: Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:17 am  

Asim wrote:

This is why we worry about Bell when the pressure is on, he comes into the spotlight because of Pietersen's injury and proceeds to make 7 and 0 for Warwickshire.

Let's face it there's no simple solution to replacing Pietersen. We either recall an experienced Test batsman who's failed to establish himself like Bell or Key, or bring in somone with limited or no Test experience like Shah, Moore or Denly.

I still think Owais Shah has become a great lost talent thanks to poor selection. It's absurd that he had to wait until he was 27 for his Test debut, then having made 38 & 88 in a win in India he gets left out again for well over a year. He must feel as if he has to make a ton to keep his place each time he's been brought back since and not surprisingly has looked skittish and uncomfortable on those rare occasions.

I also feel that for three matches of a home series against the strongest opposition, with our best batsman indisposed for those games, Marcus Trescothick should be on the selectors' radar. We all know about his problems (primarily relating to touring overseas) but he seems to be in good form for Somerset and I hope the selectors might at least sound him out to see if he represents a viable option.

: Sat Jul 25, 2009 2:11 pm  

Prince of Denmark wrote:

Let's face it there's no simple solution to replacing Pietersen. We either recall an experienced Test batsman who's failed to establish himself like Bell or Key, or bring in somone with limited or no Test experience like Shah, Moore or Denly.

I still think Owais Shah has become a great lost talent thanks to poor selection. It's absurd that he had to wait until he was 27 for his Test debut, then having made 38 & 88 in a win in India he gets left out again for well over a year. He must feel as if he has to make a ton to keep his place each time he's been brought back since and not surprisingly has looked skittish and uncomfortable on those rare occasions.

I also feel that for three matches of a home series against the strongest opposition, with our best batsman indisposed for those games, Marcus Trescothick should be on the selectors' radar. We all know about his problems (primarily relating to touring overseas) but he seems to be in good form for Somerset and I hope the selectors might at least sound him out to see if he represents a viable option.

We can only live in hope. He is consistently the best English batsman in the country. If only he made himself available again

: Sat Jul 25, 2009 3:04 pm  

airliebird9 wrote:

We can only live in hope. He is consistently the best English batsman in the country. If only he made himself available again

He is, and I've thought about this many times.

I guess there's a hypoctrical element to it though, we sort of don't want Bell in the side as he's mentally weak, yet we clamour for a guy who's clearly had some sort of mental breakdown. I think maybe he's scoring so many runs because he's stress free. Shove him back in the pressure cooker enviornment of Test Cricket, you'd have to wonder if he'll crack again.

: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:44 pm  

JWP wrote:

He is, and I've thought about this many times.

I guess there's a hypoctrical element to it though, we sort of don't want Bell in the side as he's mentally weak, yet we clamour for a guy who's clearly had some sort of mental breakdown. I think maybe he's scoring so many runs because he's stress free. Shove him back in the pressure cooker enviornment of Test Cricket, you'd have to wonder if he'll crack again.

Point taken, but I think Trescothick's demons are within himself when he's away from home for months on end, I don't feel he's intimidated by opponents on the cricket field as "Little Boy" Bell seems to be.

However, if I was going to pick a no. 3/4 batsman to replace Pietersen, Mark Ramprakash (very fit, rarely injured, still a fine fielder approaching his 40th birthday in September) would be right in the frame, but as a Surrey member I'm biased. For me Owais Shah is the bloke who should be in there at 3 with Bopara dropping to 4. Shah has consistently impressed me in all manner of situations in various formats of the game playing against my own county for the past decade. He seems to be established in our ODI/T20 team and I can't understand why the selectors continue to exclude him from the Test team. I just think he's too good to ignore and has been very hard done by.

: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:52 pm  

If I could pick anyone to add to the squad it would be Trescothick, however didn't he turn down the chance to be part of the T20 World Cup squad? Maybe my memory is playing tricks there but I think he thinks it is better for him to avoid the international scene totally, and if he has had problems then he has to do what I think is best.

I think I'd prefer Ramprakash to Bell too, I think I've just got something against Bell for some reason, and I also seem to recall Ramprakash has a decent average against the Aussies, certainly better than his overall record at test level, again we know it isn't going to happen.

I haven't seen much of Shah at test level for whatever reason, but the way he has been discarded reminds me of the bad old days I mentioned earlier in the thread, where lots of players weren't given much of a chance to establish themselves.

: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:55 am  

I've so much time for Owais Shah, but there is something in my head agreeing with the selectors on this one. Granted, I think over a timespan of say, five years, I think he's had a really bum deal. I remember him getting into the side, think it was a test vs West Indies at Lords, two failures, like nervous, his head was resting even further down his arm, he was dropped, I think for Vaughan to return IIRC. I just think right now, you need a cool head to come into this side, we're all up as fans, the crowds expect, the taim will be bubbly, Australia are going to through the preverbial kicthen sink, It just, well, somehow it's not Owais Shah, I just can't explain it.

The mad thing with Tescothick is, he was crap at county level before England, averaging mid 20's, he was plop. Fletcher just noticed him, got him into the England team, and it worked. Maybe because once your an international, you get so much more time to practice y'know, hone your technique etc.

That Steven Moore at Worcestershire, he got a hundred in that warm up against Australia, that Lions shindig. Maybe he's worth a shout, he's recently faced their attack, so he'd know what to expect. He's scored runs in domestic cricket this last couple of years, England 'A' and all that. I think he'd get my vote. I like to see people picked who are on form.

: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:12 am  

Reports today that Flintoff will play in two of the three remaining test. Dont expect to see him at Headingley

: Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:26 am  

aussie's won today

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:05 pm  

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned on here but it looks like it will be Bell to bat at number 4 in the next test.

: Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:56 pm  

Asim wrote:

If I could pick anyone to add to the squad it would be Trescothick, however didn't he turn down the chance to be part of the T20 World Cup squad? Maybe my memory is playing tricks there but I think he thinks it is better for him to avoid the international scene totally, and if he has had problems then he has to do what I think is best.

Forget the Aussies supposed ban on sledging - if England picked Trescothick he'd be put under enormous mental pressure with plenty of chatter around the wicket.