroughs from seamers, second-new-ball breakthroughs for seamers and a LOT of toil in between!!!

I shall try and track down the sources later if I get a moment.

[Moss]

Read won't play the first test.

I would bet money on it.

<watch me be wrong>

[TopperHarley]

Tresco
Strauss
Cook
KP
Bell
Fred
GoJo
Giles
Mahmood
Hoggard
Harmison

not my first XI, but the one i believe will be picked.