Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Nearly, but not quite...
I was quite close with my Ashes touring party summation, but got three wrong.This is the squad -
Ashes Test Series squad:
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire, captain, left)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Ashley Giles (Warwickshire)
Stephen Harmison (Durham)
Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)
Geraint Jones (Kent)
Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire)
Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Chris Read (Nottinghamshire)
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex)
Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)
The obvious differences were that I picked an extra batter, and the ECB have greater knowledge on the injured players than I.
Lima Plunkett (left) has been picked, even though he hasn't played for a couple of months. I'm surprised that he got the nod over Stuart Broad, who looks the better prospect to me (quicker and a better action). Plunkett did OK in Pakistan and India last winter, but isn't likely to dislodge the better batsmen in my opinion. He will compete with Saj Mahmoud for a place on the test team.Also picked, was James Anderson. Jimmy also hasn't played much recently, and may not have all season! He burst onto the England one-day scene during the last World Cup in South Africa, but his action has led to a number of injuries, and ultimately a loss of form. He can bowl briskly, at around 90mph, but lacks control in my opinion.
The other difference is that Ashley Giles has been included as the second spinner (I had Dalrymple instead); The "King of Spain" also hasn't played at all this season due to injury, and he is still a major doubt I beleive. He has been asked to prove himself at the forthcoming Champions Trophy tournament, and the situation will be clearer in a months time.
The tour party is captained by Freddie Flintoff, which is no surprise to me, and as long as players can prove their fitness, and stay fit (Hoggard picked up a side strain yesterday...!) then we could have half a chance of retention of the Ashes urn.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Sixteen Tons - what do you get?
Tomorrow, the England cricket team squad for this years Ashes series will be announced. I'm not an expert, simply a fan, but I thought it would be entertaining to see if I can name the squad before it is announced. So here's my guess on the sixteen names that will tour Australia starting this autumn...
The Captain
This is fairly easy - Michael Vaughan is not going to be fit, so it will be either Andrew Flintoff, or Andrew Strauss. Flintoff took over from Vaughan on tour last winter, but then got injured. Strauss took over from Flintoff. If Flintoff is fit, he will be skipper; if not, it will be Strauss.
The Batters
Having a settled side over recent times has its benefits, but also causes problems if the need to change is required. The openers used to be solid and settled; Marcus Trescothick and Andy Strauss should be OK, that is if Tresco gets over his "virus" worry. Alistair Cook will definitely go, and probably bat at three. While Kevin Peitersen is also a certainty at four. Ian Bell will also count himself unlucky if he misses out, especially after his form this summer. One extra batsmen is needed, and I'd go for Ed Joyce, who can open or bat in the middle if need be.
The Bowlers - fast
Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison are both shoed-in, but injuries have opened the door for others. Simon Jones is almost certainly out, and Darren Gough is too old now. Liam Plunkett was doing OK, but he is now injured and may miss out. The other bowlers who have been tested this summer, and have just finished in the one-day squad are all in with a chance - Sajid Mahmoud is in pole position currently, but will Jonathan Lewis or Stuart Broad travel? I like the look of 20-eyar old Broad, and think he could be a handful on pitches down under; He's tall, and will get good carry. I'd pick him instead of Lewis - who may struggle to swing the Kookaburra ball after the first ten overs - and also in front of Plunkett if he is fit.
The Bowlers - slow
Monty Panesar is a cert; I doubt Ashley Giles can be considered as he has been injured all year, so that leaves Jamie Dalrymple almost unopposed. The Middlesex man can bat too, and will prove to be a useful tourist.
The Keepers
This is the easy bit; Geraint Jones and Chris Read will tour, but don't ask me who will play in the first test at Brisbane...that's too close to call!
The All-Rounders
Flintoff falls into this category, so England probably only need one other; Paul Collingwood may be more a batter than an allrounder these days, but I'll stick him in this category. If Freddie doesn't make it, we have a problem! Do we go for Rickie Clarke, who could be rubbish down under, or pick another batter who can bowl a bit? If only Chris Lewis was still playing...
So that's my sixteen to tour, and hopefully retain the Ashes (we haven't said that for a while!!!); tomorrow, we'll see how close I got to naming the entire squad. If you disagree with my selections, let me know via the comments section.
The Captain
This is fairly easy - Michael Vaughan is not going to be fit, so it will be either Andrew Flintoff, or Andrew Strauss. Flintoff took over from Vaughan on tour last winter, but then got injured. Strauss took over from Flintoff. If Flintoff is fit, he will be skipper; if not, it will be Strauss.
