Yahoo! - Harmison ruled out of first Indian Test

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by Yahoo!

LONDON (Reuters) - England fast bowler Steve Harmison has been ruled out of this week's first Test against India because of a hernia problem.

His place in the 13-man squad for the match starting on Thursday at Lord's goes to Hampshire seamer Chris Tremlett.
Harmison was assessed by a member of England's medical staff on Sunday and will find out on Tuesday if he needs surgery.
In an ECB statement chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "We have taken the precaution of adding Chris Tremlett to the squad following confirmation this morning that Stephen Harmison will not be available.
"Chris performed well in the recent England Lions tour match against India and his inclusion will give us additional options when we come to decide on our starting eleven."

I don't understand why Tremlett gets the nod. Last time he was in England colours he did absolutely nothing.

[Collyisamackem]

Yes, especially since Onions outbowled him against India. However, Tremlett must have some talent and as long as he shows it I'll be happy, though Broad will be picked ahead of him so I don't expect he'll have the chance. Looking like the team for the first test will be:

Strauss, Cook, Vaughan*, KP, Colly, Bell, Prior+, Broad, Hoggard, Sidebottom, Panesar.

[Speedboy Salesman]

I suppose that team is ok, but I think England now really miss a decent fast bowler with express pace.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

I suppose that team is ok, but I think England now really miss a decent fast bowler with express pace.

Exactly - the team is ok - but nothing special, Broad - Sidebottom and hoggard in the same side "without" a pace bowler will be boring, until Harmison or Flintoff recovers - Mahmood could well have resumed taking wickets, albeit at an expensive rate.

[Speedboy Salesman]

that's what I think, Ern. I mean when we had Harmison, he was expensive and a lot of the time he bowled very badly but he had the odd moment to shine with very fast deliveries completely fooling batsman. India will probably have no worries against a pace attack that has no variation (like the West Indies in a couple of tests not long ago). Panesar will once against take a bagful of wickets and be everybody's hero again. He will have to outspin the spin kings.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

India will probably have no worries against a pace attack that has no variation

Um.. Hoggard is a world top ten seamer, best known now for his exemplay new ball bowling and for his excellent cutters in last winter's Adelaide Test. Sidebottom offers a startling contrast by virtue of being left arm over. Broad towers over the pair of them and can offer steepling bounce and seam movement.

Lack of variation is one charge that cannot be levelled at this lineup!

[Speedboy Salesman]

We'll see Rach, but a pace attack that has no extreme pace with not trouble the likes of Tendulkar or Dravid.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Speedboy Salesman

but a pace attack that has no extreme pace with not trouble the likes of Tendulkar or Dravid.

The only two bowlers in the world who bowl at extreme pace are Akhtar and Lee, Harmison is very quick (at times) but most of his real damage is caused not by his pace, but by his height and the resulting bounce... Broad will be similar.. he managed five wickets against India in the warm up game, there is no reason he can't do the same at Lords.

I really don't think Pace along will trouble the Indians, but they will be troubled by late movement and bounce. Sidebottom, Hoggard and Broad will compliment each other in producing those type of deliveries, all from different angles of attack.

For me Rachael is right, Hoggard, Sidebottom and Broad all offer something different. I would not be tempted to play a "faster" bowler (like Mahmood) who only really has pace as his weapon (Saj does not have the control to consistently produced reverse swinging Yorkers IMO). I think, with Harmison on the sidelines, Broad is the natural replacement.

I hope he does very well, and proves the sceptical among you wrong.

[TopperHarley]

Some cricket writers seem to believe that without Flintoff, harmison and Jones, England have nothing tooffer, and indeed, the aussies in 2005 said it was difficult to score at the pace they were used to. That, however, is then, this is now, and it is a fantastic opportunity for a younger bowler to force his way into the team.

Plunkett and Mahmood have tried and failed thus far. Mahmood cannot pitch two balls on a decent line or length, and Plunker occasionally (much like his over-rated mate from durham) cannot land it on the strip on occasion. Anderson will never be a regular as he is too inconsistent. Tremlett seems to have a spectacular lack of bottle, and may be a bed-wetter.

I very much liked Broad saying he would rather be like McGrath or Pollock rather than Harmison. I hope he does well, and he can also show us whether he has any nous with the bat in his hand...

[Collyisamackem]

Bother! Hoggy has a back spasm and is doubtful! He's too good to lose but it would seem that Anderson will play instead - if he could take his county form into that game he could do well but Hoggy would be a big miss.