Third Test

[strooood]

woooooooooo bye bye bell

[STFC Village]

Yay, Phlegm gone, Mont-ster on fire.

Typical Fleming really, 46 half centuries, but only 9 100's. Still, at least he's retiring with a test average of 40+.

[mexico red]

162-4 try to go to sleep go on try

[STFC Village]

5 more needed tonight, neh bother

[DMR]

Yay, Phlegm gone, Mont-ster on fire.

Typical Fleming really, 46 half centuries, but only 9 100's. Still, at least he's retiring with a test average of 40+.

Am I only one who thinks the magic 40 isn't really the mark of a good player. With todays flat feather-pitches, modern bats, small boundaries, one bouncer rules etc etc you need to be looking 45+, maybe even 50, to be regarded as a genuinely good player.

[sonic youth]

we're crap then cos KP is the only english batsmen to average over 45 in recent years

[DMR]

As the only England player who'd probably unanimously get in a World XI I'd say it's fair to say he's our only world class batsman, yes.

That the others all are crap, no, that's not what I said at all.

[DMR]

As the only England player who'd probably unanimously get in a World XI I'd say it's fair to say he's our only world class batsman, yes.

That the others all are crap, no, that's not what I said at all.

[sonic youth]

sorry, i misunderstood - i didn't think you meant an average of 45+ was world class.

in that case i'd agree.

interestingly, bell's average isn't far off 45.

[Nemo]

Bell is a very good player technically, second only to Pietersen. Contrast that to somebody like Strauss, who has huge holes in his technique (particularly his footwork).

Boycott, for all his madness is a good judge of technique and he rates Bell to the moon and back. And Cook for that matter. Although, I think that's just because he sees himself in Cook.

[axs]

was interesting to read harmisons piece on the fact that the england dressing room think boycott is full of shit and his opinions aren't worth listening too.

[Nemo]

Boycott is class. He's usually wrong, but not always and he says things that most people won't say for fear of offending. The fact is that Harmison has been rubbish for a long time, and deserved to be dropped.

Interestingly, the stats for the last three years give Collingwood an average of 44, second to Pietersen (49) with Cook in third (44). Go Colly, especially with his reasonable bowling and fantastic fielding, he's ace.

[axs]

Boycott is class. He's usually wrong, but not always and he says things that most people won't say for fear of offending.

I would pretty much totally agree with that.

[Nemo]

And we're off again for the day. 'mon England, wrap this up before 1ish, I need some sleep.

[Nemo]

Taylor out caught at slip off Panesar. That's a relief, partnership was just about worrying me.