Prior For England Tour?

[Uncle Buck]

Fair enough. I'll go and do some work instead then.

In fairness Harmison wasn't all that great at home this season either, though I'm sure he does a bit of softening up for the other bowlers.

I just wonder out there if the pitch is flat how he is going to cope, if his head drops I think he can be hard work. Also it is not a bad position to be in that even for a player who has been the number 1 bowler in the world, even his place is not entirley secure.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I just wonder out there if the pitch is flat how he is going to cope, if his head drops I think he can be hard work. Also it is not a bad position to be in that even for a player who has been the number 1 bowler in the world, even his place is not entirley secure.

By all educated accounts, Pakistan are poor at present. The real test will be in India after Christmas. Although this first series could finish 0-0.

 

[Seagull over NZ]

Although some teams play 2 spinners n India and Pakistan I can't see us doing that. they will rely on the pace quartet and Giles. I see Louden there as potential for the future and perhaps Udal as back up to Giles whilst louden could learn a lot off Udal.

I feel a bit for Read, whats to suggest that he cannot cut it as a batsmen in a team that is doing well. Read played his test matches in an England side 2 years ago that was still improving. Must say then though that his batting did not look good enough.

I think selectors look far deeper than county averages, especially with batsmen. they look beyond the stats and look at temprement etc which is how Trescothick and Strauss got a look-in - neither of them has great county stats but they have what it takes for tst matches - maybe they don't think Read has that.

 

[London Calling]

...remember reverse swing came out of Pakistan with its hard wickets and pitches, and with the heat, I envisage with could hit them with the same bowling attack, and yes with Harmison softening them up. The bouncers won't be going over their heads but towards the neck and upper chest.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I can't see Tremlett or Anderson getting any Test action unless one of the seamers gets injured or loses form. However, I think the selectors have one eye on the Ashes in Australia which is only 14 months away.

Neither bowler is likely to make much of a difference in the forthcoming series, but because we've got 5 world class batsmen it affords us the luxury of selecting 2 pace bowlers in Tremlett and Anderson.

The selectors will want to see how they tour, how they handle pressure and how they bowl on unfriendly wickets.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

... I envisage with could hit them with the same bowling attack, and yes with Harrison softening them up. .

Audley would soften them up all right!


Is that any better, Uncle Buck?

 

[Uncle Buck]

Although some teams play 2 spinners n India and Pakistan I can't see us doing that. they will rely on the pace quartet and Giles. I see Louden there as potential for the future and perhaps Udal as back up to Giles whilst louden could learn a lot off Udal.

But if we are going to only play 1 spinner, why is Louden there? Surely his winter would be better used with the academy?

If you look at the bowlers in the squad, it looks like the selectors could not make their mind up and so have just taken lots of options.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Re the 3 spinners, I think there are two factors at work here:

1. The need to not lose the series vs Pakistan and India - therefore take Udal.

2. The need to have a long-term decent spin option - therefore take Loudon.

Udal is not a long-term option, Loudon will not win us the forthcoming series, but by taking both you may increase your chances of 1 and 2.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Re the 3 spinners, I think there are two factors at work here:

1. The need to not lose the series vs Pakistan and India - therefore take Udal.

2. The need to have a long-term decent spin option - therefore take Loudon.

Udal is not a long-term option, Loudon will not win us the forthcoming series, but by taking both you may increase your chances of 1 and 2.

But then Loudon will get games with the Academy and coaches to work on his technique. On the senior tour his games are going to be limited.

 

[RonnieO'Sullivan]

dirty DOOSRA

murali gets away with it lets hope loudon does.lol.nah he action is fine.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Interview with Prior here. Quite interesting, he believes that Read is the best keeper in the country but obviously doesn't think his batting is up to it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/video_and_audio/default.stm

 

[Southover Card]

And how will Prior react when someone says something nasty to him?

If his own county captain doesn't rate him not to break down in floods of tears, how can anyone in the England set-up trust him?

Piss-poor decision.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Just watched the Graveney interview too. Seems that Prior has been picked because he has the ability to hit hundreds where as Read hasn't score that many centuries.

Hmm, he's hit 2 hundreds compared to Reads 1 and 4 50#s compared to Reads 6. Hmm, okay.....

 

[Uncle Buck]

Just watched the Graveney interview too. Seems that Prior has been picked because he has the ability to hit hundreds where as Read hasn't score that many centuries.

Hmm, he's hit 2 hundreds compared to Reads 1 and 4 50#s compared to Reads 6. Hmm, okay.....

I suspect Read's case has not been helped that Marsh essentially went to war with Fletcher over the situation and told Fletcher he was wrong to drop Read for Jones. Now Marsh is no longer a selector Fletcher is picking his own players.

 

[Pavilionaire]

If the selectors think that Loudon might be the answer to our spin problems then naming him only for the Academy side would be ducking the issue.

The best place to learn about spin bowling at Test level is with the senior sqad in Pakistan and India, not with the Academy.

I applaud the boldness of selection here, and can see exactly what they are trying to achieve.

 

[RonnieO'Sullivan]

James Foster??

 

[Uncle Buck]

If the selectors think that Loudon might be the answer to our spin problems then naming him only for the Academy side would be ducking the issue.

The best place to learn about spin bowling at Test level is with the senior sqad in Pakistan and India, not with the Academy.

I applaud the boldness of selection here, and can see exactly what they are trying to achieve.

In theory it is bold. But in practise he is going to be a glorified waiter for most of the winter, where as he could be developing his technique with the academy.

 

[Uncle Buck]

James Foster??

The fact he is not in any of the 3 squads kind of shows you what the ECB think of him.

 

[RonnieO'Sullivan]

The fact he is not in any of the 3 squads kind of shows you what the ECB think of him.

Capable of hundreds and big ones at that, if thats the reason Prior was picked ahead of Read, Fosters keeping ability is very neat.

 

[Pavilionaire]

All very well UB, but the Ashes is 14 months away, Giles will be that much older and we all know the difference Shane Warne has made in series between the two countries.

Last week I put the case that Giles had a disappointing series and I was roundly criticised. I think the selection of both Udal and Loudon partly backs up my case that we need at least one spin alternative sooner rather than later.

The time has come to identify the best spinner and back him now, give him real experience on a senior tour.