Who will be dropped for the first test of the summer?

[Richard Jenkins]

Now Fletcher has gone I expect a lot more people to be 'dropped' for the first test.
New broom sweeps clean etc.

[pie_chucker]

I dont think it matters who is in charge, our strongest team apart from the WK and maybe 2 batting slots is pretty much nailed down.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Richard Jenkins

Now Fletcher has gone I expect a lot more people to be 'dropped' for the first test.

Yes but the majority of the selectors are still there, and Moores has been part of the set up for a long time, if anything the players you are more likely to see are not the County "performers" like Ramprakash, but more Academy players like Compton and Broad. However, they would have been promoted soon, even if Fletcher had stayed.

[cantplaycantalk]

Well the batting is fairly decent, and I have to agree regarding Strauss lacking form to the same extent as Vaughan.

The bowling has been very "moderate" but with Jones the bowler coming back to fitness and Harmison appearing to have found some form we are probably looking at Hoggy, Harmison, Jones/Anderson (Jones fitness depending) along with freddy and monty.

So only the Keeper is very much up for grabs.

Cook
Vaughan * (I wouldn't but I don't get to make the selection)
Bell
Peiterson
Collingwood
Flintoff
<Keeper>
Jones/Anderson/Plunkett
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar

I include Plunkett because he can actually bat a bit.
Keeps the up and coming Bopara, Mahmood, Broad and Rashid in the county scene for a year or two until they get a bit more experience under the belt.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

Well the batting is fairly decent........

You must be watching a different england side to me ! While I concede the batting looks good ON PAPER, its far from being fairly decent at the moment. Thats why I'd drop freddie down to 7 and play hoggy, monty harmy (dont really want to) and another one-maybe jimmy or plunkett. Most can bowl a few overs and in monty we have a spinner that can attack rather than just fill in for a few overs. 10 overs a day each from vaughan and colly can fill in gilos old role. Hopefully with the extra bat it might ease the pressure from the top order who can hopefully get amongst the runs again.

[cantplaycantalk]

Look at the averages of the England batsmen at the moment,

Cook 43
Strauss 43
Bell 43
Pieterson 49
Collingwood 42
Flintoff 32

OK so when is the last time all of the England top 5 had averages over 40?
OK so we just got stuffed in Australia, that was heavily down to the quality of the Australian team and the injuries and poor form of our bowlers.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I dont doubt their pedigree (apart from freddie the bat) which is why I not saying to drop anyone. PLaying 6 proper bats and freddie at 7 will help take pressure all concerned plus which ever keeper comes in he'll have a chance ot shine without having to come in when the chips are down......hopefully.

If we ever get to the stage where the batting is much stronger than the bowling (i cant remember the last time it was) then maybe change it around and put fredelo back at 6. But after the winter we've had, lets batten down the hatches a bit rather than going out to win in 3 days !

[flanflinger]

To me we have a very strong batting line up, but sadly the Aussies were at a different level. I would be very keen to play them now Warne, McGarth and Langer have retired.

We were also hampered by a terrible fixture list, a laid back attitude and key personnel out through injury.

The fact remains we are still no 2 in the World at Test Cricket, and the team we play next are at the bottom end and are in even more difficulties than us at the moment. If Vaughan fails against the West Indies, then we may have to think about a change at the top.

The idea put forward of resting a guy who has been out for 12 months is ridiculous. Give him two championship games, and he should be well prepared for a team we thrashed 4-0 in the last two series we played them (plus they are without the only man who really bothered us - Brian Charles Lara)

[Younis Khan #1]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

To me we have a very strong batting line up, but sadly the Aussies were at a different level. I would be very keen to play them now Warne, McGarth and Langer have retired.

We were also hampered by a terrible fixture list, a laid back attitude and key personnel out through injury.

The fact remains we are still no 2 in the World at Test Cricket, and the team we play next are at the bottom end and are in even more difficulties than us at the moment. If Vaughan fails against the West Indies, then we may have to think about a change at the top.

The idea put forward of resting a guy who has been out for 12 months is ridiculous. Give him two championship games, and he should be well prepared for a team we thrashed 4-0 in the last two series we played them (plus they are without the only man who really bothered us - Brian Charles Lara)

You never know, that might inspire them.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

OK so we just got stuffed in Australia, that was heavily down to the quality of the Australian team and the injuries and poor form of our bowlers.

Yep the injuries to Trescothick was the biggest blow, and the state of Harmison's mind was another, neither should have been picked for the tour to Australia.

As for the England batsmen averages, well the don't tell the whole story by a long way - either England has Bell who has failed against Australia twice, Collingwood is worth a run - Cook has a decent average, but only over a short time.

Strauss is badly out of form, I think the way he played with Cook in Australia shows he is not capain material.

Pietersen is the only automatic batting choice.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cook - deserves to be included.

Pietersen - deserves to be included.

Collingwood - deserves a longer trial.

Flintoff - is a better Test batsman than a one day batsman, is best kept at 6 if he regains his form.

Vaughan - Should be given a little while longer, but his lack of form has been prolonged.

Read - should be an automatic choice at #7.

Hoggard - automatic choice

Harmison - Austomatic choice for this summer only

Jones if fit, Mahmood if he is not.

Panesar or Giles if fit.

I can't think who would fill the missing batsman spot - Ramp's maybe.