Invitational XI v England

127-2 off 24 overs.

Cook 81* off 79 balls. Yet he was dragging a s/r of 60 in the one-dayers! What a pleb.

Strauss out for just 4 off 25 balls - hit wicket. Oh dear.

Vaughan gaughan for a breezy 27.

2-day match, 13-a-side, England have rested Pietersen and Collingwood.

150-3. Cook gone for 85.

This team's got a bowler called Lobb. Wonder if he's a chucker?

Joke game.

Unless we lose, obvo.

JKL, I'm starting to find your avatar disturbing . . . it's sooooo ginga!

First cricket Vaughan, Hoggard, Harmison and Ambrose have seen in months, though. Good run out, I'd say.

Interesting to note that Cook and Strauss opened, with Vaughan at three.

Looks like England have totally ignored all evidence that Cook and Strauss don't work as an opening partnership and have inked them in together for the Tests...

So when does Harmi go home crying for his mudda?

He only turned up about two days ago (late, because his wife was squeezing out yet another Harmison jr), it's a bit early for him to be homesick.

Although - hilariously - he has been complaining of a bad back already...

So where is Harmi in the English love/hate cycle these days? Love? Hate? Ambivalent?

Same as always - frustrating talent. If there was someone better to come in, then they'd be quite welcome, but the cupboard is pretty bare (see J. Anderson, S. Broad, C. Tremlett, L. Plunkett, S. Mahmood).

Dello wrote:Interesting to note that Cook and Strauss opened, with Vaughan at three.

Looks like England have totally ignored all evidence that Cook and Strauss don't work as an opening partnership and have inked them in together for the Tests...

FFS. Didn't Cook and Vaughan put together a couple of century stands together in Sri Lanka, whilst the Cook and Strauus partnership had hardly done anything in the 12 months prior? What a joke.

My only guess is that they're giving Strauss the best chance to stake a claim for the first test side by opening with him. Surely they haven't decided that the Cook/Strauss combination is the best option. Although this is Peter Moores we're dealing with here.....

I think ever since they recalled Strauss the murmurs coming out of the England camp were that he'd be back to open with Vaughan going to three.

Well, I guess it's logical for England to do something like that, ie try and fix something that wasn't broken.

Where are you getting this information from?

203 for 3 (48 overs)

Shah 50*
Bell 22*

How do you know that?

Dem.

Theres these things called scorecards which are posted at many news/sports sites

396-9 in the 2 day bashabout.

Shah got 96, Ambrose & Mustard got 10 between them - please dont pick Mustard for the tests FFS!!

Invitational XI: 56-5 (29 overs).

Hoggard: 6-4-2-2
Harmison: 6-1-13-2

Bell, Fulton, Fleming, Sinclair (Possible Test line-up): 0, 0, 5, 2.

Sweet.

Heh - Harmison's spell included four wides and eight leg-side byes.

Left the radar at home again, Steve? So careless...

We'll fook it up come the real stuff though...

No doubt. Best enjoy it while we can though - this two-day 13-a-side knock-about has been the highlight of England's year so far...

Too right, eat that you people who can't pronounce the letter I

Who can't pronounce the letter I?

The Kiwis. Fact.

This is pronounced 'thus' for starters...

111-7.

Hoggard: 8-4-14-3
Harmison: 10-1-41-2
Panesar: 8.5-2-15-1