Ramprakash backed for Test recall

[Bozza]

Would a man who has suffered stress-related mental illness really be the best person to throw into a 'do or die' Ashes decider?

 

[London Calling]

I believe over the last three if not four year Ramprakash has been the class act at County level, form good enough to get into the test side.

However, in 2009 at the end of his career it isn't really a good move for pure cricketing terms and would boost Aussies mprale even more and kill the morale of a number of young England players.

I believe we have to back Bopara, yes he was in to early, yes he may even be in the wrong position, But to prove him as a Test player, he needs backing now.

If he messes again, then review the position at the end of the series. Lets face it, how many batsmen have really performed for England.

You could nearly drop them all.

 

[Silent Bob]

Would a man who has suffered stress-related mental illness really be the best person to throw into a 'do or die' Ashes decider?

But was it not due to be away from home for long periods rather than anything to do with cricket?

Fair enough, I didn't realise that. So who would you drop to make way for Flintoff? Harmison, Onions, Anderson, Swann or Broad?

Depends on a couple of things, firstly how the wicket will play, secondly whether Flintoff and Anderson are actually fit.

 

[Gwylan]

I'd agree with the calls for Trescothick ... we want the Ashes back and the best way to do that would be to play players that are not bricking themselves every time they walk out to bat.

Huh?

So someone whose mental state is so fragile that he can't even join an England team for a friendly tournament would be the person to call on in a high-pressure situation like an Ashes decider? You'd have to explain how that one works because it beats me.

As I've said before, I think England will make one batting change and bring back Flintoff. They might also bring back Monty, if the wicker looks like taking spin.

Apart from 1988, when England lost the plot, we don't do wholesale changes.

 

[Simster]

I believe over the last three if not four year Ramprakash has been the class act at County level, form good enough to get into the test side.

However, in 2009 at the end of his career it isn't really a good move for pure cricketing terms and would boost Aussies mprale even more and kill the morale of a number of young England players.

I believe we have to back Bopara, yes he was in to early, yes he may even be in the wrong position, But to prove him as a Test player, he needs backing now.

If he messes again, then review the position at the end of the series. Lets face it, how many batsmen have really performed for England.

You could nearly drop them all.

Bopara's test match average is 33, which is not great, and even this is skewed by his average against a mediocre Windies team:

v Australia, he averages 15.00
v Sril Lanka, he average 8.40
v Windies, he averages 118.33

He has played 15 innings and has failed to score a 50 against anyone else except the Windies.

 

[London Calling]

Bopara's test match average is 33, which is not great, and even this is skewed by his average against a mediocre Windies team:

v Australia, he averages 15.00
v Sril Lanka, he average 8.40
v Windies, he averages 118.33

He has played 15 innings and has failed to score a 50 against anyone else except the Windies.

Yep they are the facts,

 

[Simster]

As I've said before, I think England will make one batting change and bring back Flintoff. They might also bring back Monty, if the wicker looks like taking spin.

No thanks, not with Panasar in this sort of form.

 

[Gwylan]

No thanks, not with Panasar in this sort of form.

He bowled better than Swann in the opening game - and Oval could be a similar wicket. One ball to Ponting aside, Swann hasn't really impressed this series, I don't think England would want to play on a turner with one out of form spinner.

Actually, if England really wanted to take a gamble, they could throw Adil Rashid in at the deep end. That would be the sort of oddball suggestion that Brovion was talking about.

 

[Simster]

He bowled better than Swann in the opening game - and Oval could be a similar wicket.

You really are clutching at straws there. First game figures (in a match the entire bowling attack took just 6 wickets):
Swann 38.0 8 131 0
Panesar 35.0 4 115 1

Both sets of figures are a bit pony, but Swann can hold a bat and doesn't look like a village cricketer in the field.

Ideally, we want a bowler who looks like taking wickets. At no point this summer has Panesar looked like taking wickets. At least Swann did his job in the one victory charge we've had.

Ideally though, we need another specialist spinner in the squad, in case the wicket does take spin.

 

[Peppermint Tea]

I believe that Mark Butcher giggled when asked if Ramps should be recalled. He said something along the lines of he physically couldn't get through a 5 day test match.

