Four weeks to go to the first test

[Speedboy Salesman]

I really do feel a bit sorry for Read, After Jones was dropped he got a lot of attention, then it was taken away from him again, for the Ashes 06 and the ODI series after. I hope he does, but surely Nixon can't be the Test keeper as well?

[Notts Exile]

I don't believe Nixon is good enough with the bat for Tests. His scoring shots are very much based around the sweep and he has been found out when the quicker bowlers have come on. If Read's batting ability at Test level is questioned then Nixon's not the answer. It's a three way choice for me: Prior, Foster or Davies.

[Verso]

Does anyone think that the OBRIEN the Irish lad has a chance?

He was at KENT last year but has moved on to Northants to get regular cricket as he knew JONES wouldn't be keeping for England..........

[Notts Exile]

O'Brien's a very gritty cricketer, lots of guts and determination. What's his keeping like? The Windies pitches have been slow and in the main have made keeping look quite easy. I'd want to see him starting the season well with bat and gloves, no different to what I'd expect with all of the others.

I notice Geraint Jones has started in dropping catches form already!!

[Speedboy Salesman]

Geraint Jones will probably never play for England again. He's clearly not up to England standard.

Strauss (c)
Cook
Shah
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Read (wkt)
Harmison/Jones
Hoggard
Panesar

[Younis Khan #1]

Not many people seem to think that England will play 4 bowlers and then flintoff, the all-rounder?

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Flintoff is no more an allrounder at the moment that I am. Pick him for his bowling and potential low order biffing, maybe even get him into form, but to play him at 6, even with the WI in apparent disarray, would be a liability.

On a seperate note, no Vaughan Mr Speedboysalesman ?

[cantplaycantalk]

Well the commentators at Leicester seemed impressed with Phil Mustard from Durham opening the innings on Sunday. Funnily we also have Gary Park as our reserve wicket keeper who I think should be in the Durham team as a batsman alone. He only played 2 CC matches last season but racked up 256 runs at an average of 128 with a century and a fifty, one to watch if and when he gets into the Durham 1st XI again, just remember he is a keeper even if he doesn't get to play as one while Mustard is in the same team.

[adamberry]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

O'Brien's a very gritty cricketer [...] What's his keeping like?

He is a very good keeper, as are most that come out of Kent's ranks. He is probably best standing up close to the wicket, but is just as good standing back (but not too far - he does seem to like putting pressure on the batsman). He isn't spectacular: I can't remember a single occasion where he even attempted a Jones-esque dive in front of first slip in the two or three years I watched him.

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

I notice Geraint Jones has started in dropping catches form already!!

And not scoring any runs either - no change from the norm then.

And Speedboy - can't see Shah getting in, no matter how heavy his weight of runs are!

[darksideofthemoon]

I have gone for a team and picked a reserve for each player in case of injuries. Vaughan to play county cricket until the next series as he has been out for so long. Then he has to force his way back in. I can't think of one player in county cricket to replace KP.

1. Strauss - Vaughan
2. Cook - Shah
3. Bell - Compton
4. Pietersen -
5. Collingwood - Joyce
6. Flintoff - Gidman
7. Read - Foster
8. Harmison - Broad
9. Jones - Plunkett
10. Panesar - Rashid
11. Hoggard - Anderson