Monty Panesar and Jimmy Anderson

-liam-

AND...Paul Collingwood !...Give these guys a standing ovation !

Just batted out a whole day to save the first test against the Australians.

What a game !!!

Naveed

Incredible - I thought England were done and dusted! Well done lads, now just drop Ravi Bopara and stick Pietersen in at number 3 and roll on the second test.

mongoosed

England looked doomed earlier on,but Collingwood was brilliant as were anderson and panesar,i like ponting getting that smile wiped off his face

uk_mr_brownstone

Collingwood was awesome. Can't win test matches against Australia with only one or two players putting in world class performances though.

It's difficult to know how the momentum will go into the next test. Australia clearly had the better performance this test.

KnightofCydonia

Naveed wrote:

Incredible - I thought England were done and dusted! Well done lads, now just drop Ravi Bopara and stick Pietersen in at number 3 and roll on the second test.

how do you work that out? We're already light on batting so you're advising we remove one of the ones we already have? He was unlucky in this test, he got a stinking decision from the west indian umpire. But, I guess we live in a nation where if somebody fails in one innings or maybe two, they should be dropped :roll:

Naveed

Bopara ain't no test batsmen. He's an allrounder who's always been a one day 20/20 man. We need to get rid of him and replace him with Ian Bell who's an outright batsmen.

We also need to get rid of Broad and bring in either Sidebottom or Harmy.

The truth is that we got smashed in this test - we only narrowly avoided defeat.

-liam-

Naveed wrote:

Bopara ain't no test batsmen. He's an allrounder who's always been a one day 20/20 man. We need to get rid of him and replace him with Ian Bell who's an outright batsmen.

We also need to get rid of Broad and bring in either Sidebottom or Harmy.

The truth is that we got smashed in this test - we only narrowly avoided defeat.

Bopara is one of our most on form batsman - he stays. Ian Bell, fails to often.

I can see your point with Broad, however he does bring something to the tail with the bat. Harmison and Sidebottom don't. Besides which, Harmison had his day 5 years ago. He's no good now. I'm also not sure what Sidebottom would achieve at Lords. He is a swing bowler, he won't get much joy there. I'd stick with Broad just for his batting and line and length or perhaps bring in Onions.

Also, they played 2 spinners in Swann and Panesar in Cardiff. They won't do the same at Lords. One of them will get dropped, probably Panesar for a seam bowler so Sidebottom or Onions will probably come in anyway.

On the whole though, I wouldn't panic and certainly wouldn't play Harmison even though he has been brought in as cover just in case Flintoffs knee is buggered again.

supersonic

Harmison is back for the next test.

Shout to Swann for excellent knocks in both innings - pity he didn't grab a wicket or two.

-liam-

supersonic wrote:

Harmison is back for the next test.

Shout to Swann for excellent knocks in both innings - pity he didn't grab a wicket or two.

He has been added as cover for Freddie in a 14 man squad. Not quite playing yet.

Sods law says he plays and takes 10 wickets in the match

Aye, kudos to Swann. Took a battering in 2nd innings, shame he got out the way he did though.

I liked the quote on the BBC website commentary on the thursday morning whilst he was blasting the Aussies all over the shop....

"The RSPCB have reacted to calls claiming there is a swann on fire in Cardiff"

lol !

dave_hill

Jimmy Anderson - the Burnley Express!!