Test series vs New Zealand

[number11]

Have seen its likely to be Strauss at 3, and Ambrose coming into the test side. They both may well do well as the New Zealand bowling attack doesnt exactly appear first rate without Shane Bond, but the very fact these two are playing worries me about the direction we are headed and the ability of Moores as a coach.

Neither were in Sri Lanka for the first leg of our winter tour (when we were pretty insipid), but Shah and Mustard were chosen for that tour and didnt get a game. Shah gets 95 in the first warm up game, and then isnt chosen for the 2nd one. Mustard plays all the one dayers. Now Strauss and Ambrose have leapfrogged these two into the side without them having failed (ie not given a chance) and without Strauss and Ambrose doing much to push their inclusion (how Vaughan and Moores must have been chuffed that Strauss got a ton the other day).

I really dont know how Moores and Vaughan can look Shah in the eyes around the team hotel, given the way he has been shabbily treated. Im no great fan of his, and do actually like Strauss, but the treatment of Shah is just downright unfair. It also looks like it will result in Bell going to 5, and Collingwood 6 (where I think he belongs)...so 3 batting changes just to bring Strauss in. Fletcher had his faults near the end, but other than the Monty issue, he never had such muddled team selection, and Im worried we will end up where we were in the mid 90's, with a talented bunch of batsmen but too much choping and changing to have an established order and batsman confident enough in their place to play their natural games.

For the record, unless we get on the wrong end of an important toss on a freakish pitch I think we will win the series by one game.

 

[Pubey]

I'm a big fan of Strauss, but I can't see what Shah has done wrong to yet again be excluded from the test XI.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Whilst I share your concern about the lack of direction in the English selection policy, I don't actually have a problem with Ambrose being selected over Mustard or Strauss over Shah.

Mustard shouldn't have been in the test squad for Sri Lanka (unless it was as a drinks career so as not to undermine Prior). I think he was a fair enough selection as a one-day specialist, given that he was the highest List A run-scorer in England last season. However his first class batting record is something like the second worse career record out of all 18 keepers in the county championship, and whilst competent with the gloves, he isn't amongst the top glovemen.

My problem was Ambrose is that (a) he isn't English and (b) he has been chosen on the back of one good summer. Ambrose hasn't risen through the ranks having been identified as a future England player, instead he's briefly flashed and has been given the nod. Personally I felt Prior should have been given time to come good with the gloves. Whilst he dropped too many catches, particularly off Sidebottom, this never use to be a problem when keeping to Lewry at county level.

I was opposed to the selection of Strauss, but that was more a question of his lack of any form. He's hit two hundreds in his last four innings - albeit against mediocre opposition - which suggests he has rediscovered the form that had him averaging in the mid 40s. Moreover, it makes sense for him to come in at 3, which doesn't split up the Cook-Vaughan opening partnership which looked promising (at least when Vaughan hadn't been captaining in the field for 2 straight days) with the left-right hand and defensive-aggressive combinations.

Given the expected nature of pitches in NZ, it may well make sense to have an extra opener at 3, rather than someone like Shah (or indeed Bopara) who is more of a spin expert. Personally, I'd have Bell at 4, KP at 5 and Colly at 6.

My concerns are that young players aren't being given long enough to prove themselves. Moores three picks were Sideshow, Prior and Bopara. Prior and Bopara have already been discarded. It seems particularly harsh to chuck Bopara in at the toughest place to play test cricket, up against the no.1 bowler in the world and then drop him entirely against NZ's pop gun attack - not even making the one-day team.

ps Moores continues to pick Shah for ODIs.

 

[number11]

It;s the muddled thinking that conerns me. I have always liked strauss, but just think he hasnt done enough to go from not being in the squad to being straight into the starting eleven, whereas Shah has not played despite being on both tours. What you say about Strauss being at 3 is vaild, it does make it look a solid top 3, but the selection of him there has come about in a roundabout way, not by forward thinking / planning.

I dont think personally Bopara is good enough for a top 6 test spot, but as you say, having backed him, to drop him after 3 games on the sub continent is potentially ruinous to a talented player. The treatment of Shah (who I dont actually particularly rate) has been absolutely disgusting in my opinion and he must really wonder why he bothers spending time away from his family (if he has one). Prior was never picked as being a good wicket keeper, but for his ability with the bat, has just had a very decent series with the bat, and then doesnt even make the squad. Why not drop Mustard, who as you say has no first class pedigree, and take Prior and Ambrose to compete for the number one spot. They were teammates before and competed in same succesful team, though obv their may be underlying animosity between them? At least this way though we have the competition, and Prior can work on his keeping with a great international (Flowers) and his coach who was a keeper (Moores).

Moores comes across well and seems likeable, but I dont think he has the same unflappable vision Flectcher has, and fear we are in for a period of mediocrity...which is a same as the 2nd ranked spot is up for grabs amongst very average teams at the moment, and Australia will soon prove more vulnerable.

We will still win this series though I think.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Agree entirely about the lack of vision and direction with Moores compared to Fletcher. England appear to be county cricket now, compared to international cricket under Fletcher.

Talking about the Aussies proving more vulnerable, they lost again today, albeit in the one-dayers, and are now 2-0 down in the best of 3 final.

 

[number11]

Agree entirely about the lack of vision and direction with Moores compared to Fletcher. England appear to be county cricket now, compared to international cricket under Fletcher.

Talking about the Aussies proving more vulnerable, they lost again today, albeit in the one-dayers, and are now 2-0 down in the best of 3 final.

