: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:38 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Strauss is a fool. Knackered or not they should have enforced the follow on as the lead was so enormous the Windies were never in a position to win it. It would have demoralised them and left at most a nominal chase in the second innings.

A typically English lack of ruthlessness.

With only 3 fully fit bowlers at the time I can see why he did it.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:55 am  

The biggest mistake Strauss made IMO was not declaring early enough. I wouldn't have forced the follow-on with the injuries to the bowling attack that we had.

Another good performance by Broad, has to be a shoe-in for the Ashes if he carries on. Monty has got a fair bit of work to do to regain his place from Swann IMO.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:24 pm  

The Penguin wrote:

With only 3 fully fit bowlers at the time I can see why he did it.

So can I although I would still have enforced it, there were only 12 overs to bowl that night.

The big mistake was not declaring at lunch on the 4th day, we should never have sent Anderson in and he certainly should have retired on the following morning and allowed the batters to come in and get runs more quickly.

England bowled really well on the last day though and were very unlucky.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:08 pm  

Nemanja wrote:

Another good performance by Broad, has to be a shoe-in for the Ashes if he carries on. Monty has got a fair bit of work to do to regain his place from Swann IMO.

Swann bowls like a spinner who has spent time perfecting his craft away from Test cricket - his variety of pace and flight puts Panesar to shame, he's not afraid to be hit out of the ground if the batsman is good enough to do it.

Given he's ahead of Panesar in the batting and fielding departments by some distance it may be a little while before Monty gets another look-in.

Interesting dilemma facing England if Flintoff doesn't make the next test. Do they stick Bell back in the side to bat at 6 and go with a four-man attack, or go with Sidebottom and bat Prior at 6 with Broad at 7?

The best choice in terms of balancing the side would probably be Rashid, but I can't see Barbados(?) being a two spinner pitch.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:45 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Interesting dilemma facing England if Flintoff doesn't make the next test. Do they stick Bell back in the side to bat at 6 and go with a four-man attack, or go with Sidebottom and bat Prior at 6 with Broad at 7?

I'd hazard a guess at Bopara getting the nod ahead of those 2, given that he's been called up from the Lions squad.

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:51 pm  

Billy Banter wrote:

Bollox. Snatched a draw from the jaws of victory. Again.

wonder what happened

: Fri Feb 20, 2009 6:11 pm  

OrdsallRed wrote:

If anyone wants to join the fantasy cricket then feel free....

I got jipped, made 5 changes for the game which didn't happen now I don't get them back how's that fair.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:59 pm  

Lord_Percy wrote:

I'd hazard a guess at Bopara getting the nod ahead of those 2, given that he's been called up from the Lions squad.

His ton today won't have hurt his chances.

I would like to see Bopara in for Flintoff or Rashid coming into the side and play with two spinners.

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:50 pm  

Apparently, Pietersen smelled a rat all along. Q: If the bloke's a sleazebag, and you were uneasy about the whole thing, why'd you take his money regardless? A: You're a mercenary

Apparently, Pietersen smelled a rat all along. Q: If the bloke's a sleazebag, and you were uneasy about the whole thing, why'd you take his money regardless? A: You're a mercenary

: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:43 pm  

Prior is returning home as his wife has given birth, wonder if Stanford knows?