carcrash Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 I know a few people on here like cricket so this thread is all about The Ashes. The squad was announced yesterday and Flintoff was named as Captain. Test squad Andrew Flintoff, capt Lancashire Age 28, 62 caps Andrew Strauss Middlesex 29, 31 Marcus Trescothick Somerset 30, 76 Alastair Cook Essex 21, 9 Kevin Pietersen Hampshire 26, 18 Paul Collingwood Durham 30, 15 Ian Bell Warwickshire 24, 18 Chris Read, wkt Notts 28, 13 Geraint Jones, wkt, Kent 30, 31 Sajid Mahmood Lancashire 24, 5 Matthew Hoggard Yorkshire 29, 52 Steve Harmison Durham 27, 45 Monty Panesar Northants 24, 10 Ashley Giles Warwickshire 33, 52 James Anderson Lancashire 24, 13 Liam Plunkett Durham 21, 6 I think making Flintoff captain might be a mistake. Strauss has done well this summer and he is one of the few player who's average has gone up whilst being captain. I'm not sure about taking Plunkett and several of this squad are injured at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gypsy Hack Posted September 13, 2006 Share Posted September 13, 2006 Chris Read. 28. 13 caps. What a travesty. Arguably the best keeper in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunzi Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I think that the ECB had no choice but to make Flintoff captain. They layed it on a plate for him before his injury. Strauss is a better prospect for replacing Vaughn long term in my opinion, he'll also be an excellent sounding board for Flintoff who I think might struggle this winter. He's coming back from injury, straight into the Captains role and he has a tendancy to overbowl himself when trying to find the breakthrough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfinjim Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 There's no suprise inclusions is there to be honest. The selectors have gone for the strongest squad available without the usual 1 or 2 "along for the ride" selections. I'd have thought Broad would have been in that catergory along with the likes of Dalrymple. With the injuries in the squad you can see a lot of weakness. Trescothick Giles Flintoff Harmison Its the backbone of a strong side. If they are not available when it comes to the crunch then we look pretty vulnerable. Mahmood Anderton Plunkett have hardly pulled any trees up at international level This tour could make or break the likes of Panesar, Bell, Cook. All had very good summers in English conditions, but could be steamed in Oz. I can't see who else I would pick, but we just look a little weak. Jim:thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James7x7 Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 On past evidence, it's difficult to say who is the more tactically astute of the two Andrews. Strauss did well against Pakistan, but may be should have declared earlier in the Lords test rather than settling for the draw. Flintoff did well in India, especially in the last test, but was less than convincing against Sri Lanka. How Sri Lanka managed to get a draw out of the Lords test is incredible given the position they were in. Flintoff is a good choice for his all round leadership qualities, and he is one player that the Aussies fear. Strauss will have a vital part to play as a sounding board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhippy Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Can't help but wonder if Jon Lewis should have had a recall ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmite Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 :clap: Gilo! Gilo! :clap: show that Monty how we spin a ball thats for sure!! i say bring back Gough, great for getting moral up within the team, decent bowler, good slogger, pretty sound player. Watch out for Stewart Broad next ashes though! ( i think thats his name) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carcrash Posted September 18, 2006 Author Share Posted September 18, 2006 I can see both monty and the king of spain playing in Sidney but I would go for Monty all the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfinjim Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 :clap: Gilo! Gilo! :clap: show that Monty how we spin a ball thats for sure!! i say bring back Gough, great for getting moral up within the team, decent bowler, good slogger, pretty sound player. Watch out for Stewart Broad next ashes though! ( i think thats his name) As much as I like Gough, he is 1. Injury prone, 2. The wrong side of 30 3. Retired from Test Cricket as far as I am aware. We need to look forward, and the same would apply with Panesar and Giles. You'd hope that Monty is no.1 choice ahead of Giles. If we take a fit Harmison and Hoggard, and Flintoff is bowling then we have a chance of restricting them run wise, but I still feel we are lacking on our own batting front. Jim:thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmite Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Giles is surely the better batsmen out of him and Monty though?? At the end of the day, you win by having more runs...that still needs to be considered. Plus, fair enough, Monty can spill the ball more, and get more rip etc, he still doesnt have the experience that Giles has. 60 summit not out in the ashes for Giles is pretty good considering he is a tail end batsmen and very slow. Which is why i cry Gilo! Gilo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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