Can I ask what Read has done wrong in Tests since his return?

His TWO match return!

Yes, he had a poor Champions Trophy. So did Harmison, Flintoff etc etc etc.

Fletcher, as Rachael says, is absolutely <insert expletive> useless.

I just knew Jones would play the first and indeed subsequent tests.

Panesar should play instead of Giles - he is by far the better bowler.

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Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi

If Mahmood is too inconsistent and Flintoff has not bowled him at all why not drop Mahmood for this game and play Read and see the difference between the two in the same game. I think Fletcher had already made his mind up and didn't play Read in case he did better than Jones.

I have always had the feeling - and, sadly no evidence - that Fletcher has a personal dislike of Read. Of course, that is speculation.

Some of things said in Fletcher's interview about Mahmood, Jones and the two spinners seem to me like he's lost the plot.

Time for a new coach!

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Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi

I really believe this is a dubious decision and most likely the wrong one however Fletcher and Fred both agree and they are the ones who train with the keepers every day so who are we too judge? Maybe Read has been poor in the nets and they feel he is not up to the job!

Just one question Rachael, does the coach have the final say in who should be in the eleven? I thought that was the captain...I agree Fletcher's supposed logic in dropping Read and possibly as many members of this board pretict later on Penesar too doesn't exist, but doesn't the captain have the final say in this matter? If Flintoff had the sense he would have either persudaed Fletcher to change his mind, or gone ahead with picking Read regardless of what Fletcher thought. Your criticism of Fletcher is valid, no doubt, but I'd criticise the captain just as much, cause I consider the captain not the caoch to be have the final veto power in on-tour selection commitee that choses the XI from the XVI / XV man squad. May be this is different in the England set up, in which case please enlighten me.

Over all though, I agree with the majority, players shouldn't be picked or dropped from one format of the game because of their form or lack of it in another form of the game. To drop Read is just wrong. And I don't know for sure who has the final say in picking the XI, but I'd still count that as mistake equally on both Fletcher and Flintoff's part.

I have always thought Read was the better choice. But I can't say he looks an improved batsmen since coming back. It was always a close call between the two of them, and Read would of sealed it with a decent batting performance. He failed to do so and Fletcher's doubts were still in place.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

I think you may be right. I think Flintoff's overall captaincy (and I don't just mean this decision) is going to be found seriously wanting this Winter.

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Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi

Actually, if anyone can help on this point as it relates to the England set up, I'd be as interested to learn the answer as Zainub. Traditionally, it was the captain's job to choose the XI when a team toured, but in the days of the shrunken world (shrunken by affordable air travel, that is) and of an enormous touring party camping in Western Australia, is that still the case?

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

My understanding is that the manager and captain chose the side between them. We know what Fletcher thinks of Read, he's made that pretty obvious over the years. Read only played at Headingley because Miller and Graveney both wanted him there. Now, just as at St John's, Antigua; they're not there to back Read.

Unfortunately Giles will probably play too. And if Vaughan is fit for the 3rd Test he'll probably play as well. Hang on, if Simon Jones can get down there then Fletcher will probabaly select hm too!! The man has lost the plot.

In fairness, Fletcher is on record (BBC this morning) as saying that he very much doubts Vaughan will play any part in The Ashes.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan