Dropping Monty

[England_Fan_Lee]

Originally Posted by engssmoothcriminal

A tour? I think you'll find that we've moved past such dated notions as "A tours" and our A tea..... sorry National Academy Progra.... sorry England Performance Programme will be honing their skills in a "High Performance Camp" this winter. God help us .

EPP squad announced - Elite Player Development Programme - England - ECB

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire)
Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Steven Davies (Worcestershire)
Joe Denly (Kent)
James Hildreth (Somerset)
Phil Mustard (Durham)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Chris Schofield (Surrey)
James Tredwell (Kent)
Chris Tremlett (Hampshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)

Looks like Anderson has yet another tour carrying the drinks for the test side lined up.

No lancashire players like Mal Loye?

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

I think the bowlers will be Hoggard, Sidebottom, Harmison and Tremlett and without a Flintoff they will have to play 3 fast bowlers.

In Sri Lanka!! Seriously the bowlers should be Hoggard for control and the new ball, Harmison for pace (used in small bursts), Panesar and Swann. With Collingwood, Vaughan, KP and Bell used as back up, and if selected Shah or Bopara.


That would be my bowling unit.

[greg]

Sounds about right that Flanflinger,the keeper will bat at 7 so i presume we will have the same top 6 as the summer so that leaves only 4 spots for bowlers and you need 2 spinners so Harmison and Hoggard will take the new ball.I guess Tremlett and Sidebottom will be like for like replacements should there be any injuries and Anderson will be a waiter again.

[Rachael]

If any pitch warrants three seamers then I suspect Hoggard, Sidebottom and Harmison will (if fit) play... but if, as expected, pitches only warrant two seamers... someone's going to have to make a tough decision. At his best, Harmison would obviously merit a spot... but I suspect the strongest new-ball pairing will be Hoggard and Sidebottom... and that the next best option might be Anderson!!!

I'd be inclined to back the following line-up...

Cook
Vaughan
Bell
Pietersen
Shah
Collingwood
<'keeper>
Swann
Sidebottom
Hoggard
Panesar

I'll reserve my thoughts on the 'keeper in the interests of keeping the thread on track

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Rachael

but I suspect the strongest new-ball pairing will be Hoggard and Sidebottom...

If we go that route we may as well give them the trophy now. Sidebottom and Hoggard cannot play in the same England team, they are too similar in pace. If Harmison doesn't get into the team, then it has to be Tremlett, purely because he brings the extra height.

For me Hoggard and Harmison would be the first choice, if there are only two seamers.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Naturally the pitches in Sri Lanka (and everywhere else in that Indian subcontinent region) are very good for spin bowling, so 2 spinners will only natural. However, if they only play one spinner for some crazy reason, IMO it must be Panesar, at the expense of the better batsman Swann. Panesar is a natural Test spinner. And as for the seamers, I think Rachael's pick of Hoggard and Sidebottom IMO wouldn't work, because they don't have enough pace, are too much alike (apart from the obvious reason that Sidebottom bowls left handed and Hoggard is right handed), but I think the problem lies with the out and out quicks. No Flintoff, which is naturally a shame because although his batting has suffered and probably wouldn't improve in Sri Lanka (he has never been good against spin I think), Harmison IMO could do with a kick up the **** and sent back to Durham for a bit of a break from playing for England. But, with Tremlett so raw and inexperienced, Harmison (sadly I think) probably will be the "FAST" bowler. With Collingwood (and maybe even Bell) backing up with some medium pace bowling, I think we're ok. (Sorry I'll never class Collingwood as a Test all rounder).


Cook
Vaughan (c)
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Shah
Prior *sob* (wk)
Swann
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by engssmoothcriminal

A tour? I think you'll find that we've moved past such dated notions as "A tours" and our A tea..... sorry National Academy Progra.... sorry England Performance Programme will be honing their skills in a "High Performance Camp" this winter. God help us .

Looks like Anderson has yet another tour carrying the drinks for the test side lined up.

I thought the EPP squad which would evolve into the Lions touring squad would be like a 2nd XI for the Test side but it is full of younger players.

In addition to providing an ideal environment for members of the EPP to develop their skills, the High Performance Camp will also help to ensure that stand-by players for the England Test squad’s tour of Sri Lanka are well prepared in the event of any call-ups.

So likely bowlers will be Hoggard, Harmison, Sidebottom and Anderson (drinks carrier) unless Harmison picks up another injury in South Africa where he is supposed to be going to get some match practice beforehand. Then one of Broad or Tremlett should get a call.

[pie_chucker]

Originally Posted by Rachael

... but I suspect the strongest new-ball pairing will be Hoggard and Sidebottom...

On a damp, overcast day at Leeds on a greentop in May perhaps

There will be little lateral movement on offer and 2 meduim pacers are hardly going to frighten Sri Lanka. What they wont be keen on is facing someone genuinely quick who can get the ball through even on a dead pitch, someone like Flintoff (sadly injured) or Harmison.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by pie_chucker

On a damp, overcast day at Leeds on a greentop in May perhaps

I wonder just how damp and overcast the conditions were here: Cricinfo - 2nd Test: Australia v England at Adelaide, Dec 1-5, 2006

Oh look... Matthew Hoggard took 7 wickets (including Hayden, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey and Clarke) at 15.57 whilst going at 2.59 per over... and that's delivering 42 overs in the innings, not some single, flash in the pan, dream spell.

Moreover... the guy's subcontinental record includes his six Tests in India: 208.4 overs, 22 wickets at 23.31 with an economy rate of 2.45 and strike rate of 56.9.

No guarantees... but there's a reason he's rated in the world's top 10.

Oh... and as for the left armer... many said he would be taken apart in the ODIs... and he's been great... and let's face it... there's another left arm medium pacer in world cricket who's record in Sri Lanka is nothing short of outstanding!

[feverpitch]

Rachael - I think there's a strong case for Hoggard and Sidebottom, though my selection would be based on the form everyone shows before the first Test.

Naturally I would have Ramps in at three - according to Colville it could happen, but I somehow doubt it.