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....After a lengthy discussion in the pub last night....this seems the obvious move.

  Gilo isn't going to take any wickets or score any runs.....in effect all he potentially offers is to go for 3 runs an over while the front 4 bowlers rest.

 Collingwood could give a few decent overs, but crucially can bat and catch.

 Windies when they had 4 quicks didn't bother with anything other than part time spinners and it didn't harm them.

 I suppose Rob Key may comeback into the selectors thoughts, but I'm sure Bell wil get another test.

Prior for Geraint Jones .. move Vaughan up to open .. Move Pietersen up to number 4 ...

I'd probably stick with the same side that has been so successful over the last 18 months. There's no need for panic measures like in the 90s. If I were to do anything it would be Collingwood in for Giles but anything that is just suicide in my opinion.

Please not Bobert Key  :(
I was thinking the same thing earlier. But Old Trafford is a spinning paradise. Most teams play 2 spinners there.
Were doomed.

It's Edgbaston next up. Giles' home ground. So sticking with the same side seems the best option.

 Agree with that, but don't think home ground should necessarily come into it, Collingwood showed himself to be the kind of battling cricketer we need, in the one dayers....deserves a chance.

'anything that' was meant to read 'anything other than that'

Giles is ace  8)

In my extremely wise cricket knowledge, I think spinners are mostly pointless except for reducing the run rate if the opposition are chasing runs.

I doubt the Aussies will be in that position very often this series.

  Spin bowlers have more or less disappeared from the English game, but its worth recalling that when we last won the Ashes in 86/87, both John Emburey and Phillipe Edmunds played in all 5 tests.

 Since then we've probably only had Tuffers who could get a few out on a good day.

Thats because we haven't had anyone who could spin the ball as much as say Warne or Murli etc. Tuffers could do it on a wicket that suited him, but Giles relies more on flight.

NMH 'There ARE no more heroes !'

You cant drop the 'King Of Spain!'  :mrgreen:

Agree ,on the last ashes tours we have never had consistency in selection[through injury,lack of form ect],and it has never done us any good.We need to keep the team together.

i think we should keep the same side. giles and bell will be on their home ground next as has already been mentioned in this thread. Rob Key could be considered because he did ok against some of the aussies last time especially wet lee. but pieterson is playing really well so there is no need to bring Key in. As for alternative players to Giles i dont think there are any other spinners and we need a spinner.

I can't think of a replacement for ashley either,he has done a great job for us over the last year.Its only when you compare him to warne and murli that he looks sub-standard.But warne is a genius and murli [as much as i like the guy]is a chucker.

Hw about Keedy of Lancashire?. he took 70 odd wickets last year for them, i think he's a Leg spinner aswell.

Last good English spin bowler was Darren Gough and his slow off cutter.

 Keedy is a slow left armer.....haven't really been noticing how he's doing this year..as it seems to be mainly one day stuff and 20/20.

 Some ability with the bat is needed though for an England spinner...which is why Gilo has to go, he was playing Lee pretty much like I would....trying to get out the way....not acceptable at this standard.

Colly scored 180 yesterday.But it was at somerset,Freddie,who could'nt buy a run at the moment,would get a score there.

Bring Back Tuffers!! :old:

Here here!  :beers:

like wise :doobie:

i have changed my mind and think colly should be in the team now. we will have an extra batsmen with freddie batting at 7 or 8 and colly is a better fielder than hoggard or jones (which ever one he will replace) and will also give us more variety in the bowling department. plus he is good knick with the bat at the mo. on the subject of spinners, whatever happened to chris schofield (likened as a young shane warne) he played 2 tests in 2000 and then got dropped unfairly. now he seems non existant.

Schofield hasn't even got a pro contract anymore.

His work ethic was non-existant apparently.

Hard one to call. I think that Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Flintoff, Harmison and Pieterson are the only ones who are irreplaceable, but we need to make sure we have the right balance.

Collingwood has done very well this year, and Flintoff has done bugger all. It doesn't mean I would swap them.

I can see why people would want to lose Giles, but he is the only decent spinner we have, and a to a spinner, playing on their home ground does make a difference as they know the wicket well. I would leave Giles in purely because we need a spinner.

If we were to bring in Collingwood, he would have to replace a bowler as we can't get rid of any of our current batsmen. Perhaps if S Jones has a bad test it could be considered, but other than that I would leave things the same

I would publically like to apologise to the King of Spain...that I could ever have doubted his battling spirit in the face of hostile fast bowling.

  He's my hero now, I'm even going to read his  :scribe: in theguardian.

Don't panic I said. The selectors didn't. We won.