IN fairness, 250 should be competitive on any pitch... and had the umpire got things right England would currently be favourites to win: the bowlers know how many runs they have to play with and that Australia's batting can go the way the SA and INdian batting did against Bangladesh... or the way the Pakistan batting did in their group matches - it is up to Mahmood and co to take the wickets / otherwise stem the runs.

Yes so it's not a confidence thing - if you see what I mean.
Agreed - he could be used a a pinch hitter against the pacier bowlers, but as POOR as Flintoff is with the bat at the moment, what happens to Vaughan/Strauss/Joyce.

When Vaughan was batting poor at 3, I was convinced that he would do better opening, but I have been proved wrong.

I don't think Vaughan/Flintoff or Srauss are good one day players, I have always thought Flintoff should be used in Tests only - he has been overhyped as a one day player.

Vaughan and Strauss are also IMO not right for the shorter format.
Well he could not read the deliveries from the crease, he was nearly out a ball or so before - he was trying to get to the pitch of the ball which I suppose was his only option if he could not pick the googlies.

__________________
Ern

Colly Bowls Hayden, falling short of his half-century. I might have joined the party late folks, but we might just have a game on yet...

Hope so, one sided matches are rubbish to watch.

__________________
Ern

Australia 91-2 after 20.2 overs. Flintoff had Gilchrist caught by Collingwood, who then bowled Hayden with a crafty off cutter.

I wouldn't be too hasty to say that 247 was a poor score. I think the pitch is slower than people think and I think we're fielding quite well too. We need two or three wickets soon though, especially Ponting's.

Yep, Ponting is the key here. thats the reason the Hayden decision was so disappointing as it denied us a chance with the new ball at ponting. Its just starting to reverse, maybe give saj a burst to see if he can dislodge him. Risky i know as hes a bit erratic but he does take wickets.

There was the chance to put England in front; Vaughan with 1 and a half stumps to hit from around 10/15 yards misses with Ponting at least 3 yards short. Apart from Colly how often do we hit the stumps in these situations? How much will ponting make us pay for this?

Freddy is effectively a top one day bowler but a tail end batsman at the moment. Vaughan is simply not worth his place, perhaps it is time for him to retire and take up the position that Fletcher is filling now, that way we gain the benefits of his leadership and tactical ability but lose the liability of his batting.

The big question for me is why not promote Bopara up the order like we did with Bell, Bopara is a classy batsman and I think he could handle opening very well, to me I would then bring Plunkett back in and strengthen the bowling.
Plunkett can bat as well so when compared to Vaughan we lose nothing with the bat, we are simply trading a quick for a part time spinner.

I think the failure not to develop Harmison into a one day bowler cut off options.

__________________
"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

WHY IN GODS NAME WAS MAHMOOD GIVEN THE BALL AND NOT RAVI BOPARA. This pitch suits Ravis style of bowling Mahmood lekaed so many runs the damn match is over!!

__________________