Broad or Harmison?

England are going to pick Harmison, giving him yet another chance to prove he is well and truly obsolete, whilst leaving the promising, if a little wet, Stuart Broad on the sidelines. It seems odd to me that Broad was brought along at all, to be honest, if he's just going to be bowling in the nets all the time.

Broad would be my pick anyway, for bowling, and then batting. And then attitude. And...

Harmison can probably offer more than Broad if he gets it right.

But it's too big an 'if' for me.

We're going to be gubbed, so we may as well blood the younger players.

Harmi for me, but as third seamer. Let Hoggy and Sibo open the bowling. Oh carp, Hoggy is crocked so Harmi will open. Jimmy can't hit the cut strip and Broad 2 is a greenhorn.

England "attack" = TAYPOC

I'll go for both - with Siders to pitch it up and swing it (hopefully)

The way England are going the bowling attack maybe....

Broad
Harmison
Bopara
Panesar
Swann

Hoggard, Sidebottom and Anderson are struggling for fitness.

Assuming Hoggie can't play ...

Give Harmie one last jab at it...
Make it clear to him that it IS his last chance.
SiBo to swing the dog's off the new ball (it does in Colombo)
Get Swann into the side to back up Monty.... possibly.

Shah for Bopara - otherwise send the poor sod home for Christmas and stop wasting his bloody time!

Augustus wrote:England are going to pick Harmison, giving him yet another chance to prove he is well and truly obsolete

When will they ever learn?

Harmison and Monty make a good bowling Partnership. They did well in tandem vs Pakistan @ Old Trafford last year and I recall when Monty started taking Wickets at Perth vs Australia Last year, Harmison came to the party that day aswell.

I'd play them both- Hoggy's injured and Anderson's never going to be much cop. Broad might have a bright future and Harmison's pace and bounce might ask Sangakarra & Jayawardena a few questions. On a good wicket it'll be 600-4-dec otherwise.

Could these type of Stats be repeated at Columbo?

Old Trafford Stats (1st Innings) vs Pakistan

SJ Harmison 13-7-19-6 1.46
MS Panesar 7.4-3-21-3 2.73

(2nd Innings)

SJ Harmison 18.1-3-57-5 3.13
MS Panesar 27-4-72-5 2.66

Perth Stats (1st Innings) vs Australia 2006

SJ Harmison 19-4-48-4 2.52 (1w)
MS Panesar 24-4-92-5 3.83

Old Trafford Stats (2nd Innings) vs West Indies 2007

SJ Harmison 33-8-95-4-2.87 (3nb, 2w)
MS Panesar 51.5-13-137-6 2.64

DJ_Smerk wrote:Could these type of Stats be repeated at Columbo?

Old Trafford Stats (1st Innings) vs Pakistan

SJ Harmison 13-7-19-6 1.46
MS Panesar 7.4-3-21-3 2.73

(2nd Innings)

SJ Harmison 18.1-3-57-5 3.13
MS Panesar 27-4-72-5 2.66

Perth Stats (1st Innings) vs Australia 2006

SJ Harmison 19-4-48-4 2.52 (1w)
MS Panesar 24-4-92-5 3.83

Unlikely, OT is one of the bounciest pitches on the international circuit - not conditions we're likely to face in Colombo.

I'm pretty sure Harmi didn't take a bag of wickets at Perth last year, DJ. Actually I don't think he's taken more than 3 wickets in an innings since Old Trafford last year- Some 16 months ago.

He took a 4 for at perth, but it's rather misleading to say that he and panaser always bowl well together because they have a select few times in the past.

they took 6/300 combined in the next two tests after perth.

Surely Swann will get a go here.

I'd choose Sidebottom, Panesar, Swann, and Broad.

Doubt any combination available (Hoggard's injured) would bowl better; and that combo also looks most likely to bat well.

Harmison says he hasn't come to Sri Lanka to be the drinks waiter so please selectors pick Broad.

Harmison. Broad's still grossly over-rated. Doesn't yet look ready for test cricket.

An attack of Harmi, Sidebottom, Swann and Monty would be the way to go.

doremi wrote:Broad's still grossly over-rated.

As you've said before. But you're probably just basing that opinion on the back of 1 Yuvraj over.

I'd back the lad to no worse than Harmison or Anderson tbh.

The feeling amongst the selectors is that Broad isn't physically strong enough to bowl numerous spells a day, in a number of Tests in a row. And if he can't do that, there's no point picking him then dropping him again after a Test or two.

JKLever wrote:

doremi wrote:Broad's still grossly over-rated.

As you've said before. But you're probably just basing that opinion on the back of 1 Yuvraj over.

I'd back the lad to no worse than Harmison or Anderson tbh.

No, not exactly. He's actually good containing the runs in LOIs, contrary to what people would think after watching the Yuvi over. Just haven't seen him produce enough genuine wicket taking balls, a requisite(?) for test cricket.

Difficult to judge a guys readiness for tests by watching one day cricket though.

judging by some comments from Vaughan, it'll more than likely be Generous Bowling Harmison that gets the nod.

Which again leaves us with another shocking tail.

You can bet 'Jimmykins' will be getting another go too

Play them both.

If you're worried about picking Harmison because he can sometimes be wayward and expensive, why would Jimmy "The Spray" Anderson (62 wicket @ 40) be picked ahead of him?

And if you thought Broad was inexperienced and possibly likely to tire towards then end of days, why would you pick Jimmy "Still The Spray" Anderson (62 wickets @ 40) ahead of him?

Bottom line: why would you pick Jimmy Anderson anyway? Whether you have reservations about Harmison and Broad, the fact is, they're not Jimmy Anderson and are a better bet on that basis alone.

BBB +
Broad
Sidebottom
Harmison
Panesar

Slightly improved tail too.

Aye, but it seems Jimmykins is the new Gilo.

"Mostly harmless" is an anachronism now, but not really? How times change.

Guess that's true, if it's a straight pick between harmi and anderson you would still take harmi.