: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:44 am  

Typical its pishing it down here now if only we could have lasted until today

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:45 am  

changa wrote:

you can stop the rain dance now . its all over . your dance is to late

My dance worked its England that couldnt make it until today

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:48 am  

OrdsallRed wrote:

A few of us Lancs regulars have been saying for a while that he should bat at 3...he's our best batsman and it should be up to the captain and coach to decide where he bats, not him...the best teams in the world generally have their best batsman at 3 (Ponting, Sangakkara, Tendulkar, Kallis etc) and I think KP has shown he can defend and concentrate a lot better than he has done before so 3 should be his position.

Yes but last time we played him there he didn't like it, and bitched until he got put back to 4

Harmison, Bell and Bopara need to go at The Oval, with Flintoff (hopefully) and then 2 batsman in, I doubt that will happen though, I think we'll only see 1 of Bell or Bopara axed (probably Bopara) and it will be Trott that comes in.

I'm not a fan of people qualifying to play for countries on residency grounds, but as Trott isn't English he might have a bit of mental strength about him that is seemingly lacking in all our own cricketers.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:03 am  

OrdsallRed wrote:

A few of us Lancs regulars have been saying for a while that he should bat at 3...he's our best batsman and it should be up to the captain and coach to decide where he bats, not him...the best teams in the world generally have their best batsman at 3 (Ponting, Sangakkara, Tendulkar, Kallis etc) and I think KP has shown he can defend and concentrate a lot better than he has done before so 3 should be his position.

As for the oval test, bring in Ramprakash for Bell...he's in form, on his home ground, has a good average against the aussies (including a century at the oval), he's still physically fit enough, probably a lot more relaxed than Bell or Trott would be and what better way for him to bow out from top class cricket than winning us the ashes!!

You could be right about KP, that said he is doing well at four and averaging around 50 so is it worth moving him? It's certainly something that needs to be discussed within the camp for the future.

Bell and Bopara both need getting shut of for the final Test, Trott would be under too much pressure on debut so I would go with Rampsand Key unless they could persuade Trescothick to come in and move Cook to three.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:00 am  

PAUL M wrote:

You could be right about KP, that said he is doing well at four and averaging around 50 so is it worth moving him? It's certainly something that needs to be discussed within the camp for the future.

Bell and Bopara both need getting shut of for the final Test, Trott would be under too much pressure on debut so I would go with Rampsand Key unless they could persuade Trescothick to come in and move Cook to three.

That would be my preference, the other options we have all been tried before and failed. We also need to win the match so we need another bowler, drop Harmison and bring in Sidebottom.

Strauss
Trescothick
Cook
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson
Onions

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:05 am  

Trescothick just isn't going to happen.

The man had to retire from test cricket because of problems with stress and his mental well-being, being brought back for the deciding test as the man to win back the Ashes is probably just about the last thing the guy needs.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:20 am  

Asim wrote:

Trescothick just isn't going to happen.

The man had to retire from test cricket because of problems with stress and his mental well-being, being brought back for the deciding test as the man to win back the Ashes is probably just about the last thing the guy needs.

And no matter how good Ramprakash's county form is, every time he played test cricket he looked like a frightened rabitt when going out to bat.

I'd bring in Key and Trott for Bopara and Bell and Flintoff (if capable of standing on one leg) for either Onions or Harmison depending on the wicket.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:33 am  

Cibaman wrote:

And no matter how good Ramprakash's county form is, every time he played test cricket he looked like a frightened rabitt when going out to bat.

Agreed, there does seem to be a bit of a campaign gathering though, so I wouldn't be that surprised.

I always liked Ramprakash for some reason, and could just about make a case for him being picked given it is on his home ground, he should now have more maturity as a player and that he has a reasonable record against the Aussies, but it shouldn't happen - again here is a player with confidence issues at this level being expected to be the man to win the Ashes, sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

The one argument I don't agree with is the "we can't expect Trott to play his first test in this situation" which I have read this morning, and heard on the radio yesterday - someone with no baggage is probably exactly what we need.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:02 pm  

Smiggs wrote:

That would be my preference, the other options we have all been tried before and failed. We also need to win the match so we need another bowler, drop Harmison and bring in Sidebottom.

Strauss
Trescothick
Cook
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson
Onions

Batting is too fragile to play the extra bowler.

Strauss
Trescothick
Cook
Ramprakash
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Anderson/Harmison
Onions

Anderson might not be fit. Although I doubt Trescothick would play so it might be Cook to open with Key at three.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:04 pm  

Asim wrote:

Agreed, there does seem to be a bit of a campaign gathering though, so I wouldn't be that surprised.

I always liked Ramprakash for some reason, and could just about make a case for him being picked given it is on his home ground, he should now have more maturity as a player and that he has a reasonable record against the Aussies, but it shouldn't happen - again here is a player with confidence issues at this level being expected to be the man to win the Ashes, sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

The one argument I don't agree with is the "we can't expect Trott to play his first test in this situation" which I have read this morning, and heard on the radio yesterday - someone with no baggage is probably exactly what we need.

The most likely scenario will be Trott and Ramps to come in for Bell and Bopara. It could work both ways, Trott could freeze on debut or play well as he has no baggage. Ramps could play well as he will have zero pressure on him as he knows it's probably a one off.