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[bigboy]

Patel being invited back into the fold was the first crack in England's aura of invincibility and look where its gotten them - until then, the Andy's had made it clear that they had a plan for everything.  Then, all of a sudden, despite him showing scant interest in doing what it took to get himself in condition for international cricket, they decided that his face suddenly fitted.  Not good!

Aura of invincibility?   

Come on, 2 countries over the last 40 years have had an Aura and England is not one. Four bad losses on the trot can't be blamed on Patel either, the batting has been dismal.

[Vic Nicholas]

Nothing better to do today Vic? And to think, you started off on this forum with not a bad word to say about anything and some very insightful posts. Such a shame to see you descend into being such a muppet!

1/ You clearly lack a sense of humour.

2/ What part of that tongue in cheek post is untrue?

[Nickauger]

Haha, there are 15 or 20 posts after mine, and you chose to pick up on that, again without adding anything to the debate! I applaud you!

[Blazer]

Is it just me or anyone else ? I find Russel Arnold's commentary grating !

[Manormanic]

Aura of invincibility?   

Come on, 2 countries over the last 40 years have had an Aura and England is not one. Four bad losses on the trot can't be blamed on Patel either, the batting has been dismal.

Slightly tounge in cheek, but I'll stand by it - winning the Ashes so convincingly down under, mullering India at home on the back of previous acheivements, it all looked so "strong" - the West Indies appeared invincible because they battered you with pace, Australia because Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath would dig them out of just about anything, with England it was the meticulous planning, arduous fitness regime and will to compete..  But when they started going back on decisions like insisting Patel meet minimum fitness standards, it got very easy for other sides to lose respect for them.

[joeylough]

Can anyone inform me if Monty is still using a blank bat? As if his bats are sponsored they must get the least amount of TV time. Monty's run chase!

[Kulli]

he used a GN Scoop

[Manormanic]

not that it did hima lot of good!

[Vic Nicholas]

Haha, there are 15 or 20 posts after mine, and you chose to pick up on that, again without adding anything to the debate! I applaud you!

I haven't been on the site for a couple weeks, so started reading from the start of thread again...then I answered your post before reading any further posts.

Your point is what exactly?

So we can see that you not only lack a sense of humour, you have a chip on your shoulder as well.

[Alvaro]

Hi Vic,
Welcome back

[Vic Nicholas]

Slightly tounge in cheek, but I'll stand by it - winning the Ashes so convincingly down under, mullering India at home on the back of previous acheivements, it all looked so "strong" - the West Indies appeared invincible because they battered you with pace, Australia because Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath would dig them out of just about anything, with England it was the meticulous planning, arduous fitness regime and will to compete..  But when they started going back on decisions like insisting Patel meet minimum fitness standards, it got very easy for other sides to lose respect for them.

It seems that you also fell for the "we will dominate world cricket for the next twenty years" that was being peddled around here.

England beat an awful Australia that needed (and still need) a full rebuild. Then England crushed an insipid India that couldn't fight their way through a wet paper bag...and their subsequent series against the Windies and Oz bore out how far they had fallen.

So, England had an outstanding six months where even modest players filled their boots with easy runs and easy wickets against insipid Australian and Indian teams.

Much is now being made of the fact that "we just don't play well on spinning decks", and while this is true to a degree, there is a deeper problem that will be exposed by an outstanding South African pace attack this northern summer. Namely that some England batsmen like Strauss and Pietersen are past their best, others like Bell and Cook are hot and cold and the number six position has no obvious candidate.

Anderson is a good bowler, but he is hardly in the class of Steyn and Philander. Broad is overrated, Tremlett IS a very good bowler, but at 31 is injury prone and already is approaching the sunset. The fat man must come in, as much for his lower order batting as his excellent seam up bowling. A bowling attack or Anderson, Tremlett, Bresnan and Swann is very, very good.

The batting needs to be strengthened and whether it be one of the young guns like Taylor or Root, or some Saffer than none of us has heard of as yet, only time will tell.

All I know is that I will be watching the test series closely this summer between England and South Africa to get a true gauge of where England is at.

Win that series comfortably, then you are onto something. Lose, and your achievements in that golden six months will be put into perspective.

[Vic Nicholas]

Hi Vic,
Welcome back

Thanks Alvy!

Good to see ya! 

[Buzz]

I have to say that if there was a record for the worst number one rated team in cricket history - the fight between Eng and India would be pretty close...

[Manormanic]

Much is now being made of the fact that "we just don't play well on spinning decks", and while this is true to a degree, there is a deeper problem that will be exposed by an outstanding South African pace attack this northern summer. Namely that some England batsmen like Strauss and Pietersen are past their best, others like Bell and Cook are hot and cold and the number six position has no obvious candidate.

Anderson is a good bowler, but he is hardly in the class of Steyn and Philander. Broad is overrated, Tremlett IS a very good bowler, but at 31 is injury prone and already is approaching the sunset. The fat man must come in, as much for his lower order batting as his excellent seam up bowling. A bowling attack or Anderson, Tremlett, Bresnan and Swann is very, very good.

The batting needs to be strengthened and whether it be one of the young guns like Taylor or Root, or some Saffer than none of us has heard of as yet, only time will tell.

All I know is that I will be watching the test series closely this summer between England and South Africa to get a true gauge of where England is at.

Win that series comfortably, then you are onto something. Lose, and your achievements in that golden six months will be put into perspective.

Odd that you disagreed with me when I said precisely teh sam about our batting some four months ago Vic!  I'm not convinced KP is past it in the way that Strauss maybe is, but there are certainly two to three slots up for grabs in the top six.  My theory is that England are hoping to stretch it out until the end of the Summer with most of what they have now with a view to then blooding Ben Stokes as a number 6/7 who can also get through a share of overs as a third seamer.

Where I disagree is in your assessment of the relative merits of the England and Yarpie attacks.  Anderson is nearly as good as Steyn and certainly better than Philander who, electric start notwithstanding, is very good rather than future great.  Broad, if he pitches it up, is probably just about worth a slot alongside Bresnan and of course Finn and Tremlett give depth.  Far greater depth than SA have presently - De Lange is their fourth seamer and he is definitely uninispiring at this stage!

[Buzz]

All I know is that I will be watching the test series closely this summer between England and South Africa to get a true gauge of where England is at.

Win that series comfortably, then you are onto something. Lose, and your achievements in that golden six months will be put into perspective.

It wont come as any surprise to you that I don't agree with much of what you have said, especially about the merits of our bowling attach which if the batsmen had scored proper totals this winter would have looked even better.

However:
I aggree with the last be - in that all cricket fans will be looking at next summer to guage how good the SA and Eng teams are.