Cook or Collingwood?...

[Ernest]

Both players have played well in this First Test for England against Sri Lanka.

Both players have done well since being selected to play in the England side.

The fact is that when Michael Vaughan is fit, one of these two will be dropped, unless Strauss really struggles in the next few matches.

Hard decission, but I think Cook will be the one to make way, not because I think he has done badly, in fact's it's a real toss up.

But Cook is really an opener he is out of place at three, and would have to drop down to four when Vaughan returns.

So who will have to make way when Vaughan returns - Cook or Collingwood?.

[cantplaycantalk]

Quite frankly I think Vaughan will go the same way as Hussain, Freddy is Captain now, Colly and Cook both look like they will keep on getting runs and Vaughan doesn't.

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by cantplaycantalk

Quite frankly I think Vaughan will go the same way as Hussain, Freddy is Captain now, Colly and Cook both look like they will keep on getting runs and Vaughan doesn't.

Vaughan will have been out of test cricket for at least 6 months once he returns. I think he will have gained the hunger and desire to score lots of runs, and give England a stroke making genius again in the line up.

Collingwood will retain his place upon the return of Vaughan, he has done nothing wrong and is the perfect neutraliser for KP and Freddie, as was shown today. Whilst KP made the big runs, Collingwood just knocked the ball around and then Freddie came in with a little cameo.

I personally would love to see Cook continue, he has had a marvellous start to test cricket and I think he could score lots of runs but Vaughan as a higher order batsmen. We would be, in theory, going into a game with four openers. Not quite what is required normally.

[greg]

I am a huge fan of Michael Vaughan but he needs to get some runs in county cricket and prove over a number of games his knee is ok and will stand up to the rigours of a test before we bring him back in.It may well be Cook who ends up dropped but for all we know we may yet get another injury to ease Vaughan back in easily.

Personally i wouldn't like Cook being dropped as he is an excellent player who will do more for the team over a longer period than Collingwood but the junior man is generally the one who is left out.

[Mongoose]

This is a very difficult decision, and a very nice dilemma to have - especially when you've also got Bell, Shah, Joyce, Key and Butcher lining up in the queue as well.

I really can't tell who will get the nod. Colly has done very well since the end of the Ashes, and looks like a consistent performer, plus he has bowling and fielding to bolster his case. The management clearly think a lot of Cook, otherwise they wouldn't have left Bell out. Cook will be in there for the long term eventually. I think it comes down to the next two matches, and who performs better will keep the place. If Cook stays in, Vaughan will probably bat at 4, as he did in 2004.

[Collyisamackem]

Cook is a superb, stable and very talented top three player, Colly is a middle order batsman who plays spin tremendously well and may be the rock we need. It's a difficult choice but I think we need a number 5 batsman rather than another top order batsman, so I'd lean towards Colly. This is not county bias, as I rate Cook very, very highly and would love to have him in the side, but it's what I see the side needing right now. Colly already knows how to really frustrate Shane Warne too.

[mudney]

I think I would go with Colly because he deserves a run in the side and has international experience. Cooky will play regularly when he is 24 - 25 and hopefully will become world class.

I believe that the top 7 for the ashes should be
1. Strauss 2. Trescothick 3. Vaughan (C) 4. Pietersen 5. Collingwood 6. Flintoff 7. Jones

The bowlers should be

8. Giles/Panesar 9. Hoggard 10. Harmison 11. Jones

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

It's a difficult choice

Why worry? It's quite likely that one from Flintoff, Harmison, Hoggard and Jones will be missing... in which case Collingwood as an addtional batsman / occassional bowler offers more than (say) Plunkett / Mahmood / Anderson.... or that one of the top order will be out.... in which case they ain't competing.

The limited injury / absentee list of the 2005 Ashes ain't normal!

[greg]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

It's a difficult choice but I think we need a number 5 batsman rather than another top order batsman, so I'd lean towards Colly. This is not county bias, as I rate Cook very, very highly and would love to have him in the side, but it's what I see the side needing right now.

The England selectors may decide to go with Cook at 3 and Vaughan at 5 splitting KP and Freddie which is a logical choice if they decide that Cook is a better choice than Collingwood.

[mudney]

Yeah we could do with splitting the aggressive batsmen in the side so we have a good balance at the crease. While it would be great to watch both KP and Fred destroy attacks, I believe a partnership works best in contrasts, with someone attacking and scoring quick runs, and the other person who you know will stay there when the attacking batsmen has departed.