The Ashes 2006/07: The Brisbane Test Thread - Day Two

[Richard Jenkins]

Let's just get through this test first and see what happens. Then we can make changes if we need to.

I've thought that Giles chips were cooked for a long time and that Panisar was the way to go. But that's just gut feeling. But Giles did attack .
Harmison looks well out of sorts and we haven't got a bowler to back him up.
We need Collingwood to bowl a bit more as harmison cant do the job. Not that collingwood is a world class bowler though.

Flintoff needs to say something in the field . The dictum 'the best leadership is to set an example' is all well and good, but his tactics are a bit poor.

There is no inswing here cos the kookabooro ball does'nt swing. that's wat did Australia last time.

Our attack last time

Simon Jones...... injured and not in squad
Steve Harmison not match fit
Giles .... coming back from injury
Collingwood.... didn't take any wickets
Freddy.... coming back from injury
Hoggard....
Bell didn't take any wickets
Vaughan didn't take any wickets


So by my reckoning we've got hoggard who's experienced and panisar who's not who are 100%

Those bowling stats so far...(from cricinfo)

Bowling O M R W Econ

SJ Harmison 30 4 123 1 4.10 (1nb, 6w)
MJ Hoggard 31 5 98 2 3.16 (1nb)
JM Anderson 29 6 141 1 4.86 (1w)
A Flintoff 30 4 99 4 3.30 (3nb, 1w)
AF Giles 25 2 91 1 3.64

It begs the question why no Collingwood? why no Bell, why no peterson or even Cook? why no 'mix it up'? Even a few overs of 'dolly dibblers' would have been interesting. Instead we get 'marching up and down the square' monty python style captaincy.

They all went for 100 ish! Why isnt Strauss saying to Freddy 4look ols stick why not try something else' Come to that why ren't the team gelling?

A team has its own dynamic but this england one has none (whereas vaughan made sure there was a dynamic last time)

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Oliver

How about dropping Duncan Fletcher for Rod Marsh?

Lots of folk used to argue that Fletcher was a great Test coach but poor ODI coach: the tone of recent posts suggests others are coming to share my view that there's not a huge difference between his ability in each discipline.

One definite change for the next Test: Panesar in for one of the seamers. It's too soon to say whether Anderson, Harmison or both should make way as the second innings gives each a chance to get more balls in the right areas. The management also need to see how the rest of the batting performs and how Flintoff responds to his workload: Joyce may yet need to come in as an additional batsman.

That said... I certainly don't see any reason to dispute the majority of the places in the side: it would be mad to change Strauss, Cook, Bell, Collingwood, Pietersen, Flintoff, Giles and Hoggard at this juncture!

ps. How about Vaughan back as captain for the third Test if England are 2-0 down? :-)

[The Worker]

It's too soon to say whether Anderson, Harmison or both should make way as the second innings gives each a chance to get more balls in the right areas

Second Innings?? Australia's second innings?

Can't see that happening!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Unfortunately Ern, I was not surprised with the bowling. Freddie and the Hogster bowled almost as one would expect[...]. Harmison did the same.

This is a carbon copy thus far of when flintoff and Hoggard carried the bowling in South Africa when Harmison was homesick - and played horrible there also, Harmison should IMO not tour.

Originally Posted by NE

I can't believe that Monty wouldn't have got any more out of the pitch, KP sure did.

I don't know - Iam glad in a way he was not there to be dragged down with the mood, if there was a reason for playing him, that's because Giles has not played for months, I think IMO it was the seamers that let England down.

Originally Posted by flanflinger 119863

What Changes would you make??

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Bring in Mahmood - who is wild and unpredicatable for the bowlers who were wild and unpredictable??

Simple - to get wickets, don't tell me he could have done worse than bowl a delivery to Flintoff at 2nd slip.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Giles was on a hiding to nothing, and bowled slower, tossed the ball up and bowled from round the wicket.

I don't think it matters about Giles - he gets it on his batting, he has not done that much thus far though - has he?.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Bring in Read for Jones, but he made no obvious mistakes.

Well he got plenty of catching practice from Harmison, I have give up on this one, I am resigned to Jones being in the side, so i don't really care.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

I know you will call for Key, but his record against Australia is hardly one to get the Aussie bowlers worried??

I am glad you brought this up FF, key has not that good a record against Australia - but them again neither has your favourite 'Bell' who England are pinning there hope on tomorrow, if Bell gets another chance, then why not Key.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

So what changes would you propose???

Wait until after we see how Harmison bowls if England don't lose by an innings.

Vaughan is sniffing arround, why can't he play even with a runner, and drop Cook, and bring in Mahmood for either Harmison/Giles/Anderton - could he do worse.
Fit key in if Vaughan is to bad - at least he will have a go.

Originally Posted by Oliver 119865

How about dropping Duncan Fletcher for Rod Marsh?

Or make him keeper player coach - and make him captain.

[Richard Jenkins]

Spot on Worker

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Richard Jenkins

Let's just get through this test first and see what happens. Then we can make changes if we need to...

So by my reckoning we've got hoggard who's experienced and panisar who's not who are 100%

SO what you're saying is: "leave well alone because our coach is in command, he knows what he's doing and he's brought to Australia to play the number one side in the world a truck load of unfit bowlers because they'll all be fit one day, which is OK by him."

Are you a football fan Richard? In this summer just gone, an unemotional foreign national guided the England team into the "greatest show on earth" and took in his squad four strikers two of whom were returning from injury (initially - before one of them injured himself again) an untried callow youth and an awkward gangly individual with not too much confidence and little control.

Sound familiar.

Suffice to say England were bundled out of "the greatest show on earth" practically without kicking a ball in anger.

Perhaps the limpest display I have ever seen from that quarter.

I am so glad that I failed to obtain a ticket for the first day of the Brisbane Test. I would have been incandescent with rage watching that unutterable skcollob.

[Richard Jenkins]

what I'm saying is its a bit late to make changes on day two; Lets see whathappens and then make changes. And make them quicly.
Harmeson should go. Freddy shouldn't be captain.(or Fletcher should say freedy makes the decisions but everyone gets an input)
at the moment England are playing park cricket

[Richard Jenkins]

Besides, if peterson and freddy get in they could break a few records (or a few windows) (its a big if I know)

lets just see; But based on observations so far I agree with much of what you say Oliver

[Richard Jenkins]

i'm more a rugby fan (and have no hope at all about England winning in france 2007) . I tried to get tickets as I live near nates (where wales will play) but failed miserably.

Any way. back to the cricket.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Rachael

How about Vaughan back as captain for the third Test if England are 2-0 down? :-)

Vaughan should go home and stop giving press conferences which make it sound as though he is the captain and not Andrew Flintoff - who may not be doing a fantastically good job, but at least he is fit(-ish) has been given the metaphorical armband and is out there.

The last thing anyone needs in a perceived position of authority is somebody else giving cosy public chats on his behalf while casually mentioning that he'll soon be fit enough to rejoin the fray and someone will have to be dropped to let him in the side.

Think about it Vaughan and SHUT up.