Eng ODI team

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Batty got thumped as much as blackwell did, but thats all by the by.

I think the current line up did rather well batting wise, possibly swap strauss and freddie round but, although clarke failed, leave him at 5, and collingwood seems to be more than happy at 6, who appears to be fitting the mold of a finisher, a la bevan. He's done this before i think against SL or bang ????

[freddie flintoff 142]

Originally Posted by high_on_linseed

I dont think Harmison is a one day bowler, and I dont see the point in bowling him in one-dayers. Plus, as Ive said before why risk our prized test asset picking up injuries in the One-Day arena, when hes not very good at it anyway. If he could bowl a consistent length and line for a whole day like Pollock and McGrath, Id say, "ok, go for it", but he cant and I dont see the point.

Secondly, Batty and Giles - what the hell are they even doing there, especially Batty. You gotta give Blackwell his run, he is as econmical as both, and though he will get out for low scores, pretty often, now and again hes gonna explode with the bat and win a match on his own. Dont see the point in playing Flintoff AND Clarke either. For the money, my first eleven would be:

couldnt agree more with the blackwell thing, he can bat and is the best one day spin bowler we got!

harmison i dont know about, he dont look to be a great one day bowler but give him time, look wot happened to him inthe tests

[Electric Vic]

Reading these comments, I think you lot have more collective sense that the England management when they picked the ODI team for this tour...

1) We didn't have enough batsmen in the squad. All of the specialist batters played every game, Freddie and Clarke were both too high up the order. It would have been good to see what one of the younger players on the scene (espcially Bell) could have done, or given Shah another go. Still, Strauss was a definite plus - but apparently his not seen by Middx as a one day player, which is a bit mystifying.

2) Yes, Butcher should be picked.

3) The bowling attack was poorly balanced. Fletch seems to be wedded to having six bowlers in the side (if you count Colly as a bowler) - it would be better to have five bowlers skilled in the one day game and rely on batsmen who can bowl (Vaughan, Tresco, Butch) for the sixth bowler. As Rachael says, there isn't much in the spin bowling dept, but maybe Tredwell could be brought on. Schofield, anyone?

4) It was right for Gough to go - he may have had dodgy moments but bowled well yesterday and was partly there to give the young 'uns the benefit of his experience.

5) They should have picked a specialist drinks waiter instead of Anthony McGrath, who could have been rustling up non alcoholic cocktails while the rest of the team were in the field.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Electric Vic

Schofield, anyone?

He he he he !! This is the guy that plays for Lancs 2nds as a batsman! He's had it. Probably won't make a career out of the game now. Shame, becuase he did look to have potential, think he was picked too early.

[Tom Partis]

there's just too many bits and pieces players in the team. i would be tempted to use read as a pinch hitter as he has done with some success for notts, and if he gets out, it wouldn't be such a loss as losing flintoff would be. i also think that we need to be looking beyond gough now.

my team would be along the lines of:

trescothick
vaughan
read
strauss
bell
collingwood
flintoff
clarke
batty
harmison
anderson

the only problem with this team is that you could argue that flintoff is coming in too late at 7, but he could be switched around with collingwood depending on what the situation calls for at the time. you would expect flintoff, anderson and harmison all to get through 10 overs each, leaving the remaining 20 to be filled by batty, clarke, collingwood and trescothick.

[Essex Eagle]

We do seem to be fixated by playing a spinner for the sake of it !

Look at chris gayle, he is no way a spinner but is a very intelligent one day bowler who has proved VERY difficult to get away because all he does is drop it on the spot ball after ball.

Compare him to the dross Batty served up - his 1st 3 balls were short & wide outside off stump.

We have to learn defensive bowling CAN take wickets in ODI's


Rikki Clarke worries me, i still think he needs games but to me his technique seems not great to be honest.

Kevin Pietersen will walk into this side.