Emburey backs two-spinner option

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

Stephen Harmison, you mean?

I am not sure about that - he might start but his away form is poor, but he might rise to the occasion.

I an 99% sure Mahmood will play, for one reason he is not a bad bat, and is a wicket taker.

I think Read batting is poor at the moment, but then again so is G O Jone's, so Read should get the nod for being the better keeper.

Getting back on topic - England can't play two spinners, Panesar is new to the big time, and Giles hasn't played for ages, if Embury thinks England should use two spinners - he should make HIMSELF available.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I am not sure about that - [Harmison] might start but his away form is poor, but he might rise to the occasion.

I think he has to rise to the occasion, Ern, if England are serious about keeping The Ashes. For that reason alone I am a bit uneasy about the decision to give him a day off last Saturday rather than bunging him out to the middle for ten competitive overs. On form, there might be an argument for leaving him out, but Fletcher has to take the chance that Harmison will come good on the day, starting in Brisbane and finishing in Sydney, to be honest.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I an 99% sure Mahmood will play, for one reason he is not a bad bat, and is a wicket taker.

I am not too sure why you are so convinced, for me, if Anderson, Flintoff and Harmison is fit, Mahmood will be the one to lose out.

My team for the Ashes remains

Cook
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Read
Hoggard
Harmison
Anderson (Giles for Sydney and possibly Adelaide)
Panesar

[Collyisamackem]

I can't believe people are doubting Harmison's test game based on two ODI performances! Have you guys forgotten the way he bowled only last month against Pakistan? Old Trafford anyone? He'll be there for the tests and he'll bowl well, I'm very, very confident of that and my words are there to be replied to after the first test. He may never be the ODI bowler you want him to be, but in tests he is class - Glenn McGrath agreed with me once anyway!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

I can't believe people are doubting Harmison's test game based on two ODI performances! Have you guys forgotten the way he bowled only last month against Pakistan? Old Trafford anyone?

It's not the couple of one dayers that [could] be the problem, it's the fact that he will be bowling in Australia, he genuinly suffers from home sickness, and that's hard luck for an International cricketer.

[greg]

Harmison has only bowled well in one game since Lords against Australia last summer and that was this summer against Pakistan.I think we have grounds for concern.How many games has he bowled badly in?

Far more than he has bowled well in anyway.

[Mr Hutt]

I agree with Embury the spinners mentioned here are both good panesar and giles so it would be threatning for the aussies to face them in tandem, i dont think Saj or Anderson or Harmison have the kind of bowling that can win you a test match, unless Harmy gets his fave pitch, now hoggard is another story, hoggard making the ball talk and slips taking catches we should see that!!! IMo the aussies are better at playing seamers than spin bowlers so i think this option is a great one.