3rd Ashes Test: Old Trafford, 11-15 August: Pre-Match Thread

[Occasional Fan]

I know that a thread has been opened on this subject in the England forum, but, since that thread is protected by our sanctuary rule, I am also opening this one in a neutral forum in accordance with our usual practice. Please place your pre-match comments here if you want to enter into a non-sanctuary protected debate.

[Doink]

I am waiting to see what Flintoff and Pietersen would do in the 3rd one! Also want to know what fate awaits Ian Bell. He just has to go! Bring back Thorpe and if he's not willing get Collingwood!

[Occasional Fan]

I can't see the selectors changing a winning team, somehow.

[greg]

Why are we playing at Old Trafford?Should be Headingley.If i had my way next time the Aussies come here we would drop Old Trafford and Lords from the schedule as we never win there.

[Occasional Fan]

The Headingley question has been raised several times over the last year or so. I can't find the reason, but my memory is that, at some time, it was stated that there was a ground re-development going on there which made test matches impossible there this year. Is there a Yorkshireman somewhere on the board who can confirm this (or debunk it and tell us the truth)? Virtually all the commentators agree that we should be in Leeds next, not Manchester.

As to the idea of dropping Lord's, Greg, well - we can dream! But it's never going to happen in this traditional game of ours, so let's not dream for too long!

[Doink]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

I can't see the selectors changing a winning team, somehow.

But what does Bell have to contribute to the winning combo? Thorpe or Collingwood could certainly get more runs than him, Collingwood is a class fielder and can bowl too when needed...

[greg]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

As to the idea of dropping Lord's, Greg, well - we can dream! But it's never going to happen in this traditional game of ours, so let's not dream for too long!

But if the roles were reversed and we had a record similar to what the Aussies have at Lords at say Adelaide the ACB would drop it from the schedule and use Hobart.Just because it's Lords doesn't make it a special case in my opinion.

[greg]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

I can't see the selectors changing a winning team, somehow.

We have announced the same 11 according to radio.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Doink

But what does Bell have to contribute to the winning combo?

Simple: class. On footwork alone Bell knocks spots of Tresco, Strauss and Flintoff. He's better organised than any of the others, looks more composed than any of the others, brings his bat down straighter than any of the others, leaves outside off stump better than the others and at just 23 years of age he generally looks to have the foundations in place to become one of the best players of his generation.

He is also as sharp a fielder as any of the others, a decent enough occasional bowler and the sort of bloke any decent cricket follower should love to see succeed: none of the arrogance of Pietersen, none of the in your face attitude of Geraint Jones, none of the complete character bypass of Flintoff - a chap worth championing.

[Collyisamackem]

Anybody else think we should pick Collingwood as twelfth man, so that if any of our players need to go off we can have the best fielder in world cricket to fill in? I suppose the rejoinder to that is that Colly should be allowed to play for Durham, but he proved in South Africa that a sub can make a big difference (he took two catches in one game as sub, IIRC).