England in Oz, the warm-ups, the wind-ups

Tymal Mills is going over ahead of the Development squad to give the batsmen a taste of left-arm quickishness. Good call - he's rather swift; Essex were curiously reluctant to play him last season.

is he a pie chucker?

Nath wrote:is he a pie chucker?

He's gun barrel straight, but he's only 21. Decent potential - one tour too early methinks.

Oh, and David Saker has committed himself to England until at least 2015.

I wouldn't say Johnson is a certain starter for Aus, and Starc is out for the season. Strange that England would go so out of their way to prepare themselves for one Australian fringe bowler, who overall hasn't really troubled them in tests before.

Basil wrote:Oh, and David Saker has committed himself to England until at least 2015.

Hope he's a better coach than he was a bowler.

Henry wrote:I wouldn't say Johnson is a certain starter for Aus, and Starc is out for the season. Strange that England would go so out of their way to prepare themselves for one Australian fringe bowler, who overall hasn't really troubled them in tests before.

The last test the poms lost to Oz was because of Johnson ...he's probably due another good test soon

Basil wrote:Tymal Mills is going over ahead of the Development squad to give the batsmen a taste of left-arm quickishness. Good call -  he's rather swift; Essex were curiously reluctant to play him last season.

I said he was an outside shot for an Ashes tour. I was sort of right.

He's rapido. Looks a decent athlete too. It should be good for his development to spend the winter working with Saker and bowling at international batsmen and Johnny Bairstow.

Bet he injured ones of them, though...

Henry wrote:I wouldn't say Johnson is a certain starter for Aus, and Starc is out for the season. Strange that England would go so out of their way to prepare themselves for one Australian fringe bowler, who overall hasn't really troubled them in tests before.

They obviously don't fancy facing left-arm quicks. Cook doesn't, for sure. And Johnson roughed up Trott in particular in the ODI series last summer. Throw in Faulkner and possibly Starc (is he really out for the whole season?) and it's an area they need to brush up on. Is Dougie Bollinger still playing?

Of course, Ryan Harris and Seter Piddle were the best bowlers in the last Ashes, with their RFMs - let's hope they brush up on facing that as well.

embee wrote:

Henry wrote:I wouldn't say Johnson is a certain starter for Aus, and Starc is out for the season. Strange that England would go so out of their way to prepare themselves for one Australian fringe bowler, who overall hasn't really troubled them in tests before.

The last test the poms lost to Oz was because of Johnson ...he's probably due another good test soon

Yep, not only did he take 9/82 at Perth the last match before that that Aus won at Headingley in 2009 Mitch took 6/99. Gave Trott the hurry up in that Perth game and in the ODI's recently, also has dismissed Bell several times.

Barring a dramatic loss of form I think he's a shoo-in so good thoroughness from England bringing Mills over (as long as he doesn't injure one of our batters again)

Dello wrote:
Bet he injured ones of them, though...

Apologies for the quality of that sentence. I'm out of form.

embee wrote:

Henry wrote:I wouldn't say Johnson is a certain starter for Aus, and Starc is out for the season. Strange that England would go so out of their way to prepare themselves for one Australian fringe bowler, who overall hasn't really troubled them in tests before.

The last test the poms lost to Oz was because of Johnson ...he's probably due another good test soon

yep.
He impressed back end of the recent tour here.
I reckon he's a shoe-in for Starc. . . . and one not to be underestimated.

Was amused when Warner said that if we get into the poms early they will go to water. Seems he won't learn to zip it.

Good move with Mills. England have been absolute dogshit against left-armers in recent years.

Harry Gurney's been drafted in as well. Seems they're taking left armers seriously. Either that or he's there for the batsmen who don't fancy facing Mills in the nets trying to smash their faces in.

Handy bowler himself.

Gurney? Meh he's alright. I thought he had something going for him as a raw tearaway at Leics - Notts have vanillad him up good and proper though.

So Reece Topley has fallen right off the radar then?

toppled off it would seem....is Topsy now considered a flopsy?

Henry wrote:So Reece Topley has fallen right off the radar then?

I think he's with the development squad. Topley is of no great pace - 80mph ish; he wouldn't trouble decent batsmen or give ours worthwhile practice. His time will come though I think as he fills out and puts on a yard of pace.

Two spots up for grabs in these warm up games before the first test- The number six spot, and the third quick. I'd go for Ballance and Rankin respectively. Although there's question marks over Rankin's stamina. He rarely bowls more than 15 overs an innings for Warwickshire.

I hope Ballance does well and grabs the opportunity as he's looked all class whenever I've seen him. Is he ready? I guess we'll find out.

I think any one of Finn, Rankin, Tremlett and (back permitting) Bresnan is a flawed pick to some degree, so it's not one England can really get wrong (or right). It's just a punt.

It's a no brainer if they honestly believe Tremlett is fully fit and bowling at his pre-injury level. But I'm unconvinced he is.

Dello wrote:I hope Ballance does well and grabs the opportunity as he's looked all class whenever I've seen him. Is he ready? I guess we'll find out.

I think any one of Finn, Rankin, Tremlett and (back permitting) Bresnan is a flawed pick to some degree, so it's not one England can really get wrong (or right). It's just a punt.

It's a no brainer if they honestly believe Tremlett is fully fit and bowling at his pre-injury level. But I'm unconvinced he is.

...Ballance was the only player on the lionette tour here to have left with his reputation enhanced

No lack of Ballance on this thread.

jokes aside I think he is potentially the best english born bat since gower

horace wrote:jokes aside I think he is potentially the best english born bat since gower

Andrew Symonds