Yep, big as they come this one. A must win, or at least a must compete. We started to show signs of what we are capable of against SL. Just need to step it up a gear or two. Antigua is a good wicket which has seen some interesting results so far in the Super 8s. West Indies won the toss against Aus and decided to field. Hayden was obnoxiously brilliant with 158 and WI could not respond; Then NZ won the toss against WI and also chose to field. WI were scuttled for a paltry 177 which NZ knocked off easilyin under 40 overs; Aus won the toss and fielded against Bangladesh and destroyed them; and then NZ won the toss and fielded again and also destroyed Bangladesh; Then England won the toss and also chose to field against SL in possibly the most exciting match of the cup so far...we lost by 2 runs. What does this tell us? Well, it means that none of the captain are really sure what a good score is on this track. The weather is set to be overcast with a 30% chance of rain which will suit our seamers but this series has seen sides overcome their betters with the use of slow bowling from part-timers.
So then. If Virgil wins the toss he should put Aus into bat. If we can restrict them to under 250 then we will give ourselves a chance. 200 would be fantastic. Our advantage is that once again the Aussies have written us off and we know them. In fact we have played more cricket against them in the past 2 years than against any other side. We have undone Gilchrest, Hayden & Ponting enough times to know what the plan for each of them is. Then all we have to do is bat well. Here's my line up:
1. Vaughan
2. Strauss
3. Peitersen
4. Bell
5. Flintoff
6. Collingwood
7. Bopara
8. Nixon
9. Mahmood
10. Broad
11. Panesar
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2 comments:
You are being harsh on Anderson who bowled beautifully vs. SL. He may not have taken wickets but his spell contained them brilliantly.
We dropped Strauss because he failed to score runs against Australia. Best not pin our hopes to him, eh!
Flintoff is a disaster with the bat and should not be above Collingwood. In fact I'd rather see Bopara ahead of him (and not just because of his last innings). Bopara can actually bat, whereas Flintoff just swings. Fred's body language every time he takes a wicket tells you that his contrition over his behaviour and temporary suspension, was short lived.
You are also being harsh on Bangladesh, who deserve a mention on this blog after their clinical destruction of South Africa. It was not a fluke.
Looking at the way Anderson is bowling right now I would have to say that I'm justified. However, I was wrong about Strauss. Stupid Boy. He and Virgil were both their own downfalls because they were playing back in their crease instead of getting forward like KP and Bell did.
I am of the school that says put your best men in first and I do think that Freddie will play better up the order. He played like a fool today and I suspect he is still carrying an injury.
Hats off to Bangladesh who played exceptionally well. I chose not to mention them as this was meant to be a blog on the state of English cricket. However, I will say that whilst in wasn't a fluke, I suspect that after reviewing the way SA batted, and in the light of ever increasing match fixing rumours, tongues will begin to suggest that SA actually didn't want to win. Smith's wicket was particularly odd for him try to play in that way. The tigers are a good side but they are not as good as SA who are generally superb. Whatever the reason for the win, Dav Whatmore and his team should be proud of the way such a young and inexperienced side have carried themselves in this series.
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