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The Road to the 2009 Ashes

BoyBrumby

Englishman
Hmm Bopara needs to do more than that ton to prove himself, it certainly didn't cancel out his previous failures; I reckon I could have scored a century in the series in the West indies
Didn't look rock solid when making the ton either, tbf. Top-edged a few pulls that fell safely.

Plus obviously he'll rarely have such a welcoming test attack to face.
 

tooextracool

International Coach
What about Eoin Morgan? Seems like England might do well drafting someone like him into the one day squad and slowly build him towards playing test match cricket in the near future.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Is he eligable yet?

He should at least have a better chance than Joyce, who was already pushing 30 by the time he qualified.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
When he made his test comeback he'd successfully added a yard of pace. Not out-and-out quick still, but he was regularly around and above 85mph whereas when I'd seen him in domestic cricket in his years of exile (usually one dayers, admittedly, but still) he was Hoggard (78-82mph) pace.

The trouble is the effort of bowling more quickly seems to have done terrible things to his back (he'd also gained weight last summer, a possible sign he wasn't able to keep his fitness work up because of it) and, as you rightly say, has looked v pedestrian in his abortive comebacks since.
I'm not really sure this is true. His speeds over the first year in which he came back were pretty similar to those at which I saw him bowl in the domestic games - ie, when all was flat, he was around the mid-late 70s; when the adrenaline was really pumping he was up in the mid-80s.

His weight too has always been heavier than would be ideal for a seam bowler. This, allied to the extra intensity of higher-level cricket, is I feel the biggest reason for his back problems of late.

BTW for most of their careers - including at junior level - Hoggard was regarded as quicker and better than Sidebottom by a fair margin.
 

tooextracool

International Coach
Is he eligable yet?

He should at least have a better chance than Joyce, who was already pushing 30 by the time he qualified.
Hes in the 30 man t20 squad for the world cup so my guess is that he is eligible.
Hes only 22, he has a decent List A and and FC record, so it might be worthwhile investing in him especially since hes on the back of an impressive last season.
 

TT Boy

Hall of Fame Member
Hes in the 30 man t20 squad for the world cup so my guess is that he is eligible.
Hes only 22, he has a decent List A and and FC record, so it might be worthwhile investing in him especially since hes on the back of an impressive last season.
Good player Morgan. Very easy on the eye, likes the ball coming onto the bat though conversely struggles on slow, low wickets (evident in his performances in Bangladesh). Definitely has something about him and he would bring a little bit of class to England’s top order.

ODI middle order…

KP
Trott
Morgan
Colly
 

BoyBrumby

Englishman
Good player Morgan. Very easy on the eye, likes the ball coming onto the bat though conversely struggles on slow, low wickets (evident in his performances in Bangladesh). Definitely has something about him and he would bring a little bit of class to England’s top order.

ODI middle order…

KP
Trott
Morgan
Colly
Colly would feel v lonely as the token Pom tho.
 

Noble One

International Vice-Captain
Cricinfo - The meaning of pressure

Interesting article which in theory Ian Chappell is right, but looking at the likely dynamics of the Australian bowling attack for the Ashes. His judgement on Hauritz & Krejza is a bit harsh since they aint no Shane Warne.
Slightly basic theory from Ian Chappell. Essentially stating that Krejka is the more effective spin bowler based on his strike-rate, massively inflated by playing on a turner against an overly attacking Indian batting line-up. I would prefer Hauritz to send down 20 overs for the day and take 1/60 rather than the possibility of Krejka bowling 20 overs and either taking 3/110 or 0/130.

In theory he is correct, attacking bowlers are more effective than defensive (pressure) bowlers. But you need a quality attacking cricketer for this to work. Warne was one, Krejka is not. Hauritz will play his role, and I think that is all we can expect of him.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Slightly basic theory from Ian Chappell. Essentially stating that Krejka is the more effective spin bowler based on his strike-rate, massively inflated by playing on a turner against an overly attacking Indian batting line-up. I would prefer Hauritz to send down 20 overs for the day and take 1/60 rather than the possibility of Krejka bowling 20 overs and either taking 3/110 or 0/130.

In theory he is correct, attacking bowlers are more effective than defensive (pressure) bowlers. But you need a quality attacking cricketer for this to work. Warne was one, Krejka is not. Hauritz will play his role, and I think that is all we can expect of him.
Yeah I pretty much agree with that - and of course, the alternative is Krejza bowling 8 overs in a day for 37 because Ponting, rightly, has adjudged he's a liability if you throw the ball to him.

I've said before that Ian Chappell, good (nay, outstanding) captain though he was, is a little too much of the attack-over-defence mindset for my liking. The best captains have to be able to do both and not be afraid - or worse, not feel it's inherently right - to do one when the situation demands. Or when the players available demand.

That said, of course, I don't consider either Hauritz or Krejza are remotely viable Test match options and would much, much prefer to see four seamers used, especially over here, and especially especially given the signs of the season's opening Test were that swing might be nice to come by this year.
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
Slightly basic theory from Ian Chappell. Essentially stating that Krejka is the more effective spin bowler based on his strike-rate, massively inflated by playing on a turner against an overly attacking Indian batting line-up. I would prefer Hauritz to send down 20 overs for the day and take 1/60 rather than the possibility of Krejka bowling 20 overs and either taking 3/110 or 0/130.

In theory he is correct, attacking bowlers are more effective than defensive (pressure) bowlers. But you need a quality attacking cricketer for this to work. Warne was one, Krejka is not. Hauritz will play his role, and I think that is all we can expect of him.
Ye as i said. His theory is right, but given that Australia are likely to play 4 quicks most of the time he is over-stating the imprtance of either selection.

If Watson is picked though & only 3 quicks play. Then Krejza should be picked as an attacking option, he doesn't need to used to block up an end.
 

Uppercut

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I'm with Chappell here. Anyone can bowl negatively in cricket. You toss the ball to Marcus North, Andrew McDonald or Michael Clarke and they won't go for any more runs than a specialist defensive bowler would. Or you could just tell Johnson or Siddle to bowl a foot outside off stump. "Keeping it tight" isn't a skill that deserves a place in a test team.

Still wouldn't pick Krejza. It's not that he's too attacking, he's just bad.
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
I'm with Chappell here. Anyone can bowl negatively in cricket. You toss the ball to Marcus North, Andrew McDonald or Michael Clarke and they won't go for any more runs than a specialist defensive bowler would. Or you could just tell Johnson or Siddle to bowl a foot outside off stump. "Keeping it tight" isn't a skill that deserves a place in a test team.

Still wouldn't pick Krejza. It's not that he's too attacking, he's just bad.
Of course he still has to work on his accuracy. But if used correctly in the comfort of a 5-man attack, he becomes the most potent spinner Australia has.

As i said, lets say Watson plays along with Lee/Johnson/Siddle. Krejza being used on a potential Oval turner could do a Nagpur all over again...
 

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