team for the third test?

[sonic youth]

slow day at work, so...

AJ Strauss
AN Cook
OA Shah
KP Pietersen
IR Bell
A Flintoff (c)
CMW Read (wk)
SCJ Broad
RJ Sidebottom
SJ Jones
MS Panesar

[Nemo]

A Strauss (c)
A Cook
O Shah
K Pietersen
I Bell
A Flintoff
J Foster (wk)
S Broad
R Sidebottom/ M Hoggard (Depending on fitness)
S Jones
M Panesar/ J Anderson (Depending on pitch conditions on the day)

Strauss is ten times the captain that Flintoff is. Not sure on the keeper, I kinda feel that if we need a keeper to bat at 6, it's Prior or bringing back Alec Stewart. If Prior keeps we can afford to drop Broad for a better bowler. Tricky one this.

[Reg Smeeton]

   I've been giving this a deal of thought, and we really are up shit creek without a paddle.  The whole structure of the 1st class game means it's riddled with overseas players, a bit like the football, only worse.  Take Somerset riding high in LV, but besides Tresco not a player capable of stepping up outside of Kieswetter and De Bruyn, both Saffas.

  You can swap a Vaughan for a Shah or Boparda, but they wont be good enough either.

  How many ineligible players take part in the Aussie state games or the SA equivalent, wouldn't have thought too many.

[blinkpip]

this will be the team.

A Strauss
A Cook
Vaughan (C)
K Pietersen
I Bell
P Collingwood
A Flintoff
Ambrose
S Broad / Panesar
R Sidebottom
J Anderson

[Samdy Gray]

Edgbaston is traditionally a swinging pitch for the first couple of days and then a bit of turn for the spinners in the last two days. I don't think Anderson should be dropped, he's done nothing wrong in the last two tests. Broad has put in a good showing with the bat, but he's just not effective as a bowler at the moment, I'm going for a wild one and say we bring in Mahmood for Broad. Close one between Sidebottom and Jones, but I think Sidey edges it.

Strauss (c)
Cook
Shah
Pieterson
Bell
Flintoff
Prior
Sidebottom
Anderson
Panesar
Mahmood

[Nemo]

Ville Valo: No way will we play four bowlers with Broad and Flintoff, that's a disaster wating to happen.

[Reg Smeeton]

  Of the available swing bowlers....based on last season and this so far, Kabir Ali is probably as good as any, he had a test in 03, a bit like Sidey, is now a better bowler.

  Th last time a test was played here 2 years ago Liam Plunkett took most wickets for England.

 I think we should just pick the 05 foursome.

[Bogus Dave]

is vaughn injured then?

[Nemo]

No, he's just getting a lot of flack for his form.

To be fair, the first three times he got out in this series have all been to excellent balls, but still.

[Summerof69]

The only changes I'll do is Foster for Ambrose, and Sidebottom in for the Aussie. If Sidebottom doesn't make it, bring back Hoggard.

The last test was virtually decided by the toss of the coin, due to the fact the overhead conditions disappeared as soon as we came out to bowl after tea on the first day, which turned into batting conditions for the next two days...so no need to panic.

[Bogus Dave]

i wouldnt get rid of vaughan so hastily.

[cib]

I'd just play Sidebottom for Pattinson, and as for a wicketkeeper they're all much of a muchness in what they bring in their game, the outside chance of a decent bat and capability with the gloves.

Just had a look at the bowling averages and for everyone's moaning about Pattinson, some of the bowlers who we are told are having good seasons and are close to being named in the starting XI (Plunkett, Mahmood, Tremlett) aren't the ones with the best stats this season. Although only stats Hoggard/Harmison/Jones (especially) are the ones with the better stats - Jones has 32 wickets at just over 16 (Div 2 mind you). So if you are looking to put another bowler in, I'd pick from those 3 - those in form. The others maybe in good form for them, but they still aren't good enough (yet) - Mahmood will never be.

[blinkpip]

Ville Valo: No way will we play four bowlers with Broad and Flintoff, that's a disaster wating to happen.

This is England were talking about. The selectors always go for the disaster option.
(I don't want this team either)

[Scot Munroe]

Strauss
Cook
Vaughan
KP
Bell
Freddie
Ambrose
Broad
Hoggard(if Sidey is not fit.)
Harmison
Panesar

[Boeta]

strauss
cook
vaughan
pietersen
bell
collingwood
flintoff
ambrose

that's the top 8 that makes sense and isn't some knee-jerk reaction, which most of the teams in this thread are.

then panesar

which leaves you needing two seamer - sidebottom will definitely be one if fit.

broad's scoring runs but not taking wickets and anderson hasn't been reliable enough.

shame onions is injured.

so i'd probably say hoggard