Must be injured, can't see them resting him. Good to see they're going for Panesar as opposed to Giles. A more positive option. He's a match winner whereas Giles isn't. I'm worried about the 4th seamer though- Plunkett or Mahmood the weak link of the side.
I assume they will play Harmison/Hoggard and Mahmood (as he can bat) if Panesar is to play. If they are going to play Plunkett or Anderson then Giles will need to come in. I would imagine Giles and Panesar come in for the SCG.
I think last time we won at Brisbane we played 2 spinners - not that the spinners took many wickets.
I think the three seamers will be Harmison, Hoggard, Anderson + Flintoff with Panesar as spinner. But there is some depth in the seam bowling department with Mahmood and Plunkett on hand, much depends on how fit Flintoff is and how fast he can bowl.
Giles to come in at Sydney for Anderson.
"I think last time we won at Brisbane we played 2 spinners - not that the spinners took many wickets."
From memory Nasser Hussain won the toss and opting for the element of surprise elected to field...not very many of our bowlers took wickets.
I think they will go with Gilo if Bell isn't right because there is little depth to the batting. If Bell is ok though i would go with Monty, purely because i think its an unnecessary gamble playing someone who hasn't played a competitive game in a year.
Watson will be a big blow for them, not only does he bat, but bowls as well. Him out will mean McGrath will have to get through more overs.
Darren Gough: "I'd pick Monty Panesar ahead of Ashley Giles. Panesar had a brilliant season and he turns the ball well. Australia will probably come after him but that could work to England's advantage.
"Ashley Giles is a good cricketer but he's been out for a year. Panesar deserves that spot in the first Test but that will be Duncan Fletcher's decision."
very much agree with Goughy. Monty is a match winner giles isn't. Giles may score a few more but it should be up to the top 7 to score them. Going to be a tough series, i think we'll struggle this time around. I'm staying up with a few bers to watch it, can't wait
kick-off is Midnight GMT...lunch is approx 2AM-2.40AM, The second session lasts 2.40AM-4.40AM and the last session starts at 5AM-7AM GMT, however that depends on the requisite number of overs being bowled, so stumps could be later than that.
Aussie strengths: playing at home, used to the pitches, got a point to prove after the last Ashes, strong batting line-up, have Shane Warne and won't be as complacent as last time.
Aussie weaknesses: bowling other than Warne looks a bit thin, McGrath is no more than fast-medium, Brett Lee is fast but expensive and they lack a genuine all-rounder, if the England batsmen get going there is no depth in their attack. Aussie captain Ricky Ponting isn't in form.
England strengths: great team spirit with a great track record as a Test nation over the last few years. Good batting line-up - the top five average over 40, good fielding side. Shown they can beat the Aussies. Have a stronger bowling line up and more consistent plus a genuine all rounder in Flintoff. Monty Panesar an unknown quantity for the Aussies. The Barmy army will give England great support.
Weaknesses: Missing Vaughan as captain, Cook has never opened in Test cricket before, Bell wasn't a success the lat time he batted at no.3 (most of his runs have come batting 5). The pitches are a yard faster than in England and that can take getting used to (angle of bounce etc is different), KP is as likely to get himself out as score runs, Flintoff is still recovering from injury and may not be fully fit. Question marks over which keeper is better, a bit of a long tail if Hoggard, Harmison, Anderson and Monty play. If Giles play's he isn't as incisive a bowler as Monty. Missing Trescothick.
I ought to add England are missing Simon Jones as a fourth seamer. Jones bowled a lot with the old ball in the last ashes series, often reversing it, traditionally bowling with an older ball is something the spinners do, Jones is a better bowler than Giles and took a lot of pressure off the latter, and in my opinion made him look a better bowler - the Aussies were effectively tied up at one end had to take chances against Giles.
good assessment BFR, but i think you've missed out a key factor.
They use a different, manufactured ball Down Under, very different to the one we normally use, and importantly doesn't reverse swing as well. That aspect is a big aspect of our bowling, and may be a factor.
Well done the England selectors who have chosed Giles over Panesar. I'm sure all 8 of Giles runs he'll score in the 1st innings will prove invaluable in chasing Asutralias 600+ score...
