Andy Flower

[darksideofthemoon]

I think you mean Andy rather than Grant. Did Fletcher and Maynard have any success with batsmen who were called up to the England side and then discarded or can they only coach batsmen they consider good.

I don't think they will drop Shine as he is an Academy pick who has experience in biomechanics which they consider the holy grail. There aren't many coaches around that have that. I think it is a waste of time. If a bowler has been bowling for years without an injury why change his action in case he gets an injury. Bowlers should have been coached when they were younger at their counties on slower balls, cutters, bouncers, yorkers, inswingers outswingers, reverse swingers etc and shouldn't need a coach for that. I would get rid of the batting and bowling coaches and if players have problems they should contact their county coaches or be able to look at a video of their batting or bowling and work out for themselves where they are going wrong. If we are going to pick bowlers that are not the finished article then Hoggard and Harmison should be helping younger bowlers like most of other sides in international cricket but I don't see that happening in matches.

Broad's father didn't want his action changed but Broad didn't agree with his father. I don't know whether his action has been changed but now he has a knee problem and is off to see a specialist. Lewis is off to have an operation on his ankle and after spending some time with England Tremlett had a back problem. Are England just unlucky with their bowlers?

[Harmy's Army]

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

I think you mean Andy rather than Grant.

Oops. Edited.

Sad news for Broad, but he was unlikely to get the nod ahead of Anderson or Plunkett if England go for the extra seamer.

[darksideofthemoon]

Its funny the way it came across on the news - Blow for England. Broad likely to miss the 1st Test with a knee injury. As if he was one of their main bowlers and a certainity to play. He hasn't even been playing much county cricket. The selectors wouldn't even be looking at him in Test cricket until next year. I'm sure Plunkett can fill in until Simon Jones is back especially after his 5 wickets today and runs as well.

[pie_chucker]

I couldnt understand the press either

I would have though that Braod must be about 7th in line to get a game or do the press know something we dont??

[darksideofthemoon]

Maybe they saw him open the bowling in the last ODI for England and thought that he would be opening the Test bowling with Hoggard.

Then we have everyone who has a good day with the bat or ball talked up as 'knocking on England's door'. On Sunday about half the players in county cricket will be waiting to see if the selectors were listening or rather reading the same papers. It is only the start of the season and it's driving me nuts. A season or two with the Academy first would be the way to go and then that is not always foolproof with some players having a great season and joining the Academy and then disappearing again.