Tres has retired from playing for England and will easily resist and overture.

Cyril Washbrook and Colin Cowdrey have both shuffled off this mortal coil.

It'll be a straight Trott for Little Bo Para swap I reckon.

If Fred is fit (that is a big if) do you drop Onions or Harmless-son?

 

[keaton]

I'd go for this next test, but Flintoff and Anderson would both have to be at least 95% fit

Cook
Strauss
Bell
Trott
Prior
Collingwood
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson/Onions

 

[Gwylan]

Ideally, we want a bowler who looks like taking wickets. At no point this summer has Panesar looked like taking wickets.

Apart from when he took a few against Australia in the Lions match..

You hit the nail on the head when you talk about Swann's batting though - if the two players' batting talents were reversed, I suspect we'd have seen Panesar picked.

What's really disturbing is how both players have regressed. Panesar looked like a breath of fresh air when he first starting playing and hasn't developed at all. Swann looked like a world-beater in India but, apart from the odd moment, has looked poor

Hauritz has looked better than both of them.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Firstly, no-one said anything about Trott's omission from the Widies touring party, yet now at the age of 28 this guy is going to come in for his 1st Test and do a job? Is he f***!

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I don't need to "Trott" out the stats - the fact that the wicketkeeper is the second-highest runscorer and the 7-11 tail have scored as many as our 1-5 batsmen tells you all you need to know about where our biggest preblems lie.

Strauss must open with Trescothick, Cook in at 3, then Ramps, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Broad, Swann, Anderson and Harmison.

I feel at the bouncier Oval with Freddie and Banger back the spirit of 2005 might return to Harmison, so he gets the nod over Onions, just.

 

[ezzoud]

It may not matter who they pick if the Aussies win the toss and the pitch is flat which I think it will be judging by the most recent CC game at the Oval (Leics 593-5d, Surrey 608-4d)
They'll just bat and bat and bat and that will be the end of that....

 

[Mendoza]

It is harsh putting Trott in as he has never played any test cricket. To make your debut in a do or die, must win Ashes game is a lot of pressure on anyone

If you take out Bopara, there are no candidates to come in at number 3? Is Bell really that person?

Maybe Cook can bat at 3 and get someone else to open? Prior dare I say it? Its all too much. Even Rob Key would be better than Bopara at 3. But the again so is a traffic cone? Maybe T.Cone can in at number 3? Or even Carl Power

 

[ezzoud]

Michael Holding suggested Key bat at three, Prior at five playing as a batsman, and Foster as keeper....not sure how many of the 20 wickets required those three are going to get mind you....

 

[SJ's Love Monkey]

Bell Test average 39.84
Ramps Test average 27.32

Yeah right, Ramprakash is a much better bet

I meant on current showing, but hey you keep flashing up those stats mate!

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Michael Holding suggested Key bat at three, Prior at five playing as a batsman, and Foster as keeper....not sure how many of the 20 wickets required those three are going to get mind you....

That's crazy --- if Prior is good enough to bat at 5, he's also good enough to keep - that means we have another slot for a bowler or batsman.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I meant on current showing, but hey you keep flashing up those stats mate!

Ramp's current test average is hard to determine, surely?

 

[Dave the OAP]

my concern is that the aussies have worked out our top order.

Bopara, keep the ball up to him as he is undecided against genuine quickies( undoubted talent though he is)...Bell keep giving him short stuff and Cook fast outside the off stump and then get one to nip back.

I dont think people realised just how much we would miss Peiterson. he is bar far away our best batsman and with his am Flintoff out, the batting looks weak.

Personally I would go for:

Strauss
Cook
Trott
Shah
Collingwood
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Rashid
Anderson
Sidebottom

If Anderson is unfit you could bring in Swann as the second spinner, but that would leave two strike bowlers, Bresnan as the medium fast workhorse and Collingwood to trundle.

I think we need to set an attacking team and Rashid is a good attacking young leggy, Bresnan is a decent bowler who can bat and I still think Sidebottom is the best swing bowler we have at the moment.