The Ashes: How many England regulars from last year will miss the trip Down Under?

[GIMH]

That's a little presumptuous about Bell, if he hits a purple patch and other batsmen fail then of course he'll win back his place.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

I'd say you are the only one in the world who calls Simon Jones 'Jonah'.

I'd say he's just one of many.

 

[marc71178]

That's a little presumptuous about Bell, if he hits a purple patch and other batsmen fail then of course he'll win back his place.

And very presumptuous about Geraint as well to be fair.

 

[wpdavid]

Code swapping?

The only alternative I know to cricket is French cricket - and then he would probably be called Le Joneur.

or "Jones le Croque" ?

 

[simmy]

Good chance Flintoff and Jones might not play and they are our two best bowlers IMO.

Hard to see England retaining Ashes...

 

[luckyeddie]

or "Jones le Croque" ?

c'est l'homme

 

[andyc]

Jones definitely won't play, and if Flintoff plays all 5 I'll be very, very surprised. Vaughan looks set to return, as does Harmison, so they'll both most likely be in. Am fairly sure that some random injury or two will pop up within about a month of the series.

 

[aussie]

That's a little presumptuous about Bell, if he hits a purple patch and other batsmen fail then of course he'll win back his place.

Bell lost his place because of the sudden emergence of Cook & Collingwood, even if Bell hits a purple patch Cook & Collingwood have 2 do really badly vs Pakistan for him to come back in right away. Thats why i say only baring a injury then he will start.

And very presumptuous about Geraint as well to be fair.

No, Jones clearly isn't test class & isn't doing anything special, if he continues that vs Pakistan & Read his main threat has a very good end to the season, Jones most likely will be dropped.

 

[steds]

No, Jones clearly isn't test class & isn't doing anything special, if he continues that vs Pakistan & Read his main threat has a very good end to the season, Jones most likely will be dropped.

Do you ever take a holiday from living on fantasy island (apart from your visits to amoral island every time the Ashes comes round)? The is no way in hell Fletcher will drop Jonesany time between now and this time next year, never mind in time for the Ashes.

 

[aussie]

Do you ever take a holiday from living on fantasy island (apart from your visits to amoral island every time the Ashes comes round)? The is no way in hell Fletcher will drop Jonesany time between now and this time next year, never mind in time for the Ashes.

Think before you talk crap, just because Fletcher is the kind of coach that likes to stick with his players even when they go through though times, but its obvious that if Jones continues his lean patch with both bat & gloves into the Pakistan series & his main rival Read does well, Fletcher will have to drop Jones for Read.

He replaced Bell for Cook after the India series after keeping faith in him for a long while, now explain to me why should Jones if he doesn't improve keep his place?

 

[steds]

Jones is vastly improved as a wicketkeeper, was outstanding on the continent and has had one series where he's dropped a couple of catches. Big whoop. As for his batting, he scored a similar number of runs to Flintoff this series. Do you advocate dropping Flintoff for Rikki, who's scored runs in county cricket?

Fletcher did drop Bell, but only after Cook had come into the side because of injury and proved that he could score runs at Test level. Read hasn't, so the cases are totally different.

Also, what's your obsession with Read "being Jones' main rival." How many tours with the senior side did Read go on in the winter? Matt Prior was not only playing as a specialist bat in the ODIs, but also second in line for the gloves in the Tests. Fletcher has obviously seen something in him. What do you think has changed so drastically since February?

 

[TT Boy]

Jones is vastly improved as a wicketkeeper, was outstanding on the continent and has had one series where he's dropped a couple of catches. Big whoop. As for his batting, he scored a similar number of runs to Flintoff this series.

But Steds, all the ******** regarding Jones was that he could legitimately hold down a place with his batting alone. I take your point regarding his wicket keeping, it has improved but whose to say far 'superior' wicket keepers, the Chris Read's, James Forster's of this world will not make the odd 20 here and there because that is all Jones is now contributing with the bat.

Also comparing him to another cricketer who had a terrible series with the bat holds little resonance, when the other cricketer contributed with the ball. Added to the fact that saying just because someone else had a **** series means you can have one, is pretty ingenuous.

 

[marc71178]

Think before you talk crap, just because Fletcher is the kind of coach that likes to stick with his players even when they go through though times, but its obvious that if Jones continues his lean patch with both bat & gloves into the Pakistan series & his main rival Read does well, Fletcher will have to drop Jones for Read.

Out of interest, hasn't his keeping actually improved over the past year?

Certainly I believe he missed about 1 chance all tour in Pakistan.

 

[aussie]

Ha, wiser than i thought..

Jones is vastly improved as a wicketkeeper, was outstanding on the
continent and has had one series where he's dropped a couple of catches. Big whoop. As for his batting, he scored a similar number of runs to Flintoff this series. Do you advocate dropping Flintoff for Rikki, who's scored runs in county cricket?

No Jones isn't a vastly improved keeper. After the ashes he kept well on the flat pitches in Pakistan & batted well too but he went to India & had difficulties behind the stumps dropping a few catches & only in the mumbai test was he very good, while his batting up until the last few ODI's wasn't anything to write home about. Now vs Sri Lanka his problems have continued.

Do you advocate dropping Flintoff for Rikki, who's scored runs in county cricket?

Stupid point, Flintoff is the talismatic figure in the England team if he has a lean patch with the bat after a long while, no way would he dropped. Jones doesn't have that status & if you have another keeper in Read who is clearly a better glovesman than him & whose batting is improving pushing him for his place if he can't keep up good performances he should be dropped.

Fletcher did drop Bell, but only after Cook had come into the side because of injury and proved that he could score runs at Test level. Read hasn't, so the cases are totally different.

Read was dropped in 2004 because he wasn't contributing with the bat for England & not that much or consistently for his county but since the a-team tour to the WI & in this season so far his standard of glovework has been good as usual & his batting is getting better.

Christ man, tell me something if Jone's continues to drop catches & doesn't score runs vs Pakistan & Read has a very good season with bat & gloves you won't pick him?

Also, what's your obsession with Read "being Jones' main rival." How many tours with the senior side did Read go on in the winter? Matt Prior was not only playing as a specialist bat in the ODIs, but also second in line for the gloves in the Tests. Fletcher has obviously seen something in him. What do you think has changed so drastically since February?

Yes & Prior's performances with bat & his little stint with the gloves during the winter was so impressive, that he has practically nailed down his spot as England's #2 keeper behind the inconsistent Jones & in front of Chris Read who has been batting very well for the Notts in both forms of the game this season hasn't he?

 

[aussie]

Out of interest, hasn't his keeping actually improved over the past year?

Certainly I believe he missed about 1 chance all tour in Pakistan.

tone series on the flat ptiches in Pakistan where he found it easy & did well with bat & ball in India & recently that hasn't been the case,so he hasn't improved.

 

[Blaze]

Jones is still ****.

 

[wpdavid]

Anyone here know much about Stephen Davies, who's suddenly being touted as our next keeper in a couple of the papers?

 

[GIMH]

Only what I read in the papers, in that he bats like Gower

 

[Barney Rubble]

He seems like a fantastic prospect, but probably won't be ready for international cricket for another couple of years from what I hear.

 

[marc71178]

Anyone here know much about Stephen Davies, who's suddenly being touted as our next keeper in a couple of the papers?

Chris Hinton told everyone about him a little while ago, but don't let his past record cloud your judgment!