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[Buzz]

Given there were no comments on this game yesterday (as everyone waits to see Talismans bat sale) i though I would start a thread on the new test match and offer a few thoughts...

Morgan looks good but got no chin music yesterday, so the jury can still stay out for a while - but is in fact technically much better than I realised
Pietersen needs (a lot of) time in the middle
Collingwood is a hero
Cook need runs - but his technique is better suited to Aus wickets than facing a hooping ball at Trent bridge

and the Pak bowling attack looks over-hyped

Finally, Kamran Akmal is the worst wicket keeper I have seen in almost all cricket - not counting beer/village cricket or when I had to stand behind the stumps in a few league games a couple of seasons ago.

[peplow]

Buzz even though i never saw you keep, i think you may give poor old kamran a run for his money!

Interesting looking at the difference between cook and morgan, with just the flexing of the knees by morgan and trigger by cook.

Referrals make me laugh too with "the chat" after every lbw decision!

[SillyShilly]

Given there was no comments yesterday (as everyone waits to see Talismans bat sale) i though I would start a thread on the new test match and offer a few thoughts...

Morgan looks good but got no chin music yesterday, so the jury can still stay out for a while - but is in fact technically much better than I realised COULD POSSIBLY BE THE BEST TEST BATSMEN ENGLAND (IRELAND) HAVE PRODUCED IN A DECADE!
Pietersen needs (a lot of) time in the middle AGREED
Collingwood is a hero AGREED
Cook need runs - but his technique is better suited to Aus wickets than facing a hooping ball at Trent bridge. AGREED

and the Pak bowling attack looks over-hyped AGREED

Finally, Kamran Akmal is the worst wicket keeper I have seen in almost all cricket - not counting beer/village cricket or when I had to stand behind the stumps in a few league games a couple of seasons ago. - AGREED

[RichW]

The Pakistan attack especially Asif and Amer are excellent bowlers in conditions that suit them e.g. damp swinging seaming conditions however when conditions don't suit them, if the ball isn't swing and seaming that lack of pace can be exposed.

Having dropped yet another catch how can a professional team field so badly!!

I have no idea what has happened to DK surely he doesn't bowl this badly when he is taking bucket loads of wickets at Essex.

Assuming that everybody is fit and in decent form what would you England top 6 be in the ashes?
Personally, i know this might be unpopular, but i would have AS - AC - JT - KP - PC - MP play the extra bowler as I don't think our bowling will be as good in aus conditions.

[Buzz]

Nice spot - it is noticeable how still Morgan's head is and level his eyes are. That is not the case with at the moment, which is why Cook (and Pietersen) got out and Morgan got runs (I think)

As for my keeping, I earned the nick name "Tin Man" due to how much I creaked, which I think may be flattering on Akmal, who doesn't appear to bend down at all!! Calling him Teflon hands or symbols is an insult to no stick frying pans and percussion players respectively...

[Jeet]

I'm not one to feel sorry for pakistan, but you've gotta feel for Aamer. Another catch of his bowling in hurled to the ground.

[Buzz]

Rich - My Ashes team would be the one playing at the moment but with Bell at 5 and Peitersen at 3, Colly at 4 and either Trott or Cook opening depending on who gets more runs in this series.

I don't think playing the extra bowler will help as it would have to be one of Bresnan, Rashid or Shahzad - the first two would get hammered all over the park and the second has a poor fitness record, but will be pushing for Anderson's place.

[Jeet]

The Pakistan attack especially Asif and Amer are excellent bowlers in conditions that suit them e.g. damp swinging seaming conditions however when conditions don't suit them, if the ball isn't swing and seaming that lack of pace can be exposed.

Having dropped yet another catch how can a professional team field so badly!!

I have no idea what has happened to DK surely he doesn't bowl this badly when he is taking bucket loads of wickets at Essex.

Assuming that everybody is fit and in decent form what would you England top 6 be in the ashes?
Personally, i know this might be unpopular, but i would have AS - AC - JT - KP - PC - MP play the extra bowler as I don't think our bowling will be as good in aus conditions.

Kaneria is too good for county cricket, merely ordinary for Test cricket.

[SillyShilly]

The Pakistani fielding coach.......

Poor old Aamer - could have been a completelty different match had they taken their catches.
If you bring back younus and khan then the pakistani side looks extremely competitive!

[peplow]

Its a tough choice who the the top 5 to be for ashes, i think as buzz said cook will be better in aus but then can you assume that or go with people who are making more runs?

Shame morgans out! Hopefully see swanny smash a few around now!

[peplow]

Kaneria is too good for county cricket, merely ordinary for Test cricket.

is he the west brom of cricket??

[roco]

Careful!!!

But prob true lol

[longy0710]

My ashes team for OZ

Strauss
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Morgan
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Anderson

[Buzz]

Longy, you are not seriously playing Bresnan ahead of Finn in Australia? That is an enormous call!

I wouldn't even have Bresnan in my touring party - his medium pace will get smashed all around Aus!!!

[longy0710]

I would, reliable and will add strength to the batting line up

Plus i am a yorkshire lad so slightly biased, but i dont think finn is quite there yet, at least with bresnan what you see is what you get, he is pretty consistent