England v Australia, 3rd Test, Edgbaston, Jul 30-Aug 3 (II)

Merlin wrote:

Shoeshine wrote:Well, not entirely JKL - I think Broad's bowled pretty well this innings, and that's good news.

He's only bowled 11 of the 98 overs bowled this innings though - something which doesn't bode well for him come Friday IMO.

Harmison really has to return ... bruised feet (in the present Durham game) or not ... for both Leeds and the Ovular.

I'm starting to agree with JKL. Why risk playing the unpredictable and unreliable Harmison when we are still 1-0 up? A 9,10, 11 of Anderson, Harmison, Onions is basically 7 out, all out, despite Jimmy's recent improvement.

JKLever wrote:Broad gets lambasted for his bowling average of 40, yet in the tests Harmison has averaged since Broads debut he has averaged 44.

I've tried this one with them - it doesn't apparently seem to matter, because Harmison was utterly, utterly brilliant 5 years ago, and that makes all the difference.

Damn, this is boring... and I thought watching a Graeme Wood century at TB in 1985 was bad.

I stopped watching 2 hours ago. I hate watching a cricket match where the outcome has long snce been decided.

England need to win at Headingly - and go into the game with that mindset - or else stack the side with 8 batsmen and 3 bowlers.
The only way to win it is to go balls out and bag 20 wickets - and for my money, Harmi ATM is the more potent bowler than Broad ... and he's the one the Aussies have already admited to dislike facing.

I don't think England should take that risk though. If Harmi bottles it again (and can someone point me to some evidence that suggests he wont?) when he pulls on an England shirt, we're left with a guy bowling similar dross to what Broad has served up so far in this series, but without the batting ability at number 8.

Merlin wrote:England need to win at Headingly - and go into the game with that mindset - or else stack the side with 8 batsmen and 3 bowlers.
The only way to win it is to go balls out and bag 20 wickets - and for my money, Harmi ATM is the more potent bowler than Broad ... and he's the one the Aussies have already admited to dislike facing.

Clearly that's not the only way. And simply by having a long batting line up in the first 3 tests doesn't mean we've not tried to win. Forget the wimp, he's always let us down. He's not going to tour anyway so why give him one last chance to let us down?

To be frank if Fred isn't at Leeds then a 7/8 of Broad & Swann gives me the sh!ts....

Henry wrote:I don't think England should take that risk though. If Harmi bottles it again (and can someone point me to some evidence that suggests he wont?) when he pulls on an England shirt, we're left with a guy bowling similar dross to what Broad has served up so far in this series, but without the batting ability at number 8.

quite.... frankly Englands batting can only be called decent because of its length. Take out the strong 6-9 and Bopara,Bell & Collingwood look vulnerable as hell...

JKLever wrote:A couple of tons on offer for these two against the dross mongers later today.

Well, I called it. 25 Brownie points to me.

If fred isn't fit then who comes in the selectors want a 'like for like'? Bresnan? Luke Wright???? FFS......

I guess they'd be tempted to replace Fred with a batsman (Probably either Trott or Shah) and go in with a 4 man attack considering we are 1-0 up.

Negative? Perhaps. But probably the pragmatic option.

Henry wrote:If fred isn't fit then who comes in the selectors want a 'like for like'? Bresnan? Luke Wright???? FFS......

I guess they'd be tempted to replace Fred with a batsman (Probably either Trott or Shah) and go in with a 4 man attack considering we are 1-0 up.

Negative? Perhaps. But probably the pragmatic option.

I would. Fark all the 'got to attack' merchants. We're playing a better side, let's make it as difficult for them to hit back as we can.

JKLever wrote:

Henry wrote:I don't think England should take that risk though. If Harmi bottles it again (and can someone point me to some evidence that suggests he wont?) when he pulls on an England shirt, we're left with a guy bowling similar dross to what Broad has served up so far in this series, but without the batting ability at number 8.

quite.... frankly Englands batting can only be called decent because of its length. Take out the strong 6-9 and Bopara,Bell & Collingwood look vulnerable as hell...

It's the syndrome where people out of the team suddenly become absolute superstars by virtue of being out of the team. We went through this with Ramprakash for years, and I still see no reason at all that Harmison will be anything other than the same old disappointing bowler he has been every time he's pulled on an England shirt for the last four years or more.

And that was a decent ball from Broad there too.

Broad seems to be getting better and better as this game goes on. Good news, and should end the Harmison debate.

Has Manou broken a finger as well?




Funny.

Henry wrote:Broad seems to be getting better and better as this game goes on. Good news, and should end the Harmison debate.

Lacking rhythm earlier on, perhaps?

Lacking a plan more like. He's slowly learning that he needs a stock delivery that he bowls 90% of the time, rather than trying something different every ball.

Henry wrote:If fred isn't fit then who comes in the selectors want a 'like for like'? Bresnan? Luke Wright???? FFS......

I guess they'd be tempted to replace Fred with a batsman (Probably either Trott or Shah) and go in with a 4 man attack considering we are 1-0 up.

Negative? Perhaps. But probably the pragmatic option.

Blobby's suddenly hitting a squillion runs - albeit in Div 2.

528 runs in his last 4 FC innings at an average of 175+ I make it.

Either way, like you and JKL, balls to the 5 man attack if Freddie isn't fit.

You can't have Bops, Bell, Colly and Prior at 3, 4, 5, 6 and follow that with Broad, Swann, Bresnan and then Jimmy and Onions.

The tail starts at 3, albeit the first seven of them being able to bat a bit!

Fark sake, just get your hundred and call it off...

Big_Bad_Bob wrote:

Either way, like you and JKL, balls to the 5 man attack if Freddie isn't fit.

You can't have Bops, Bell, Colly and Prior at 3, 4, 5, 6 and follow that with Broad, Swann, Bresnan and then Jimmy and Onions.

The tail starts at 3, albeit the first seven of them being able to bat a bit!

Yeah possibly Key, though could probably do with someone who can turn the arm over.

Bresnan? Not having a great FC season.

Clarkes been a bit lucky here. Firstly having his offstump clipped by Broad and now Bops having him caught of a no-ball - Bopman could have halved his career bowling average there - what unlucky farker got out to his filth?

Key is so overrated. He's the classic example of someone who's stock has risen by not playing for England. Less than perfect technique, can't offer any overs, and hardly the peak of physical fitness. He shouldn't be picked. Plus, he apparently fell out with the Flower management group during the T20 world cup. I think there are better, fresher options than him these days.

Clarke is f*cking around here. I hope the whole crowd booes him upon reaching his century.

It's a bit dissapointing nobody does Bob Willis impressions anymore in situations like this....

JKLever wrote:It's a bit dissapointing nobody does Bob Willis impressions anymore in situations like this....

Ahhhhhhhh, that brought back a memory out of absolutely nowhere! Who was it who did that? Gooch?

Shoeshine wrote:

JKLever wrote:It's a bit dissapointing nobody does Bob Willis impressions anymore in situations like this....

Ahhhhhhhh, that brought back a memory out of absolutely nowhere! Who was it who did that? Gooch?

Yes, it was Gooch. He did some other impressions, but I can't remember who they were of.

Quite the joker he appeared to be. Came as a surprise when I heard how austere and rigid his regime was.