The Batters
Having a settled side over recent times has its benefits, but also causes problems if the need to change is required. The openers used to be solid and settled; Marcus Trescothick and Andy Strauss should be OK, that is if Tresco gets over his "virus" worry. Alistair Cook will definitely go, and probably bat at three. While Kevin Peitersen is also a certainty at four. Ian Bell will also count himself unlucky if he misses out, especially after his form this summer. One extra batsmen is needed, and I'd go for Ed Joyce, who can open or bat in the middle if need be.
The Bowlers - fast
Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison are both shoed-in, but injuries have opened the door for others. Simon Jones is almost certainly out, and Darren Gough is too old now. Liam Plunkett was doing OK, but he is now injured and may miss out. The other bowlers who have been tested this summer, and have just finished in the one-day squad are all in with a chance - Sajid Mahmoud is in pole position currently, but will Jonathan Lewis or Stuart Broad travel? I like the look of 20-eyar old Broad, and think he could be a handful on pitches down under; He's tall, and will get good carry. I'd pick him instead of Lewis - who may struggle to swing the Kookaburra ball after the first ten overs - and also in front of Plunkett if he is fit.
The Bowlers - slow
Monty Panesar is a cert; I doubt Ashley Giles can be considered as he has been injured all year, so that leaves Jamie Dalrymple almost unopposed. The Middlesex man can bat too, and will prove to be a useful tourist.
The Keepers
This is the easy bit; Geraint Jones and Chris Read will tour, but don't ask me who will play in the first test at Brisbane...that's too close to call!
The All-Rounders
Flintoff falls into this category, so England probably only need one other; Paul Collingwood may be more a batter than an allrounder these days, but I'll stick him in this category. If Freddie doesn't make it, we have a problem! Do we go for Rickie Clarke, who could be rubbish down under, or pick another batter who can bowl a bit? If only Chris Lewis was still playing...
So that's my sixteen to tour, and hopefully retain the Ashes (we haven't said that for a while!!!); tomorrow, we'll see how close I got to naming the entire squad. If you disagree with my selections, let me know via the comments section.
Bad memory lingers...
It's now five years since 9/11, but the memories still linger, and are hurtful. I had to turn the radio off this morning as I could not bear to listen to the various stories of people who were effected by that days events.
The TV has been full of a whole bunch of programmes showing what happened, asking why, and who was responsible (if it wasn't those that claimed it...). I can watch some of this - The Miracle of Stairway B was interesting - but have to admit that the repetitive nature of endless replays of limited footage gets me down in the end.
So what has the world learnt? Not much it seems - further attrocities have happened in London, Madrid, Bali, Istanbul, and elsewhere. Daily we seem to have Iraqis blowing themselves (and others) up, and Afghanistan has kicked off again recently, with insurgents actively fighting the occupying "peace-keeping" forces.
Would it be better if US, UK, and UN troops pulled out of all these areas - places where some of the locals do not want them? I doubt it... the whole reason they are there is because of the wanless killing sprees and outright lack of human rights shown to these countries subjects but the previous goverments.
There is no rightful end to the problems of the world at present; sure, we can all go back to the Cold War days of worrying about being nuked at any minute of the day, because that's probably the next instalment some terrorist group will attempt. I don't have the answers, and obviously Blair and/or Bush don't either. But Bin Laden is also imagining things if he (or his followers) think that they can win - they cannot. Stop the futile acts now, and settle down to an easy life where everyboidy lives in harmony please!
Oh, and if anyone wants to comment negatively about this piece, at least have the guts to sign your name, or remain cowardly all your life. Allah will thank you for it!
The TV has been full of a whole bunch of programmes showing what happened, asking why, and who was responsible (if it wasn't those that claimed it...). I can watch some of this - The Miracle of Stairway B was interesting - but have to admit that the repetitive nature of endless replays of limited footage gets me down in the end.
So what has the world learnt? Not much it seems - further attrocities have happened in London, Madrid, Bali, Istanbul, and elsewhere. Daily we seem to have Iraqis blowing themselves (and others) up, and Afghanistan has kicked off again recently, with insurgents actively fighting the occupying "peace-keeping" forces.
Would it be better if US, UK, and UN troops pulled out of all these areas - places where some of the locals do not want them? I doubt it... the whole reason they are there is because of the wanless killing sprees and outright lack of human rights shown to these countries subjects but the previous goverments.
There is no rightful end to the problems of the world at present; sure, we can all go back to the Cold War days of worrying about being nuked at any minute of the day, because that's probably the next instalment some terrorist group will attempt. I don't have the answers, and obviously Blair and/or Bush don't either. But Bin Laden is also imagining things if he (or his followers) think that they can win - they cannot. Stop the futile acts now, and settle down to an easy life where everyboidy lives in harmony please!
Oh, and if anyone wants to comment negatively about this piece, at least have the guts to sign your name, or remain cowardly all your life. Allah will thank you for it!
