4th test

[canveyshrimper]

Bopara is the best young batsman about IMHO.

Denly is probably the second best prospect. He's very well regarded at Kent, but I'm not sure he is quite ready yet. Hildreth hasn't quite come on at Somerset as hoped.

Then you've got the older guys like Shah, Key, Joyce and probably even Sales.

Bowling wise you've got Simon Jones and Hoggard from the 2005 class, then the likes of Mahmood (who I'm very big on) and PLunkett who have already been blooded and Tremlett (only 1 test IIRC). The main uncapped bowler would be Onions. not sure where else we'd look, maybe back at Pattinson or Richardson for the swing specialist.

I don't think there is great depth at the moment.

I've seen James Harris of Glamorgan and at 18 he looks a decent prospect, good action and pace, will need two or three years to become stronger.

I've always liked Mahmood he looks a much better bowler than when he last played for England.

 

[MrB]

I've always liked Mahmood he looks a much better bowler than when he last played for England.

From what I've seen of him this season he always looks dangerous but seems to have curbed some of those nagging faults he always had when he was in the England team. For all his good work with the bat, Broad still doesn't seem like a test bowler to me at this time and should still be regarded as one for the future. I'd like to see Mahmood or Jones given a chance in the winter depending on who finishes the season stronger.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I've seen James Harris of Glamorgan and at 18 he looks a decent prospect, good action and pace, will need two or three years to become stronger.

I've always liked Mahmood he looks a much better bowler than when he last played for England.

I'd have thought Harris is about 5 years away from test cricket, but haven't actually seen him play. Is also supposed to be able to bat a bit. If we are talking very young prospects, I should mention Finn of Middlesex. Very tall, gets good bounce. I expect to see him in an England shirt in about 3 years time, although he's possibly been overshadowed this season by his county colleague Danny Evans.

I also missed out of the young batsmen, young Samit Patel who has just made the one-day squad.

Looking through today's scores, Robbie Joseph took 6-32 for Kent. He's I think Antiguan born, but England qualified. Is supposed to have good wheels. Amjad Khan, his Danish team-mate at Kent is also supposed to be pretty swift.

On the spinner front, Rashid picked up 7-101. I think that is his best performance of the season by some distance.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

From what I've seen of him this season he always looks dangerous but seems to have curbed some of those nagging faults he always had when he was in the England team. For all his good work with the bat, Broad still doesn't seem like a test bowler to me at this time and should still be regarded as one for the future. I'd like to see Mahmood or Jones given a chance in the winter depending on who finishes the season stronger.

One of those two definitely need to go to India this winter. England will need someone who can hit 90mph+ and reverse swing it.

I'd keep Broad in the team, he's still contributing with the bat and he still offers more with the ball than a Colly or Ravi.

England's attack looked so much better today with a bit of pace about it. Harmy was hitting 90mph+, Jimmy was swinging it in the high 80s, Freddie's up there as well. Looked to me to be a pretty balanced attack if Anderson and Broad can swing it and Harmison and Flintoff can bang it in. I would like to get that reverse-swing bowler in there somehow.

 

[canveyshrimper]

I'd have thought Harris is about 5 years away from test cricket, but haven't actually seen him play. Is also supposed to be able to bat a bit. If we are talking very young prospects, I should mention Finn of Middlesex. Very tall, gets good bounce. I expect to see him in an England shirt in about 3 years time, although he's possibly been overshadowed this season by his county colleague Danny Evans.

I also missed out of the young batsmen, young Samit Patel who has just made the one-day squad.

Looking through today's scores, Robbie Joseph took 6-32 for Kent. He's I think Antiguan born, but England qualified. Is supposed to have good wheels. Amjad Khan, his Danish team-mate at Kent is also supposed to be pretty swift.

On the spinner front, Rashid picked up 7-101. I think that is his best performance of the season by some distance.

I think Staurt Broad is 22 so on that premise Harris will be 4 years away, which is probably good for hum to build his strength.

Amjad Khan has had a few injuries I think, don't know a lot about Joseph. I'm pleased to see Rashid is coming along, I think that 7 fer is a career best. May be a long shot for India, but would like to see him get more experience with the academy team.

 

[Stats]

What a pic of Amla's wicket.

Amla was really unlucky there as the ball took a wicked deflection off his beard.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Amla was really unlucky there as the ball took a wicked deflection off his beard.

Didn't Dean Jones get into trouble by calling Amla "The Terrorist"?

 

[Stats]

Didn't Dean Jones get into trouble by calling Amla "The Terrorist"?

:D

Yeah Live on tv, funnily enough dont think Dean Jones worked for that TV station again after that game.

On a serious note thats gotta be the biggest beard in cricket since the great WG Grace.

 

[number11]

:D

Yeah Live on tv, funnily enough dont think Dean Jones worked for that TV station again after that game.

On a serious note thats gotta be the biggest beard in cricket since the great WG Grace.

I prefer Monty's....it looks less high maintenance.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Hmm, I thought Bell would be needed to hold the innings together and he goes to one moving off the seam from Ntini. To his credit, he almost played softly at the last minute but it still carried and he was probably could have played at it a bit later.

Anyone doubting Pietersen's form should have noted two very authoriatative drives to get him going. As I said before, a very interestign passage of play coming up. If Pietersen goes, one imagines so does our dominance in the match.

 

[canveyshrimper]

:D

Yeah Live on tv, funnily enough dont think Dean Jones worked for that TV station again after that game.

On a serious note thats gotta be the biggest beard in cricket since the great WG Grace.

Former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar had a rather luxuriant growth.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar had a rather luxuriant growth.

He looks like a f*cking terrorist too !!!!!!

 

[SUFCEssex]

i just can't see the point to having a beard like that. i'm such a messy eater i'd lose half my dinner in it.

 

[Stats]

Perhaps we could get a bearded cricket XI together

I'll start with

1 - Saeed Anwar
2 - Mohammed Yousef
3 - WG Grace
4 - Viv Richards
5 - Mike Gatting
6 -
7 -
8 - Mike Hendricks
9 - Dennis Lilley
10 - Mushtaq Ahmed
11 - Monty Panesar

12th Man - Hashim Amla

Any other offers

 

[Grayson]

Monty Panesar
Mohammed Yousuf

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Amla obviously

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Mike Hendrick

 

[SUFCLiam]

latest 99-2 with cook 38 not out and KP on 27 not out

 

[SUFCEssex]

peter willey

 

[Stats]

I'll have monty in so thats the spinners covered.

Can Yousef open the batting?

Amla, depsite having a great beard he'll be relegated to 12th man duties due to numbers 3,4 & 5 being occupied by messers Grace, Richards & Fat Gatt.

Looking for 2 seamers plus a wk.