2nd Text: NZ vs England

[Uncle Buck]

I think there is also the issue with Strauss that he was awarded a central contract and an extent is being picked on the basis of that. Almost as if the ECB are justifying giving him a contract, especially after awarding contracts to Simon Jones and Giles in 2006 and neither of them ever really being fit to play.

 

[sten_super]

I think there is also the issue with Strauss that he was awarded a central contract and an extent is being picked on the basis of that. Almost as if the ECB are justifying giving him a contract, especially after awarding contracts to Simon Jones and Giles in 2006 and neither of them ever really being fit to play.

But he was awarded a central contract because he was always going to play in this series; by the time they awarded the contracts it was already announced he wasn't going to Sri Lanka, so they could only have intended to bring him here. It's not as if he did anything to win his place back between being dropped for the SL tour and being picked for this one.

 

[Grendel]

But he was awarded a central contract because he was always going to play in this series; by the time they awarded the contracts it was already announced he wasn't going to Sri Lanka.

It was known that he wasn't going to Sri Lanka with the ODI squad. The test squad for the Sri Lanka tour wasn't announced until mid-October.

 

[sten_super]

It was known that he wasn't going to Sri Lanka with the ODI squad. The test squad for the Sri Lanka tour wasn't announced until mid-October.

Fair enough... when were the contracts announced? He can't have played much cricket between the announcement of the contracts and the squad to play the tests in SL, so the selectors must at the very least have had an inkling (and probably a lot more) that he wasn't going to tour. In which case giving him a central contract seems a bit silly.

 

[Grendel]

Fair enough... when were the contracts announced? He can't have played much cricket between the announcement of the contracts and the squad to play the tests in SL, so the selectors must at the very least have had an inkling (and probably a lot more) that he wasn't going to tour. In which case giving him a central contract seems a bit silly.

The contracts were announced on the 10th September. He played two first class matches between then and the Sri Lanka squad being announced, averaging 13 with a top score of 23.

 

[sten_super]

The contracts were announced on the 10th September. He played two first class matches between then and the Sri Lanka squad being announced, averaging 13 with a top score of 23.

Good knowledge

However, it does kind of back up my suggestion that he was given a contract safe in the knowledge that he wasn't going to Sri Lanka. It was pretty widely known that he would then be going to New Zealand, where the pitches are apparently 'better suited to his style of batting'. Unfortunately, when you are out of form (as he is), and have not managed to correct the fault in your technique which led to you being dropped (which he hasn't), then I don't quite agree that merely being better suited to the pitches should be enough to get back a place in the team. Places should be earnt, not given, and there's no way he's earnt his place back.

 

[Grendel]

Good knowledge

However, it does kind of back up my suggestion that he was given a contract safe in the knowledge that he wasn't going to Sri Lanka. It was pretty widely known that he would then be going to New Zealand, where the pitches are apparently 'better suited to his style of batting'. Unfortunately, when you are out of form (as he is), and have not managed to correct the fault in your technique which led to you being dropped (which he hasn't), then I don't quite agree that merely being better suited to the pitches should be enough to get back a place in the team. Places should be earnt, not given, and there's no way he's earnt his place back.

Well I think the great plan was that he would go to New Zealand and play in their Mickey Mouse state competition to bat his way back into form and acclimatise, before the touring party was announced. He probably would have been far better served by taking the winter out of cricket, reporting back fresh to Middlesex for pre-season, and worked on earning his place back during the county season.

 

[pasty]

Ambrose gone for 102

England 300/6

 

[pasty]

That looked suspiciously like an Albion shirt just over Broads shoulder just then.

 

[SNOOBS]

Monty playing his shots

 

[pasty]

342 all out

Ambrose 102
Collingwood 65

Ball starting to swing around a bit so hopefully some good stuff from England bowlers now

 

[pasty]

I can go with Harmy out and Broad in, but Anderson for Hoggard ? :thud:

Still, what do I know eh

Apparently nothing then. NZ 9/2

Anderson with both wickets.

 

[Grendel]

Apparently nothing then. NZ 9/2

Anderson with both wickets.

It's not just you - Anderson has this annoying habit of popping up with four or five wickets for not very many runs, just at the point when I've declared he's useless for the umpteenth time.

 

[Zesh Rehman]

11/2 at lunch? ill have more of that please!

 

[pasty]

It's not just you - Anderson has this annoying habit of popping up with four or five wickets for not very many runs, just at the point when I've declared he's useless for the umpteenth time.

Hmmm..

Anderson 20 overs, 4 maidens, 5 for 73

NZ all out 198

England lead by 144

 

[SNOOBS]

tis looking surprisingly good