Joined: Oct 15 2003 Posts: 53839 Location: North Yorkshire
Prince of Denmark wrote:Shahzad & Tremlett are totally different types of bowler and that’s not really an either/or choice as I see it. Personally I’d have taken Shahzad instead of Bresnan, who to me is a “typical English county seamer” of the type unlikely to make much impact in Australian conditions. He did well in his Tests in Bangladesh last Winter, and omitting him now would admittedly be harsh, but conditions there couldn’t be more different.
For me Shahzad is a good alternative to Anderson, whereas Tremlett is clearly an alternative to Broad & Finn. After laughably being rested at the start of the season to “manage his workload” Tremlett came good and bowled plenty of overs with good strike & economy rates to finish well up near the top of the final First Class averages. Unlike most extremely tall bowlers he isn’t a beanpole, but a muscular well proportioned athlete. I’ve seen him regularly this year, and his combination of relentless accuracy and extreme lift off a good length at a decent speed make him a particularly awkward proposition for batsmen. Given that he should now be at his peak in his late twenties, and has already played a few Tests with fair success three years ago, it’s a no-brainer to take him now he’s been fully fit for a continuous period for the first time in ages. In fact it wouldn’t surprise me if he nudges Finn out of the Test XI, possibly even before the First Test at Brisbane.
Panesar has clearly been picked as an alternative to Swann in case of illness or injury, not as a potential second spinner. I wouldn’t want Rashid as the sole spinner in a Test XI in Australia when he’s completely untried. Whether he should have been tried already is another matter. Personally I’d like to see him get a game at 7, ostensibly as a lower middle order batsman, then he could act as fifth bowler/second spinner without any risk of weakening the bowling from what we’ve had recently, i.e. four front line bowlers. He’s the closest we’ve got to a genuine all-rounder of potential Test quality, certainly much more so than Luke Wright whose bowling is never really likely to be more use than Collingwood’s in Tests.
Frankly it beggars belief that Rashid isn’t even in the performance squad, from which James Harris of Glamorgan is almost an equally baffling omission.
You make a good point about Tremlett and when he did play his tests he looked very good and took wickets against a strong India side. Should Anderson break down then I think Shazhad will be moved into the squad.
Rashid is a touch unlucky, we won't need two spinners and Swann is probably the best in the world right now so maybe the selectors have set him some other goals this winter?
Joined: Aug 10 2005 Posts: 2082 Location: Washing the sheets
A decent enough squad, the only baffling selection is the continuing loyalty that the selectors show towards Tim Bresnan, who will never be Test class. His bowling will be destroyed down under and his batting is mediocre at best. He is a throwback to the bad old days of the 90's, when we had an obsession of finding the next Ian Botham, and fell into the trap of selecting rubbish like Mark Ealham, David Capel, Chris Lewis , etc.... Now, it seems, we have an obsession of trying to find the new Andrew Flintoff, who the Aussies genuinely feared. With Bresnan, they will be peeing into their breakfasts with laughter when they find out he is in the squad.
As for Panesar, he is only there for 'enthusiasm to the squad ' purposes....Rashid, or any other young spinner, may just become a little dejected playing waiter in a 100 degree heat for a month or 2. With Panesar, you will get an unyielding enthusiasm, which can be pretty vital during a long tour....Realistically, unless things go majorly t!ts up for England, then a second spinner is pretty irrelevant anyway. The only way we can retain the Ashes is for our 3 pace bowlers to maintain consistancy and allow a free rein to Graeme Swann who, if we are to be successful, is going to have to take on a Warne-style role and plunder 30+ wickets...He is going to be the key figure if we are to win.
Joined: Apr 23 2002 Posts: 3882 Location: In the midst of Manchester's Steak Diane belt
The Angry Pirate wrote:He is going to be the key figure if we are to win.
True he will be a key figure as all 4 bowlers will be...but remember, we don't actually have to win the series. The aussies have to win 1 more test than us and with their current squad I'm quite optimistic at this early stage of us not losing the series.
I can see the logic of picking Panesar over Rashid. The second choice spinner might get a game at Sydney but isnt likely to get a lot of bowling beforehand. A leggie such as Rashid would find it more difficult going into his first test without much recent match practice behind him. He really needs to be introduced to test cricket late in the English summer. Cant understand why he isnt in the development squad though.
Joined: Mar 05 2003 Posts: 4787 Location: Everywhere
Ordsall Quays Red wrote:He would if he were in it mate. Apparently he's been told he needs to "rest", this less than 12 months after being told he needs to play on a more regular basis, which he has done and done as well as any other first division spinner has.
If I were him or Shahzad I'd be majorly frigged off. Panesar and Tremlett ahead of them both? Clearly 2nd division wickets for southern-based counties mean more than test and 1st division wickets if you happen to play for a northern-based county.
Totally agree. Poor old Adil must wonder what he has to do......
Go on tour - carry the drinks/needs more cricket Play more cricket - Has a good county season & needs a rest
The ECB's treatment of him has been scandalous. His stats for the season are better than both Treadwell and Monty. Plus Monty's wickets are division 2 wickets!!!! Granted, at the moment everybody is fighting for the number 2 spinners slot as Swanny is untouchable but to not even get into the train on squad is frankly a disgrace
As for the rest of the squad, no real shocks. Tremlett is a good choice as back up for the type of wickets they will get in Oz. I just hope the series is still alive by the time I get to Melbourne for Christmas
Joined: Oct 15 2003 Posts: 53839 Location: North Yorkshire
airliebird9 wrote:Totally agree. Poor old Adil must wonder what he has to do......
Go on tour - carry the drinks/needs more cricket Play more cricket - Has a good county season & needs a rest
The ECB's treatment of him has been scandalous. His stats for the season are better than both Treadwell and Monty. Plus Monty's wickets are division 2 wickets!!!! Granted, at the moment everybody is fighting for the number 2 spinners slot as Swanny is untouchable but to not even get into the train on squad is frankly a disgrace
As for the rest of the squad, no real shocks. Tremlett is a good choice as back up for the type of wickets they will get in Oz. I just hope the series is still alive by the time I get to Melbourne for Christmas
Maybe the selectors spoke to Rashid and they made a joint decision for him not to go with the development squad?
Joined: Mar 05 2003 Posts: 4787 Location: Everywhere
PAUL M wrote:Maybe the selectors spoke to Rashid and they made a joint decision for him not to go with the development squad?
Maybe they didn't??
Why would a young, ambitious cricketer with great potential even consider that an off season of no cricket rather than a tour (in either squad) down under, in and around the international set up would benefit him???
I'm sure Adil would jump at the chance had he been given one........
Joined: Oct 15 2003 Posts: 53839 Location: North Yorkshire
airliebird9 wrote:Maybe they didn't??
Why would a young, ambitious cricketer with great potential even consider that an off season of no cricket rather than a tour (in either squad) down under, in and around the international set up would benefit him???
I'm sure Adil would jump at the chance had he been given one........
I don't know tbh. I just don't think they would have completely ignored him without some sort of reason/discussion with him after having around the Test squads in the past.
Joined: Mar 05 2003 Posts: 4787 Location: Everywhere
PAUL M wrote:I don't know tbh. I just don't think they would have completely ignored him without some sort of reason/discussion with him after having around the Test squads in the past.
I just don't think Andy Flower thinks much of him tbh. He has done exactly what the ECB have asked of him, ie, playing more county cricket for Yorkshire and he has done it well. It just doesn't make sense to me. Especially to miss out on BOTH squads
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