A totally spineless decision by the selectors on a pitch which would have suited Monty down to the ground. This myth that Giles is more defensive bowler is a totally falacy, and besides who ever won a test playing defensively?
Pietersen was the most economical bowler behind Freddie wasnt he? The problem is that we need wickets, not to stop them scoring runs.
Think we're playing for the draw already. Anderson conceded far too many runs (17 boundaries i think) which is equivalent to one an over, just not good enough.
There's a lot of batting to come from the Aussies as well.
The day went with the toss, but there's no point singling out the selectors picking Giles over Panesar, Giles has bowled ok and taken a wicket, would Monty have bowled that much better? Maybe, maybe not. Harmison, Hoggard and Anderson have not delivered anything, that's where the problem lies.
Comments
I think last time we won at Brisbane we played 2 spinners - not that the spinners took many wickets.
Giles to come in at Sydney for Anderson.
"I think last time we won at Brisbane we played 2 spinners - not that the spinners took many wickets."
From memory Nasser Hussain won the toss and opting for the element of surprise elected to field...not very many of our bowlers took wickets.
Because no woman would go to that much effort for a four-inch prize !
Come on England !!
I think they will go with Gilo if Bell isn't right because there is little depth to the batting. If Bell is ok though i would go with Monty, purely because i think its an unnecessary gamble playing someone who hasn't played a competitive game in a year.
Watson will be a big blow for them, not only does he bat, but bowls as well. Him out will mean McGrath will have to get through more overs.
As others have said we may well need Giles' superior batting too.
"Ashley Giles is a good cricketer but he's been out for a year. Panesar deserves that spot in the first Test but that will be Duncan Fletcher's decision."
who knows ?
i think its 8am..
Going to be a tough series, i think we'll struggle this time around. I'm staying up with a few bers to watch it, can't wait
kick-off is Midnight GMT...lunch is approx 2AM-2.40AM, The second session lasts 2.40AM-4.40AM and the last session starts at 5AM-7AM GMT, however that depends on the requisite number of overs being bowled, so stumps could be later than that.
Aussie weaknesses: bowling other than Warne looks a bit thin, McGrath is no more than fast-medium, Brett Lee is fast but expensive and they lack a genuine all-rounder, if the England batsmen get going there is no depth in their attack. Aussie captain Ricky Ponting isn't in form.
England strengths: great team spirit with a great track record as a Test nation over the last few years. Good batting line-up - the top five average over 40, good fielding side. Shown they can beat the Aussies. Have a stronger bowling line up and more consistent plus a genuine all rounder in Flintoff. Monty Panesar an unknown quantity for the Aussies. The Barmy army will give England great support.
Weaknesses: Missing Vaughan as captain, Cook has never opened in Test cricket before, Bell wasn't a success the lat time he batted at no.3 (most of his runs have come batting 5). The pitches are a yard faster than in England and that can take getting used to (angle of bounce etc is different), KP is as likely to get himself out as score runs, Flintoff is still recovering from injury and may not be fully fit. Question marks over which keeper is better, a bit of a long tail if Hoggard, Harmison, Anderson and Monty play. If Giles play's he isn't as incisive a bowler as Monty. Missing Trescothick.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/skills/6137400.stm
They use a different, manufactured ball Down Under, very different to the one we normally use, and importantly doesn't reverse swing as well. That aspect is a big aspect of our bowling, and may be a factor.
He opened with Strauss for the whole series I think.
Other than that a fair assessment.
Harmison's first ball of the series went straight to the slips...
only bright spot was harmys first ball.
i had a whole pound on 1st ball of series being a wide with bluesquare @ 33-1.
A totally spineless decision by the selectors on a pitch which would have suited Monty down to the ground. This myth that Giles is more defensive bowler is a totally falacy, and besides who ever won a test playing defensively?
Think we're playing for the draw already. Anderson conceded far too many runs (17 boundaries i think) which is equivalent to one an over, just not good enough.
There's a lot of batting to come from the Aussies as well.
Barmy Army.
go hoggy!