England V Bangladesh at Trent Bridge 21/6

[Rachael]

I'd not be surprised to see Collingwood play a Test this summer... especially now that Marsh has dropped out of the picture as a selector (presumably allowing Fletcher a greater say). I'm not sure how he's set compared with Key and Butcher as a specialist bat.... but he might get the nod ahead of either if England decided to make do with just 4 frontline bowlers... and I can't see anyone getting in ahead of him if Flintoff pulls up injured.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Now the big question - has Collingwood made a case for Test inclusion. Most of you would be laughing at this suggestion, that because he is in good form and has just scored a very quick hundred in an ODI that he should benow be in the frame, and yet we have applied this logic to KP?

Come on FF, I don't think there is any comparison between the pop-gun bowling attack of Bangladesh and the slightly out-of-sorts Australians.

The Australians come into each match with their own aura of superiority and a class line in sledging.
If the Bangladeshis attempted to sledge the English batsmen (well obviously aside from that non-ODI star Michael Vaughan) I imagine they'd've all laughed in their faces.

The Australians are without a shadow of doubt better than the Bangladeshis - I realise that I'm not writing anything new here... but I feel it needs pointing out to some people - and I think that you can safely say that 91 not out from 65 balls against Australia is way more impressive than 112 not out from 86 balls against Bangladesh.

Collingwood has made a case for Test selection against inferior sides... we already knew he could do that. And I imagine that he already knows he is a permanent fixture in our ODI side.

Pietersen has made a case for Test selection against Australia.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Oliver

Collingwood has made a case for Test selection against inferior sides... we already knew he could do that. And I imagine that he already knows he is a permanent fixture in our ODI side.

Collingwood (as I'm sure Rachael will soon point out) performed pretty well in his only test outings against Sri Lanka in a series in which English batsman did not exactly cover themselves in glory.

He's bloody unlucky to be a good player at a time when the test side don't need him. I'm sure on current form, he would have walked into the England team 5 years ago.

[Mongoose]

And England have another name thrown into the hat of contention. It's great that we have all these guys putting their hand up. We now have to think about who we're going to leave out, rather than where we're going to get four middle order players from. Good news indeed, and bodes well for England's continued development.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

He's bloody unlucky to be a good player at a time when the test side don't need him. I'm sure on current form, he would have walked into the England team 5 years ago.

Not quite right... sorry to split hairs... difficult to see who he would have replaced. I guess Hussain cracked a finger before the second Test... but I think you'd be wanting him to play instead of Craig White, who was superb in that series.

Perhaps seven years ago, against the South Africans. I wouldn't've minded seeing him play instead of Mark Ealham.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Oliver

Perhaps seven years ago, against the South Africans. I wouldn't've minded seeing him play instead of Mark Ealham.

He may be a better batsman but he's certainly not as good a bowler as Ealy. The former Kent man has a Test bowling average of 28 !!

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

He may be a better batsman but he's certainly not as good a bowler as Ealy. The former Kent man has a Test bowling average of 28 !!

There you are, you see Andy, there's always somebody who will disagree with you.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Oliver

There you are, you see Andy, there's always somebody who will disagree with you.

I'm not disagreeing that Collingwood would have got into the team five, six or seven years ago. I was merely responding to the comment that he would have been better in South Africa than Ealham was. I should have made that more clear. He's certainly a better international cricketer than Ealy, though Ealy was discarded quicker than most! Ealham is a very good one-day bowler, keeps it tight gets good sideways movement. He can bat and field well, it was no surprise he got a chance in the one-day arena. Collingwood will always be a batting all-rounder, and hopefully he'll continue to do a good job. Test match wise, we have better batsmen waiting.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

I'm not disagreeing that Collingwood would have got into the team five, six or seven years ago.

I can't agree with that.

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Test match wise, we have better batsmen waiting.

I completely agree with that.

I'm afraid that Collingwood was always destined to be a "nearly man" when it comes to Test cricket.
There have been very many of those. Steve James, Wayne Larkin, Ed Smith, James Whitaker, to name but a few, unfortunately treated by Test selectors, and unlucky - in some ways - to play when they did.

Thank God for One Day Internationals which have allowed some of these dogs, their day in the spotlight.

And that from a man who really doesn't like the one day game.

I guess Tim Tremlett was a "nearly man" for many years.
As I wrote above, I'm very pleased to see his son getting a chance. I hope Chris makes the step up to Test cricket too.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Oliver

I guess Tim Tremlett was a "nearly man" for many years.
As I wrote above, I'm very pleased to see his son getting a chance. I hope Chris makes the step up to Test cricket too.

I only saw Tim bowling at Trent Bridge, he never looked much more than an honest county pro. Steady but certainly nothing spectacular, not much better than Cardigan Connor! You probably saw more of him that I did. His son looks very useful. His height will be a great help. That he already knows which end of the bat to use goes in his favour too!!