England v Australia - 1st Test Trent Bridge

[KZNSeagull]

Well, it wasn't that simple, he was in and out of the side, Fletcher nearly destroyed him to be honest, he didn't actually come back stronger, after Fletcher left he just developed within the team and slowly grew in confidence. You could easily say he is the bowler he is today in spite of England rather than because of them.

Ian Botham was saying yesterday that England tried to change him - they were obsessed about the fact that he drops his head when he bowls and does not look where he is bowling. When he first started for England (I think he was 17), he was raw but talented, then gradually got worse, presumably cos they were messing him about.

 

[crodonilson]

I's stick with Finn he is open to much more improvement than Bresnan and as a bowler when he gets it right is far more entertaining than Bresnan who is neither a great test match batsmen or bowler.

If we do drop Finn then Onions should come in if the pitch is similar to Trent Bridge.

 

[spring hall convert]

Reading between the lines here, I suspect injuries permitting we will be unchanged

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/content/story/651627.html

 

[spring hall convert]

An intersting thing on the umpiring controversies as well that I saw on "The Verdict"

With the recent changes to the elite panel there are now only 4 umpires on the elite panel that aren't either Australian or English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Panel_of_ICC_Umpires.) This means that with 3 umpires needed for every test, there is very little room to change. It leaves me with a few questions.

Should there be a limit on how many umpires one nation can have on the elite panel, even if this is detrimental to the overall quality of the panel?
Are the elite panel the right people to be completing the 3rd umpring duties? Should this be a more specialist role, seeing as it involves a degree of technical nous as well as knowledge of the laws?
Is it time to remove the restrictions on "home" umpires?

 

[Triggaaar]

What is Bell's problem vs Australia? He does OK against every other nation, but is below par against the Aussies.

Problem?

Bell out, Yardy in.

Thank god you're not a selector.

How Bell is still in the side is beyond me.

Mmm.

We are so, so lucky we have two bowlers who will go down as legends of English cricket to bail out the likes of Pietersen and Bell time and time again.

Great thread.