Anderson. Attacking the Ozzies has worked everytime we've gone at them, so lets keep doing it.
We can bat well enough down to Giles. Hoggy, Anderson, Freddie and Harmie can fire up the balls on the hard flat Oval. If you wanted an extra batsman, I'd drop Giles and play Collingwood. I don't think the Oval will be good hunting ground for a spin bowler, and if you want to spin it, Vaughan and Strauss can give a bit of slow arm work.
They won't drop Giles though, and I don't blame 'em. The consistency is doing England a world of good.
My concern is really with Anderson's temperament. I can just see him going to pieces mentally, spraying it all over the place, and Hayden and Gilchrist taking the opportunity to bat themselves back into form.
Anderson is a terrific bowler when he's on song, but he's been so patchy I just don't feel I can trust him for such a crucial game...
Maybe, but listening to (eg) Rod Marsh, I think it's his temperament and experience against the Auzzies that got him in this position. He may bowl rubbish, but that's more likely to be a general bowling confidence thing that big match attitude.
He'd only had half a season of county cricket before starting in the England side. At least this season he's had a lot more experience.
Unless the Aussies start to abt all day, he doesn't need to carry too much of the attack if he's looking suspect. The great thing about this England side is anyone of them can carry to load if conditions are against someone else.
Unlike australia who are having Warne/Lee bowl the majority of the overs, with McGrath being not fully fit, Gillespie and Kasper at the end of their careers (read laughable), Tait a new player (though improving) and Katich as about as effect as a fart in a whirlwind.
Interesting piece in the paper the other day about the lack of young Aussie batting talent waiting in the wings. On this tour Katich and Hodge are the new boys, and they're both 30+. Could be an XI of Clark, Watson, Tait + 8 nonentities in a few years' time.
His bowling will give some variety to the attack and he has that nagging accuracy that will cause the Aussies to get themselves out. Anderson hasn't been performing well enough for a gamble on him.
Plus I'd like to see Pointing run out by a fielder in the actual 11 this time ;-)
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no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 08:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 08:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 08:27 am (UTC)We can bat well enough down to Giles. Hoggy, Anderson, Freddie and Harmie can fire up the balls on the hard flat Oval. If you wanted an extra batsman, I'd drop Giles and play Collingwood. I don't think the Oval will be good hunting ground for a spin bowler, and if you want to spin it, Vaughan and Strauss can give a bit of slow arm work.
They won't drop Giles though, and I don't blame 'em. The consistency is doing England a world of good.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 08:31 am (UTC)Anderson is a terrific bowler when he's on song, but he's been so patchy I just don't feel I can trust him for such a crucial game...
no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 08:35 am (UTC)He'd only had half a season of county cricket before starting in the England side. At least this season he's had a lot more experience.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 08:52 am (UTC)Oh well, I guess if he is rubbish, we managed to bowl them out while Jones was injured last time...
no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 09:19 am (UTC)Unlike australia who are having Warne/Lee bowl the majority of the overs, with McGrath being not fully fit, Gillespie and Kasper at the end of their careers (read laughable), Tait a new player (though improving) and Katich as about as effect as a fart in a whirlwind.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-07 09:36 am (UTC)Collingwood for me
Date: 2005-09-07 09:18 am (UTC)Plus I'd like to see Pointing run out by a fielder in the actual 11 this time ;-)
Re: Collingwood for me
Date: 2005-09-07 09:37 am (UTC)