England v New Zealand, 5th ODI, Lord's, 28th June

So, Collingwood out. I think Strauss will replace him and bat up the top of the order, with Wright being moved down to 7. So, an opening partnership of Bell and Strauss. Way to take advantage of those powerplays......

Doubt I'll be able to contain my excitement! Do you not think they'll keep Wright up top and move Bell down to 6? I know moveing Wright down is your personal preference, but do you not think they've been backing him and will continue to do?

I think that Ian Bell should be shot and put at 6 feet under, but that's another story.

I think that Wright has proved me wrong and is actually a bottom handed hacker. He's at least finished innings off well in the past.

They will probably bring in Cook for wobbles, leaving the side to be and its painful:

Cook
Bell
KP
Bops
Shah
Wright
Ambrose

Fark me, thats got 50-2 of 20 written all over it!!! That opening partnership is enough to give me nightmares!

Or they could put Ambrose up the top. May as well. The guy's done f*ck all down the order.

Henry wrote:Or they could put Ambrose up the top. May as well. The guy's done f*ck all down the order.

That just gave me shudders!

Well why not? If he fails, so be it. But at least we wont have to put up with his crabbing in the slog overs. If he's ever going to get the ball away, it will be when the field is up.

Henry wrote:Well why not? If he fails, so be it. But at least we wont have to put up with his crabbing in the slog overs. If he's ever going to get the ball away, it will be when the field is up.

Aye. But can you imagine an opening partnership of Bell and Ambrose?

The opposition would be overcome with fright at the explosiveness and forthrightness of our opening pair!

*shudders*

Two physically imposing lads, as well......

I agree with Trev, I'd see that happen. He's been worse as a batsman than the likes of Anderson and Sidebotttom in these ODIs... a total mug.

Match odds -

Eng 1.57
NZ 2.4

Every farkin time!

I honestly can't see how on earth England can be favourites. Having said that, if NZ were installed as official favourites, England would win in a canter......

Gawd, remember when we had Tres and Knight opening in JAMODIs? Now look at us.

Yeah, Rob, yeah.... remember... we had Amiss in the middle order. Mental.

Rob I wrote:Gawd, remember when we had Tres and Knight opening in JAMODIs? Now look at us.

Even Tres and Solanki wasn't bad. At least you knew the run rate would be up there.

I think we should gamble on Scott Newman or Joe Denly. Newman- He doesn't make enough hundreds blah blah blah, he's lazy blah blah blah.....Fact is, he's talented, he's aggressive, and he's an opener. Denly is young and probably a bit naive. But he's a natural opening batsman who also happens to play his shots.

Enough of this makeshift slogger stuff up the top of the order. It doesn't work in international cricket. We need a an aggressive player who is also a proper opener, and the only candidates I can think of are Newman and Denly.

Will Jefferson?

Jefferson has talent, but he's hardly played any cricket in the last 2 years.

lardbucket wrote:Will Jefferson?

Will he do what?

Henry wrote:

Rob I wrote:Gawd, remember when we had Tres and Knight opening in JAMODIs? Now look at us.

I think we should gamble on Scott Newman or Joe Denly. Newman- He doesn't make enough hundreds blah blah blah, he's lazy blah blah blah.....Fact is, he's talented, he's aggressive, and he's an opener.

And he has a shit one day record.

He's perfect...

I know he never really did much, but if you want a proper attacking batter, as opposed to a pinchhitter up top, what about Matt Prior up top, but not as a slogger, but just a batter!?

Shit Chas, have a f*cking lie down mate. You're delusional.

Brass Monkey wrote:Shit Chas, have a f*cking lie down mate. You're delusional.

His irrational hatred of Bell had done his head in

holcs wrote:I know he never really did much, but if you want a proper attacking batter, as opposed to a pinchhitter up top, what about Matt Prior up top, but not as a slogger, but just a batter!?

Yes, Prior is another option, and would help with the balance of the side. But he doesn't seem to like it.

Tres really is unique. He's streets ahead of any other one day opener in England.

Brass Monkey wrote:Shit Chas, have a f*cking lie down mate. You're delusional.

Perhaps, but perhaps not.

Got to be better than Cook up top in ODI's, is in good nick, and is pretty attacking as a batter. Couldn't think who else?

They won't pick Sales, Denly isn't good enough yet, Cook is a crab in bad nick, Strauss is a crab, Vaughan is a gashlord at ODI cricket. Who else is there with exposure that could do the job?

taipan wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Shit Chas, have a f*cking lie down mate. You're delusional.

His irrational hatred of Bell had done his head in

Its not irrational Taips. There is sound statistical, mental, image and physical fact behind it!