England's Test squad for SL...

We know it's going to be 16 players. So, the likely starting XI in my opinion will be:

Strauss
Cook
Vaughan
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Prior
Hoggard/Harmison - (toss of a coin if you ask me)
Sidebottom
Anderson
Panesar

Spare keeper: I'd take Foster
2nd spinner: Swann - no contest really
Spare batsman: Shah
Last place: Bopara or Broad - who would be the more positive choice

Wrangling over Jim. Just about think he deserves a place in the line-up but it would only be at the expense of GBH as Hoggy must be a shoe-in. He's top drawer and has tons of experience.

Of course Ramps would also bring the option of a second spinner ...

(cough)

Well, he's better than Pietersen

Batfink Begins wrote:Wrangling over Jim. Just about think he deserves a place in the line-up but it would only be at the expense of GBH as Hoggy must be a shoe-in. He's top drawer and has tons of experience.

It would be a tough call to leave Hoggy out. He's multi-faceted in Sub-continent conditions: swings the new ball, and can come back with the old ball and bowl cutters. I'd have the odd sleepless night with him batting at eight though!

Bat him at 3 then.

It's pretty much a fact that Harmison will be rusty and will bowl a pile of shite if picked, so why not just leave him at home where he cant get carted?

Good thinking. They won't do it.

If they leave Hoggard out, the English selectors should be shot. Since Flintoff is not playing he's the first bowler that gets in the team.

No way Hoggy will be left out. He's our most canny flat pitch bowler.

Hoggard has got a good record in Sri Lanka.

Hoggy's 1st bowler on there. I wouldn't play Anderson - a rigged man of the series award means ****** all. He was still shite against India in all bar one match. Hoggy, Monty, Sidebottom, and...Broad.

lardbucket wrote:Bat him at 3 then.

Genius!

Moores puts his toe on the bandwagon... I think this is closer to reality than any time since 2002, but still only a 30% chance.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article2666434.ece

My squad:

Cook, Key, Vaughan, Pietersen, Collingwood, Shah, Bell, Nixon, Read, Rashid, Swann, Panesar, Hoggard, Sidebottom, Anderson, Harmison

Read FFS Gary!

Key FFS, Gazza!

FFS Gary!

FFS me!

Gary 111 wrote:FFS me!

You've been told!

Kinell Gaz, where's Ramps and Sales? Why's Bell there?

Gary, please, please drop the Waddle!

FFS is much too mild a comment on a team that includes Key and excludes both Strauss and Ramprakash.

It doesn't just take the biscuit, it takes the entire bakery. Not just one sandwich short of a picnic, but the entire hamper - not just completely out to lunch, but out to dinner and tea as well.

I could go on in this vein for some time.

eowyn wrote:Gary, please, please drop the Waddle!

That Waddle is ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIAL, I tells ya, for the stability of this forum, the universe, and everything.

Let it not disappear into any far-away black hole.

lardbucket wrote:

eowyn wrote:Gary, please, please drop the Waddle!

That Waddle is ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIAL, I tells ya, for the stability of this forum, the universe, and everything.

Let it not disappear into any far-away black hole.

Agreed. Without Chrissy, this forum would be a sham - a f'kin sham.

Gary pretty much saved all our souls in one fell swoop.

Batfink Begins wrote:

lardbucket wrote:

eowyn wrote:Gary, please, please drop the Waddle!

That Waddle is ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIAL, I tells ya, for the stability of this forum, the universe, and everything.

Let it not disappear into any far-away black hole.

Agreed. Without Chrissy, this forum would be a sham - a f'kin sham.

Gary pretty much saved all our souls in one fell swoop.

That mullet needs to humanely destroyed, I tells ye! He'll have Hoddle appearing next if you all keep telling Gazza he's awesome, think about that......