official second test thread

[Nemo]

Selectors really have dropped a nice clanger there. The recriminations have only just begun I fear.

Pattinson is mystifying enough, but Ambrose at 6, Fred at 7? When Vaughan is so spectacularly out of form, that's one huge risk. If we play 5 bowlers, Prior needs to be the keeper.

[michael]

why didn't tremlett come in for sidebottom? in fact, why not harmison or even hoggard? maybe even jones? i can't understand the logic of it at all.

Probably because Tremlett and Broad are very similar bowlers. Broad bats a bit better. It had to be a swing bowler to replace Sidey, but then when it came round to us bowling it wasn't doing much at all so not sure that Hoggard would have made much difference (although he knows Headingley as well as anyone).

SJones and GBH are in pretty good nick at the moment.

[Boeta]

Don't talk about that gutless, pea-heart, thrown away chance after chance, doesn't give a fuck about england, waste of space, steve harmison in the same sentence as selection ever again

they picked pattinson cos they reckon he's the best swing bowler in county cricket. but it looks silly now. jones must be close for the 3rd test

[cib]

By the time they called up Pattinson into the England squad on Thursday most counties had already begun LV matches - including Jones and Harmison. If England were that worried about Sidebottom they would have pulled one of them out of the Counties before that round of matches started. Fact is they weren't that worried. It got too late and they thought of bringing Patto into the squad instead of Hoggard on form - which is fair enough - he HAS bowled well this season and got very good batsmen out. Decision to play him instead of Tremlett is probably because he relies on swing, not pace and bounce like Broad/Tremlett.

The fact of playing Pattinson in place of Hoggard or whoever is not the reason we're looking down the barrell in this test, our batsmen failed first and foremost.

[Nemo]

Another day underway with depressing familiarity, although Broad's hurt his foot. Could be a blessing in disguise that, he's got huge potential but I don't think his bowling is quite up to standard yet; although his batting has put some of the top order to shame.

Who would you have in the team if everyone was fit? I just tried this and its a toughie, ended up with the Ashes bowlers and basically a whole new batting line up. Difficult really, selectors have got a hard job now.

[Nemo]

That wasn't bad (Pattinson to Prince)

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

Pattison over Hoggard? What's up with Hoggy these days? Has he been injured or something?

[Nemo]

Nope, he's been bowling pretty well. They had him on TMS on Friday, was diplomatic but sounded distraught, think his England career is probably done, which is criminal. One bad game and he's gone, when so many players get away with murder.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

Yeah it's pathetic really. I think our selectors are fools tbh. Always have done though.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

So we finally bowl them out. 319 behind afetr the 1st innings. And now it's 3-1. Oh.

[Nemo]

Two of the top six need to make big hundreds to save this. I think we can safely count out Ambrose and Strauss, so that's down to four. Deliver us from evil KP.

[Rich Pullen]

We can bat for two days - Erm....

[Nemo]

And that's Vaughan gone.

That chap seems to be attracting good balls at the moment.

Cook, Pietersen and Bell left then in all honesty.

And more importantly, Jon Bon Jovi is a standard forum avatar. Odd.

[Nemo]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44848000/jpg/_44848223_devils282b.jpg

De Villiers talking to the England selectors there.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

So SA will do what we never seem to be able to - finish off a fucking match when on top for pretty much the whole time. Great.