Tres coming home

[Oliver]

This is not good news.

At least it has afforded Flintoff the opportunity to explain to us their current selection policy.
Now it's Cook, Strauss, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, GO (home) Jones (why he's a much better batsman he scored 13 from 35 balls yesterday - top man) Giles, Hoggard, Harmison, Anderson.

It is funny how successive generations of players say: "let's get rid of the old guard" and then retain a large heap of underperforming and unmatchfit (if there is such a word) current guard until they retire on full pension.

Ashley (well I took more wickets than Monty even if I haven't played for eighteen months) Giles is a much more sensible pick than Panesar, who does actually turn the ball, and is likely to improve (if skillfully handled - so, not like Chris Read then).

I fear for Panesar's career, as I do for Chris Read, who presumably will have a chance to play when Fletcher is sacked after we lose the Ashes. Oh good grief perhaps we have young thrusting executives in the EWCB who will keep Fletcher on until we've lost seven series in a row.

Still Giles might take another ten wickets by then, and Collingwood might have made another ton.

I read an article this morning "written" by the Jones boy - in a ghastly style, he was practically thumbing his nose at Chris Read, "nurr-nurr na-nurr, nurrrr I'm in the team and you ARE NOT."

The guy is a complete knob.

Someone pointed out to me that Geraint Jones was on the selection panel last summer!!!

That must have made it jolly hard to work out who should be wicket-keeper.

For goodness sake Graveney: pull your freakin' finger out.

[Teatime FatCat]

ahem.... thank you Olly!

Tresco should never have travelled, I'd made my feelings clear about this issue before (in that I wish him no ill personally, but I think he's been selfish about protecting his place in the side). If he wasn't right for the Champions Trophy, how can he be right now? I think Fletcher has been nieve, and Tresco has not been 100% truthful about his state of mind.

Personally, I'd like to see Shah given the nod, as he was the last batting debutant, and handled the pressure well. Also he's a bit arrogant, and bags full of confidence.

[sambino239]

Its a massive blow Im sorry to say I dont think he will play for England again.
Key I think will come in, what bets on Vaughan being pushed on to come in for the fourth and fifth tests

[greg]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

Personally, I'd like to see Shah given the nod, as he was the last batting debutant, and handled the pressure well. Also he's a bit arrogant, and bags full of confidence.

Good shout TTFC but who opens if we get an injury to Cook or Strauss?

[Teatime FatCat]

Fair point actually. I'd stick with Shah, and make Bell open. However, you are right, and they will probably go with Fatty Key, who will grit out a tough 35* and then get out to the fearsome bowling of Justin Langer!

[Pete]

Originally Posted by greg

Good shout TTFC but who opens if we get an injury to Cook or Strauss?

I'd like to see Shah in too and while i'm not sure who'd open if Cook or Strauss got injured, i'd like to see Cook uptop so he doesn't have to come in and face Warne for his first delivery.

[greg]

On a side issue he is surely out of the World Cup too now as they can't take the risk again.

Gives Bell a good chance to cement an opening berth for a long time to come in one day cricket.

[Trescothick]

Englands chances were already low and now I really feel that the are over... I don't know whether Tresco will ever return properly to cricket and he has probably lost the passion... This is bad.

[sambino239]

I think cook will be pushed up to open Bell at 3 Pieterson 4 Colly 5 Fredie 6 Jones 7
Looks a bit brittle to me though Giles will now Defo Play

[greg]

To be honest i think they have improved our chances now.He obviously wasn't right but if he had played the first couple of tests and then left the tour we would only have been playing with 10 men.At least we now go in with 11 men mentally right for the fight.

For that we must thank Tresco for,as at least he was being honest to himself,his teammates and his country.