: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:10 pm  

I can see Onions doing very well at Headingley but Harmison might be the better bet at Edgbaston and The Oval. Horses for courses?

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:27 pm  

Asim wrote:

Broad isn't in the team solely for his bowling though, if he was I don't think you could argue that strongly for him being in the side but, as long as the selectors demand stronger batting down the order, he is safe so there isn't a Broad or Harmison situation.


Onions still has the best FC average in the country, he's been earning that while playing tests while Harmison knocks over plodders in the CC. Harmison may well have more pace and bounce, but we're playing on English wickets and in conditions where variety and swing are much bigger factors. As long as Flintoff is fit to bowl we don't need to bring anyone else in because they can bowl fast and make people feel uncomfortable for a bit, because Flintoff does all that and more and the rest of the attack can bowl around him. If we left Broad out then Sidebottom should be first in line for a recall, he's bowled well for England these last couple of years and provides more variety and something a bit different.

Onions didn't have the best figures in the world this week, but he did a decent job for the team and has done nothing to deserve being left out for, unless we want to get back to the bad old days of English cricket where it takes ages for someone to get their chance then they get jettisoned straight away if they fail, or the first time they have a bad game, though Onions doesn't even fall into either of those categories.

The England team will not benefit at all from continuing this cycle where Harmison gets dropped, knocks over a few CC batsmen, get's back in, let's us down, then get's dropped again. It's time to move on.

I agree about Broad, although so far he has not batted as well as in previous series, either I think he will stay in the team.

Whilst I like Onions it was interesting on the last day at Lords he was the only bowler not to be given a go. I am not sure in tight situations that the captain trusts him completely as yet as he does seem a little expensive. For me it's all about taking into account the pitch and at Edgbaston I feel Harmison will offer more but then at Headingley I could see that being reversed. I take the point about what Freddie offers but with the fitness cloud over him it would not do any harm to have Harmison there too.

Harmison can do no more than bowl well in CC, it's okay saying he is taking easy wickets but he can only bowl against what is in front of him. He also looked very good for England Lions when playing against the Aussies.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:46 pm  

How many of the people saying how Harmison is in great form have seen him bowl this season? I haven't but I have seen Onions and he has been very solid, not let anyone down and is the joint top English wicket taker in the country (with Harmison, 57 each) and has a better average, a better strike rate and more 5 fer's...if you're picking a form player from CC then Onions is the man.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:54 pm  

changa wrote:

freddie is very fast 1st fiver wicket haul since 2005

Of course dip$hit, he's been injured for most of the time since then.

changa wrote:

we wonder what warnie and mcgrath are saying about this

Warne is probably looking for the nearest tanning salon so he can tango himself again. And who gives a flying f**k what he says, Murali > Warne.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:02 pm  

Nemanja wrote:

Murali > Warne.

without a doubt, warney is having his teeth bleached actually.

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:13 pm  

Freddie is the man, just watched him live from that do they are having tonight what a guy, all he was bothered about was the lager

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:42 pm  

changa wrote:

freddie is very fast 1st fiver wicket haul since 2005 we wonder what warnie and mcgrath are saying about this

I don't think either would deny that right now Freddie is one of the premier fast bowlers around

: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:48 pm  

Nemanja wrote:

Of course dip$hit, he's been injured for most of the time since then.

freddie been injured for 4 years 1st win at lords for 80years. freddie is to good

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:33 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Lets not ignore the fact he is on fire at present eh? Why does everyone insist on players being pcked on form yet with Harmison the rule does not apply.

What about Ramprakash, he's averaging 72 in county cricket. Is it time to bring him in?

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:01 am  

sally cinnamon wrote:

What about Ramprakash, he's averaging 72 in county cricket. Is it time to bring him in?

Point taken, here is a question then, would you rather have Bell or Ramprakash for the next Test if KP is not fit?

Looking increasingly unlikely that KP will be fit for the next Test, normally that would be a huge blow but the injury has taken it's toll on his form so he is not quite as big a loss as he would have been. Seems Bell will come in and play 3 and Bopara at 4.

Also apparently England want to play two spinners at Edgbaston so I would imagine that would mean Onions dropping out and no recall for Harmison, unless Freddie is not fit then it will probably be Harmison back and only one spinner.