PAUL M wrote:Listening to Flower this morning he said that Harmison was struggling with blisters so they brought in extra cover in Sidebottom. He also said that should Freddie not make it then they would look to bring Trott in as the extra batsmen, which could also mean Sidebottom coming in and Swann missing out. Either way he confirmed Bopara will bat at 3.
I thought Paul Allott made a valid point yesterday (never thought I'd say that). He suggested that rather than play Trott + 4 bowlers, why not play Flintoff as specialist batsman/ 5th bowler?
Fred seems to have found some batting form and Trott is a unknown quantity at test level. Fred might get as many runs as Trott. Stick him in the slips when we're fielding and, if he's up to it, let him bowl 5-10 overs per innings.
They'd still need to be confident that he would'nt break down entirely, but seems a better option than dropping Swann or Broad.
Cibaman wrote:I thought Paul Allott made a valid point yesterday (never thought I'd say that). He suggested that rather than play Trott + 4 bowlers, why not play Flintoff as specialist batsman/ 5th bowler?
Fred seems to have found some batting form and Trott is a unknown quantity at test level. Fred might get as many runs as Trott. Stick him in the slips when we're fielding and, if he's up to it, let him bowl 5-10 overs per innings.
They'd still need to be confident that he would'nt break down entirely, but seems a better option than only playing 4 bowlers or dropping Swann or Broad.
Cibaman wrote:I thought Paul Allott made a valid point yesterday (never thought I'd say that). He suggested that rather than play Trott + 4 bowlers, why not play Flintoff as specialist batsman/ 5th bowler?
Fred seems to have found some batting form and Trott is a unknown quantity at test level. Fred might get as many runs as Trott. Stick him in the slips when we're fielding and, if he's up to it, let him bowl 5-10 overs per innings.
They'd still need to be confident that he would'nt break down entirely, but seems a better option than dropping Swann or Broad.
I'm probably talking nonsense, and I don't have a clue if the stats back me up on this, but for a large part of his career I've always thought if he bowled or batted well in one match, he wouldn't be as effective the next time out. Given he did well with the bat last week I wouldn't be confident enough to pick him as a specialist batsman only!
I think it is likely that we will need Flintoff fit and firing if we are to win the series, whether that be this weekend or at The Oval, if anything I'd probably err on the side of caution with his fitness and hope to have him firing at the Oval where it might be decisive, rather than potentially aggravate it this weekend and put his appearance there in further jeopardy.
Joined: Oct 15 2003 Posts: 53839 Location: North Yorkshire
Flintoff out!! The reposts suggest that Hamo will come in for him but it sounds like a really good batting track so I wonder if they will drop Swann aswell and bring in the extra batsmen in Trott? If they reaplce Flintoff with Harmison is weakens the batting and replacing him with Trott weakens the bowling???
Definately a bat first wicket by the sounds of, should be good until around day 3 so whoever bats first should be looking at 500 although there might be some help for the seamers early on.
Asim wrote:I'm probably talking nonsense, and I don't have a clue if the stats back me up on this, but for a large part of his career I've always thought if he bowled or batted well in one match, he wouldn't be as effective the next time out. Given he did well with the bat last week I wouldn't be confident enough to pick him as a specialist batsman only!
I think it is likely that we will need Flintoff fit and firing if we are to win the series, whether that be this weekend or at The Oval, if anything I'd probably err on the side of caution with his fitness and hope to have him firing at the Oval where it might be decisive, rather than potentially aggravate it this weekend and put his appearance there in further jeopardy.
I remember leading up to the 2005 ashes, he had a run of something like 7 tests in a row where he hit 7 50s. Unless his injury means he's not even fit enough to bat, I'd say Flintoff would be more likely to get a score than Bell and Bopara. You also have no idea how Trott will cope with test cricket.
PAUL M wrote:Flintoff out!! The reposts suggest that Hamo will come in for him but it sounds like a really good batting track so I wonder if they will drop Swann aswell and bring in the extra batsmen in Trott? If they reaplce Flintoff with Harmison is weakens the batting and replacing him with Trott weakens the bowling???
Definately a bat first wicket by the sounds of, should be good until around day 3 so whoever bats first should be looking at 500 although there might be some help for the seamers early on.
Hopefully Broad will make way for Harmison. Need some variety in the attack. Sadly I think Broad will make way for Sidebottom, which means we're praying for the ball to swing as we have no other way of getting batsmen out.
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