4th Ashes Test: Trent Bridge, 25-29, August: Pre-Match Thread

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Zainub

I'm excited at the prospect of finally seeing Shaun Tait getting a test cap, having heard so much about it. He seems pretty much set to make his debut at Trent Bridge. I wonder how England will play him.

I hope you are not disapointed Zainub, http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...ia/4175648.stm

Seems Michael Kasprowicz is favorite to take over from Gilly, according to the above report, it's all speculation I know, they might feel it safer to stick with Gilly.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Not quite as bad, but look how they treated Anderson, some say it was because Anderson bowled poor,how did anyone know, it took 14 months as teaboy before he was dropped.

You claim not to have a Red Rose bias, yet you have picking Loye of Vaughan and Chapell/Keedy (!!!) over Hoggard..

Mate you are deluded.. as for Anderson not playing for 14 months and then getting dropped, even though he didn't bowl badly - I think you have a selective memory...

His last five Test - spread from Sri Lanka series through to SA Last winter (no 14 month gap there...)


5 Tests 113.1 Overs 453 Runs 9Wickets BB 4/52 50.33 Average 4.00 economy rate

He did have many opportuunities and did not take any of them. Franky he was just not good ebnough when he played. I do think he is very talented and could be an England Test bowler again. But he needs to improve, or else he will be the bowling equivalent of Mark Lathwell

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I understand the pitch will siut hoggy at trent bridge.......so that means they'll be a 6ft deep hole in front of the stumps and special stumps measuring 5ftx4ft.

[Zainub]

I have nothing against Michael Kasprowicz, he might well be the right choice (reverse swing is now a big factor in the series, something which probably gives him the edge against Tait, plus his experience, and reliability to at least keep one end in tact if nothing). My excitement to see Tait was because of a few ulterior motives. I won't go on discussing them.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

You claim not to have a Red Rose bias, yet you have picking Loye of Vaughan and Chapell/Keedy (!!!) over Hoggard..

Chappell was in a way tounge in cheek, how many times have I mentioned him?( but a much better bat the Hoggard)
keedy I selected in last years A Team, no surprise there, I think he would have at least been given a bowl, Hoggard was not.
Loye again how many times have I mentioned him? please tell us ff, along with Chappell.
I probably mentioned him, when I was in a fed up mood over Vaughans batting.
I will tell you whi I have wanted in the team and mentioned it time and time again, Rob Key, not even a Northern County.
I support the players I like, no matter which county they play for, I was one of the few supporters of Devon Malcolm, did he play for Lancashire?.
But to rid this Roses thing, I have mentioned Loye once as I know of, and Chappell maybe twice, knowing full well they would never get in the team, no bias there.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Mate you are deluded.. as for Anderson not playing for 14 months and then getting dropped, even though he didn't bowl badly - I think you have a selective memory...

Anderson was treat like rubbish, if you are right and he was not in the squad after South africa, still makes no difference,
He was called to the England team from the acadomy, as cover when Harmison and Flintoff were injured in our last tour of Australia, and bowled well in the one dayers.
After that tour, he should have been allowed to develop, not carted round the world, and given the odd game, in which he played poor, because of the gaps in between games.
Harmison bowled very poor in South Africa, I supported him on this board, sure that he would come back, the point being, that a good player does not turn bad overnight.
But wrong managment can make a player poor for life.

Is underbowling Hoggard doing him any favours, I doubt that, that's the comparason with Anderson, not what side of the Pennines they come from.

Please show me ff, were I said Anderson did not bowl badly.

[Victor Frankenstein]

Tait it is then, could go either way for oz i guess, i hope strauss is concentrating...

[Cricket Girl]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

Tait it is then, could go either way for oz i guess, i hope strauss is concentrating...

The thing about Tait is that his performance might tail off throughout the innings. One of the Aus players or commentators said that the thing about Kasper was that you got the same thing from him on the morning of the first day of a Test and on the afternoon of the fourth day. I don't know if Tait will provide that kind of reliability. Admitedly, they have Mcgrath and Warne for reliability. Obviously it's a gamble by the Aussies, and I think it shows they are really rattled. I doubt anyone would have thought he'd have played at the start of the tour except in the case of an injury crisis. I guess he does bring surprise value to the team though - England probably haven't studied him as much as Gilly and Kasper.

I can see Tait being very good at the start of an innings, but whether he will be good enough to bowl the 20-odd overs a day that Aus will require of him is another matter. Again, I think it's key for us to win the toss, bat first and put as much pressure as possible on their four-man bowling attack. As we have seen, if one member of their three man seam attack fails to fire on the first day of the Test, then it really hurts them because Warne doesn't bowl so effectively on a first-day pitch so to ask him to pick up the slack of a misfiring third seamer doesn't always work.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Victor Frankenstein

Tait it is then, could go either way for oz i guess, i hope strauss is concentrating...

Yes he is Victor, my problem with this is, if he bowls a good line, Strauss will have to move up a gear, because tait (although I have not seen him), I believe is a bit nippy, and that has mattered this series.

[Teatime FatCat]

Anyone got the latest on the weather for tomorrow, and also on McGrath's elbow?

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

Anyone got the latest on the weather for tomorrow

The low-down from the BBC is for a predominantly sunny first and second day, with a chance of showers tomorrow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cric...nd/4180116.stm