: Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:11 pm  

Lets get Mark Butcher back aswell while we're at it

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:21 pm  

i would hope to win the toss. and prey for NO rain

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:51 pm  

PAUL M wrote:

Ramps could play well as he will have zero pressure on him as he knows it's probably a one off.

What, the saviour of England? He'll be crapping himself.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:57 pm  

Just seen on the BBC Ticker that the ECB have released Bell, Onions, Swann, Bopara and Cook to play for their counties.

Good decision for me to allow the batters a bit of time in the middle (hopefully!) and gain a bit of confidence. I can also see the sense in not releasing Strauss, who could probably do with resting his mind more than his body, and at least he's scored runs in this series.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 2:05 pm  

Why is Ramprakash even being considered? He is playing for a division 2 side that have managed to win one championship game all season.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 2:07 pm  

Karlos13 wrote:

Why is Ramprakash even being considered? He is playing for a division 2 side that have managed to win one championship game all season.

Because we are THAT desperate? Who else is there?

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 2:39 pm  

Let's give Sir Geoffrey another go!

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 2:57 pm  

gulfcoast_highwayman wrote:

Let's give Sir Geoffrey another go!

Don't be daft, he's far too old. Best stick with youth and get Athers and Nasser back first

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:41 pm  

Lord_Percy wrote:

Because we are THAT desperate? Who else is there?

Ed Joyce has been forgotten in all this. I'm not sure he ever got a fair crack at international level with England. And he got a ton against the Aussies in a one-dayer last Ashes tour there, IIRC.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:12 pm  

Karlos13 wrote:

Why is Ramprakash even being considered? He is playing for a division 2 side that have managed to win one championship game all season.

He averages 70+ over an 8 and a half season span, seven of those seasons in the First Division, and equally his team has lost only one Championship match all season. Last year Surrey actually had the greatest number of batting bonus points in Division 1 until the late season away games at Blackpool and Canterbury were washed out without either side taking any bonus points. (If someone was suggesting one of our bowlers should be picked for the next Test match then I would be worried!)

Personally I don't think the selectors will pick Ramps and I'm looking forward to seeing his 109th century at Colchester next week instead having been overlooked by the selectors once again. The trouble is Bopara looks a couple of places too high in the order at 3, Bell hasn't inspired the confidence to justify promoting him to 3 in the two Tests since his recall, Trott doesn't bat that high for his county unless I'm much mistaken. Who bats at 3? Robert Key possibly? I'd have recalled Owais Shah instead of Bell two matches ago myself, but he seems to be out of favour with the selectors and I don't think they'll see him as the answer this time. So who else would be a more logical choice than a bloke who always bats in that position, has fifty Tests behind him, averages 40+ against the Aussies, and averages approximately 100 this season!