Dont think they bother playing the dead rubber do they? If not its a shame for Gilchrist to bow out with a defeat, but I understand Hogg wasnt even selected for the game so am glad he went out so ingloriously...never liked him! 3 defeats on the trot for the Aussies.....similar to last year, bet they havent failed to win their home 1 day tournament two years on the trot too often. Ive not seen the international fixtures but I hope they have a tricky tour to Sri Lanka, India or South Africa soon as that will test their strength in tests.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I didn't realise Hogg was bowing out.

He's not great, but he's better than the likes of Cullen.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

I think the Aussies have tours to Pakistan and the West Indies coming up. Wouldn't surprise me if Hayden chucked it in soon as well. He must be 36 now, and I would imagine he could think of better things to do than tour Pakistan.

PS, nice to meet you other week number11

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Two easy tours against the weakest established test nations then.

Pakistan are in a mess without Shaoib Akhtar or Inzy. I wonder if Asif will be fit/available.

 

[number11]

Two easy tours against the weakest established test nations then.

Pakistan are in a mess without Shaoib Akhtar or Inzy. I wonder if Asif will be fit/available.

I think Hogg is bowing out......jumping before being pushed. No doubted his decent ability in the one day game....just couldnt stand him and always thought he was an **** so am glad he is departing!

The schedule for Australia has worked out well then with some easy-ish overseas tests to bed in some of their newer players. Is a pity as Id like to see their new attack toil against some class opposition, but as you say Pakistan are in constant dissaray, and they may not even tour there anyway... and West Indies lack the class. Our summer should be quite good though....we should beat New Zealand at home comfortably and then South Africa will be a good battle. The last three series with them have been keenly fought and it will be a good test of where we are. There is every chance us ending the summer back in second. What I would most like though is for one of Broad, Plunkett, Tremlett or another (unlikely given his brittle body) coming to the fore as a genuine test bowler.

Im not sure Hayden will retire.....given the weight of runs he has scored since we almost ended his career in 2005 it looks like he still has plenty of hunger and he is rapidly moving up the list of century scorers....amazing considering he was overlooked for so long.

PS. Billericay, nice to meet you too....not sure about the company you keep though ;)

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

PS. Billericay, nice to meet you too....not sure about the company you keep though ;)

Well someone has to talk to him....:hilarious:

 

[canveyshrimper]

New Zealand win the toss and bat, they are fielding two spinners in Vettori & Patel.

No surprises for England with Strauss batting at 3.

 

[number11]

Caught some of the first session, and been reading the round ups this morning. Pretty evenly matched, with New Zealand 280 odd for 6. We did have them 190 for 5 though.

Seems Harmison is living on borrowed time, great figures from Sidey though. First session tonight will probably decide the outcome of the test, we get through Taylor or Vettori and into their tale to restrict them to below 330 we are in a good position....they stick around then we will struggle to win batting 4th against 2 spinners....

 

[Bluesmanager]

Harmy didn't sound too bad from what I heard on TMS. Bell's got a severely brusied hand (frankly, I think he's lucky it's not a break), should be back for test 2, certainly 3.

 

[Pubey]

Caught some of the first session, and been reading the round ups this morning. Pretty evenly matched, with New Zealand 280 odd for 6. We did have them 190 for 5 though.

Seems Harmison is living on borrowed time, great figures from Sidey though. First session tonight will probably decide the outcome of the test, we get through Taylor or Vettori and into their tale to restrict them to below 330 we are in a good position....they stick around then we will struggle to win batting 4th against 2 spinners....

agreed, need to get stuck into them and definitely finish them for less than 350.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

However many NZ end up with, we must score 500+. Admittedly that will be very difficult with Bell injured, but it needs to be done.

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

It will be difficult to judge whether it's a good first day for England until we bat. We have a long tail and not many of our batsmen are in good form so it's by no means certain we'll get a first innings lead.

 

[sufcintheprem]

putting the objective of winning the game to one side for a sec, I caught a bit after the Sevilla game had ended and either side f lunch was some of the dullest cricket imaginable. I think they scored 4 runs in about 6 overs with barely a sniff for the bowlers.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Getting McCullum just before the end was a really important wicket for England. NZ produced a very English display, with no-one able to press on and make a score that could hurt the opposition and for large parts of the day content just to let England bowl at them. With no Bond and no Flintoff, there is a distinct lack of players who can change a game (KP is probably the only one, unless someone else steps up), and it looks like being a series of attrition.
To have them 6 down isn't too bad considering there was nothing in the pitch, but England will have to take a further 14 wickets to win plus score enough runs in 4 days and I wonder if they've got it in them.

Harmison's bowling was the worse I've seen from him. He wasn't as wild as he has been, but his spell in the middle session was devoid of pace (struggling to get it up to 80mph) and bounce, his two redeeming features when he sprays it. He got back up to 85mph by the final session but was still pretty innocuous.

Sideshow's figures flattered him. He seemed to rarely make the batsman play (a la Mullally) and was arguably guilty of wasting the new ball. His wickets were more down to bad shots and good catches, although he at least offered control.

Hoggard's pace was well down to a level I haven't seen since Brisbane/Adelaide in 2002, although he still got some movement with the new ball. He looked vulnerable when McCullum went after him.

Monty however was back to his best, offering control and able to pick up a wicket when a batsman is playing defensive. Collingwood also did a handy job.

England's man of the day was however Alistair Cook, who took three good catches, one of them stunning. If he can continue to field like that, that is a major positive for England to have a top class gully fielder.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Oh dear NZ on 469-8 Vettori coming in at number 8 & getting 88, now can you see Sidebottom getting that many for England at number 8???

Edit............... now 470-9
Sidebottom 3 wickets for 90 not bad figures get another one & they will look even better.

Edit.................. now 470 all out, talk of the devil Sidebottom 4 wickets for 90 runs.