England team for the 1st Test vs WI

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

He's not CAPABLE of justifying selection: he's just not got it in him to be a fitting heir to the likes of Bob Taylor and Jack Russell.[...]THE GUY CAN'T 'KEEP!

Prior is the best pick being that Read won't be picked, with respect Rachael sounds like you are willing to settle for second best with Foster - who unless I am mistaken does not have as good a stats keeping than Prior thus far this season.

In any case if Prior is that bad - then the selectors might see the error of their ways, and bring back Read.

G O Jones would have been a better selection for that reason.

As for the rest of the side - they may beat the West Indies, but if this is the best side England have to offer, they can forget the Ashes in 2009.

Picking an out of form player as captain is ludicrous.

[pie_chucker]

I though that Strauss had just scored a ton??

Come on Ern, this team would beat any other test test team (apart from Aus) easily. Its also (Prior apart) the strongest team we could have picked and given that the Aussies wont have Warne, McGrath and possibly Gilchrist in 2009 this team would give them a damn good run for their money!

I'm not convinced about Prior and would rather see Foster given a go but I am prepared to give Prior a chance to win me over, you never know he may be one of those players who will raise his game for test cricket.

[cantplaycantalk]

Well come 2009 we will have the additional options of Broad and Rashid to add to the bowling and in so doing extend the batting, we will also have that much more time for the young players to gain experience of international cricket, and the added possability that some of the good young batsmen may be pushing even harder on the door, and that all these promising young keepers who are scoring runs for fun at the moment may also have made the move up.
Add to that the potential for S Jones to make a comeback and the fact that we last played them with half the team either injured or badly out of form and they are now without Warne and McGrath and I think we will have every chance of wiping the floor with them.

[Trescothick's Footwork]

Originally Posted by Ernest

.Picking an out of form player as captain is ludicrous.

They didn't pick Flintoff!

[Moss]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Picking an out of form player as captain is ludicrous.

Well, as we usually take an in form player, give him the captaincy and then ruin his form, surely it's just a case of cutting out the middle man?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Moss

surely it's just a case of cutting out the middle man?

Well if that's true - and I don't see no reason why, then why not run the England side by a committee?, could not have been worse in the Ashes or the world Cup.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Trescothick's Footwork

They didn't pick Flintoff!

No that does not matter, although I am sure the England selectors could have shown a little more imagination than picking Strauss as captain, the man can't score a run at international level.

[pie_chucker]

What would your alternate team be than Ern??

Baring in mind it would have to be superior to the team selected, which IMO is impossible.

Or is it just the choice of skipper you are unhappy with and if so, who would you have as skipper??

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by pie_chucker

What would your alternate team be than Ern??[...]Baring in mind it would have to be superior to the team selected, which IMO is impossible.

• A Cook
• C J Adams*
• R key
• K Pietersen
• M Ramprakash
• A Flintoff
• P Collingwood/Panesar
• M Prior+
• M Hoggard
• J Anderson
• L Plunkett

Originally Posted by pie_chucker

Or is it just the choice of skipper you are unhappy with and if so, who would you have as skipper??

I believe that the skipper should have been Flintoff, not because I have always supported him as a player - but because I think he is the right man for the job in Vaughan's absence.
The stupid thing is that he is not vice captain is not a cricketing reason, it was his antics on the pedalo only.
Failing that I think a player the likes of C Adams, or J Gallion could have been given a run.

[pie_chucker]

Originally Posted by Ernest

• A Cook
• C J Adams*
• R key
• K Pietersen
• M Ramprakash
• A Flintoff
• P Collingwood/Panesar
• M Prior+
• M Hoggard
• J Anderson
• L Plunkett

Whilst that team would beat the Windies, just, you are willing to leave out our best fast bowler (Harmison) for Anderson who at the moment is as much a test bowler as I am! As he would hardly bowl more than 15 overs an innings you are putting a lot of pressure on to Hoggard and Flintoff.

Strauss who averages over 40 for Adams who average 18ish and is in fine from has captained Sussex brilliantly this season
Bell who averages 40+ for Key who averages 30ish
Ramps in who averages 27 and who will fail due to the pressure on him not to.........


As for who is captain I dont think it will matter too much, come the second test Vaughan will be back in charge so the Strauss/ Flintoff debate will be over.