Well 4 years ago we prepared for The Aussies by thrashing Bangladesh inside 3 days twice. Team fairly much picks itself now. When Flintoff's fit stick him in for Bresnan. Strauss, Cook, Bopara, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions.
[cite]Posted By: 1905[/cite]I think the following quote on the BBC website sums it up quite nicely:
"Preparing for the Ashes by playing the West Indies is a bit like preparing for a marathon by walking the dog..."
Yep, but the manner of the two victories needs to be considered, two matches and two comprehensive victories. Several new players have been successfully blooded.
England have a few problems - particularly on the bowling front - Hoggard and Harmison have been discarded, Flintoff is injured and may not play in the Ashes, Sidebottom has also been injured while Simon Jones has just had another operation and probably won't be fit enough to play Test cricket this year, if ever again. England have put a lot of faith in Jimmy Anderson to lead the attack - until a year ago he was very much in and out of form - good one day, very average the next and if the ball stopped swinging for whatever reason then he had a tendency to look very ordinary, but since the two Kiwi series last winter/spring he's looked the part. Now we just have to find out if he can lead the attack against a stronger Test team, these two Tests have given him a taste of what he needs to do and should have left his confidence sky high.
Comments
Good to see Anderson swinging and picking up some wickets.
With him, Broad and a fit Freddie we could still have a chance against the Aussies.
Not sure Bopara will score runs against them at No. 3 but happy to see him given the chance rather than that pillock Bell.
"Preparing for the Ashes by playing the West Indies is a bit like preparing for a marathon by walking the dog..."
On recent form you would have to have him at 8, after both Prior and Broad.
Yep, but the manner of the two victories needs to be considered, two matches and two comprehensive victories. Several new players have been successfully blooded.
England have a few problems - particularly on the bowling front - Hoggard and Harmison have been discarded, Flintoff is injured and may not play in the Ashes, Sidebottom has also been injured while Simon Jones has just had another operation and probably won't be fit enough to play Test cricket this year, if ever again. England have put a lot of faith in Jimmy Anderson to lead the attack - until a year ago he was very much in and out of form - good one day, very average the next and if the ball stopped swinging for whatever reason then he had a tendency to look very ordinary, but since the two Kiwi series last winter/spring he's looked the part. Now we just have to find out if he can lead the attack against a stronger Test team, these two Tests have given him a taste of what he needs to do and should have left his confidence sky high.