England in NZud

So Prior out, Ambrose In

Bopara out, Struass in.

And yet we'll still not get to see Shah have a decent stint at a run of games.

What a joke that they pick someone for a 3 test series and then drop them from the next series and keep the understudy who should've played.

Whats the betting the top 5 remain the same, and Strauss slots in?

And Tredwell and Tremlett in ODI squad?!?! WFT!!!!!!!!!

Tremletts not gone for under 7's in an ODI hardly ever!

And so we pick our latest Australian...

JKLever wrote:And so we pick our latest Australian...

As opposed to a saffie

Saffies don't count.

You know their U19 team is our academy.

Ah, so it was mutual masting. Fair do's.

As Merlin would say - I see Shah's still in to carry the drinks. If he's lucky.

Batfink Begins wrote:Ah, so it was mutual masting. Fair do's.

As Merlin would say - I see Shah's still in to carry the drinks. If he's lucky.

Aye Danny ... true!
England need a decent drinks carrier bearing a FULL glass out to the middle, and Shah fits that slot perfectly.
Bell would, most probably, only present a half empty Lucozade if given the job by his close "friend" Vawney!!

First Test XI


Cook
Vaughan
Strauss
Peitersen
Collingwood
Bell
Ambrose
Sidebottom
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

And Collingwood has an MBE so he couldn't possibly be expected to carry Powerade for those underlings that don't!

Aye, though IRB probably give Mick some of his 'special brand' instead though.

I should lay off Bell though, I mean, for once in his entire Test career he contributed when the going wasn't the best. Only 30-odd Tests. Not bad all in all.

I know england haven't been in the best touch lately but i still think they start as huge fav's for this one.

Kiwis are at a real low point right now, not even sure they would beat the WI.

please don't yell wrote:I know england haven't been in the best touch lately but i still think they start as huge fav's for this one.

Kiwis are at a real low point right now, not even sure they would beat the WI.

England are a bunch of shtbags. But yes, if we can't beat those ignominious shaggers then we're a disgrace that should be down with Ban and Zim. Especially with a couple of very good swing-bowlers in our troup.

Going a little way down memory lane - what an abysmal dogsh*t park pitch bowler this guy was:

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/nzvbdesh/content/player/36839.html

Certainly makes my irrational hatred XI - the B*stard.

Batfink Begins wrote:Aye, though IRB probably give Mick some of his 'special brand' instead though.

I should lay off Bell though, I mean, for once in his entire Test career he contributed when the going wasn't the best. Only 30-odd Tests. Not bad all in all.

He got two centuries in pakistan when we lost 0-2.

I would play him down the order where he averages 50+ instead of up the order where it is more like 35.

Eric Air Emu wrote:Going a little way down memory lane - what an abysmal dogsh*t park pitch bowler this guy was:

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/nzvbdesh/content/player/36839.html

Certainly makes my irrational hatred XI - the B*stard.

His test record seems decent enough ...

You a Nzer, EAE?

I'm not a NZer but I do admire their craggy bird like faces.

Whathisface Drum was partly responsible for a travesty of a test win on England's last tour of NZ where the Kiwis ambushed England on a turd of a pitch and with the added collusion of the umpires squared a series they had no right to.

I'm sure Drum's other wickets came against someone like India on a strip of mud in NZ.

England were 1-up and on course to win the second Test when news cmae through of Ben Hollioake's death, Mark Butcher broke out the guitar, and everyone went through the motions as the game petered out into a draw, if I recall.

Then NZ somehow stole a win in the third Test to take a totally undeserved share of the series.

Rob I wrote:

Batfink Begins wrote:Aye, though IRB probably give Mick some of his 'special brand' instead though.

I should lay off Bell though, I mean, for once in his entire Test career he contributed when the going wasn't the best. Only 30-odd Tests. Not bad all in all.

He got two centuries in pakistan when we lost 0-2.

I would play him down the order where he averages 50+ instead of up the order where it is more like 35.

Two half centuries against Aus at Old Trafford in '05.

4 half centuries against Aus in Aus.

In the 3rd test England had to field under floodlights and as it was red ball cricket they couldn't see the ball against the darkness. I remember Usman Afzaal ducking for cover when he failed to pick up the ball coming towards him.

Usman Afzaal in "Total waste of space" shocker.

I would've thought he could've caught it in his ridiculously over-inflated opinion of himself.

[quote="Basil"][quote="MidnightCowboy"]

Basil wrote: He's wiser and fitter than he was.

He would need to be with Simon Jones as his bowling partner next season. I do prefer Ali though to FFS Richardson.