England v South Africa, Second npower Test:18-23 July - World A-Team Cricket Forum

Ernest · #1 (**permalink**) 17-07-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

Andrew Flintoff will bat at seven in his first Test since January 2007 when England take on South Africa in the second Test at Headingley on Friday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

Paul Collingwood will be dropped if England's bowlers report fit in the morning, with wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose stepping up to bat at number six.
Chris Tremlett and Darren Pattinson have been added to the squad as cover for Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson. Sidebottom and Anderson have both been suffering from sore backs.

I can't understand why Flintoff bats below Ambrose, I am not saying he is a number 6 at the moment - but Ambrose???.

If Anderson and Sidebotton are not fit, then England will play a 4 man attack it seems, only if both seamers are fit - then Flintoff will replace Collingwood - What's the sense in that? - Puts even more pressure on a returning Flintoff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Vaughan

putting Flintoff one place lower than his usual number six position would relieve a little bit of the pressure and let him express himself more easily

Rubbish - Flintoff was promoted to number 6 because he was wasted with the tail, and headed the bating averages more often than not batting at 6 in 2004, and was close in 2005 until after the Ashes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

Flintoff batted at six when England won eight straight Tests in 2004 and when they won the Ashes a year later.

That's when Flintoff and England were at their best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

But Vaughan said: "I always saw him more as a number seven. His style of play is attacking and given the chance he can take the game away from an opposition. He's happy there and feels comfortable

Hm mm, No Michael - If that's the case why did you and Duncan promote Flintoff to 6, could it be because he was holing out on the boundary to often when batting at 7 - I think so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

Meanwhile, South Africa's Neil McKenzie faces a fitness test to decide whether he will play.

Will be a blow for the Saffers if Mckenzie is not fit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

South Africa captain Graeme Smith is prepared for a very different crowd in Leeds.

And hopefully a very different pitch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graeme Smith

I did a function with Michael [Vaughan] last night and he said there would be a few 'cows and pigs' walking around the stadium

Oh - Northern pigs and cows - Smith is right - "It will be different", a crowd of pigs and cows.

Quote:

England (from): Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Chris Tremlett (Hampshire), Darren Pattinson (Nottinghamshire).

Quote:

South Africa (probable): Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie/JP Duminy, Hashim Amla, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.

Please post your pre match, and match comments on this thread.

John

As I said elsewhere on this site I am concerned with picking the same SA bowling attack.
I probably am panicking and it would not be the first time. To paraphase "just because I am parnoid doesn't mean they are not out to get me."
Just cause I am overreacting doesn't mean there is no basis to my panic.
For example when I read Allan Donald say Ninti is "not a shadow of his old self." I think what does Donald know, quiet a bit actually.
Added to this Harris looks a very ordinary spinner who can't bat.
Morkel is new to Test cricket who has not faced a team like England.
So I think there are some concerns there and if Nel replaced Harris tomorrow I think would be the logical decision.

acker

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest

I can't understand why Flintoff bats below Ambrose, I am not saying he is a number 6 at the moment - but Ambrose???.

I think it is a good tactic.

Flintoff needs to know he now is predominantly a bowler, and no matter how many good batting performances he has, he will be judged by what he delivers with the ball. And if he fails to deliver with the ball, his time in test cricket will have passed.

The Phantom Ram

Pattinson plays apparently.

John

Collingwood out no other decision could be made. Its bad for us though.

The Phantom Ram

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Ram

Pattinson plays apparently.

Where has he come from? This will be his 12th first class match.

Notts Exile

Anyone who has seen him bowling for Notts this season won't be too shocked. He's a good bowler who will thrive if the conditions are helpful and will keep it tight if they're not. He's quicker than Sid and bowls a heavier ball. He'll do ok!

John

SA as last Test. As you know I don't agree but the people who do the selecting are a lot closer to the side.

Scott-Wozniak

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Ram

Where has he come from?

Grimbsy via Western Australia apparently!

It's a brave selection and I'm looking forward to seeing how he bowls, but it looks like Hoggard has dropped off the radar for the moment. He may well be just a 'horses for courses' selection, selected for this pitch only.

So it looks like Anderson and Pattinson as the two new ball bowlers and Broad and Flintoff as the two support seam bowlers and Panesar.

At last they play a 5 bowler setup, but playing Ambrose at 6 is madness.

gibbs_fan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Anyone who has seen him bowling for Notts this season won't be too shocked. He's a good bowler who will thrive if the conditions are helpful and will keep it tight if they're not. He's quicker than Sid and bowls a heavier ball. He'll do ok!

Well, if he is the in form bowler, then well done to him. This England side does look more balanced than the previous one. The only concern may just be that with Pattinson an inferior batsman to Sidebottom and Flintoff coming in for Collingwood, Englands lower order does look weaker and if SA make early inroads to the top order, then England may struggle.How does this affect SA's planning. Also, since he was only brought into the squad yesterday, was their enough time to brief him on the tactics for each of the SA batsmen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

SA as last Test. As you know I don't agree but the people who do the selecting are a lot closer to the side.

I would not liked to have seen any drastic changes after just 1 game on a flat pitch as well. This team has done well recently and deserves at least one more chance. SA have won the toss again and have put England in once again. Good decision I think.

Game on

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