***Official*** Pakistan and England in UAE

[Woodster]

I'd be interested to see England go in with 5 bowlers. Patel would be a bit of a hedge your bets and lose both ways selection in my opinion.

I'm torn on which 5 bowlers though. I definitely think Borthwick and Panesar should both tour. There's even the potential I think to pick those two AND Swann in exceptional circumstances. I think Borthwick will do well over there - he did well in the curtain raiser game against the MCC with the pink ball (two cheap 4-fers). I think having two finger spinners in a 5 man attack is a little bit same-y, but they're rather different bowlers and Pakistan have shown they're vulnerable against both these two in the past. I also think these pitches won't be as flat as a lot of people seem to think, these generally aren't draw pitches. Yes the games are generally a bit turgid but good bowlers will get people out (unless you drop all the chances like Pakistan did). A wrist spinner will be really helpful to clean up the tail, anyone else will struggle to knock them over.

At least with Swann and Panesar, who I think should be the two spinners selected, they are turning the ball different ways, so it's not as samey as playing Tredwell and Swann, despite them claiming to be very different spinners. I think ideally you would include an attacking leggie if you were to play two spinners, but not if they're not ready or good enough yet.

 

[Howe_zat]

I'd be interested to see England go in with 5 bowlers. Patel would be a bit of a hedge your bets and lose both ways selection in my opinion.

I'm torn on which 5 bowlers though. I definitely think Borthwick and Panesar should both tour. There's even the potential I think to pick those two AND Swann in exceptional circumstances. I think Borthwick will do well over there - he did well in the curtain raiser game against the MCC with the pink ball (two cheap 4-fers). I think having two finger spinners in a 5 man attack is a little bit same-y, but they're rather different bowlers and Pakistan have shown they're vulnerable against both these two in the past. I also think these pitches won't be as flat as a lot of people seem to think, these generally aren't draw pitches. Yes the games are generally a bit turgid but good bowlers will get people out (unless you drop all the chances like Pakistan did). A wrist spinner will be really helpful to clean up the tail, anyone else will struggle to knock them over.

That's all quite reasonable, but personally I'm always going to struggle justifying a spin-heavy attack when we've had all our success using one. I really think we should play to our strengths, and that's our seamers. I don't think we've seen enough evidence from Borthwick either.

 

[Furball]

Why on earth would you pick 2 spinners?

 

[Woodster]

Why on earth would you pick 2 spinners?

I personally wouldn't. Would take two in my squad, but playing two spinners can always be an option in the right conditions if we have the right bowlers in the right form capable of filling the spots. Top teams can be flexible, and not just stick to the rigid balance.

 

[marc71178]

More to the point. **** me, did Scaly just say he'd pick Panesar?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Why on earth would you pick 2 spinners?

I don't really know about the seasonal conditions over in UAE and how that's likely to affect the pitches but the recent Pakistan v Sri Lanka series featured a huge amount of spin bowling.

I make it 661.5 of 1187.5 overs were spin. Granted seamers were more successful, but you're likely to be seeing innings go 100-150 overs regularly and workload will be an issue. If you can spread the workload (both Sri Lanka and Pakistan used at least 1 specialist spinner and a lot of good part-time spin, sometimes 2 specialist spinners) then it will help those seamers be more effective when they do bowl.

Edit: Actually on closer inspection the better bowling averages belonged to the seamers, but a few of them had extremely horrible figures too. Oh and again Pakistan played Donkey pretty badly last time.

 

[Furball]

I don't really know about the seasonal conditions over in UAE and how that's likely to affect the pitches but the recent Pakistan v Sri Lanka series featured a huge amount of spin bowling.

I make it 661.5 of 1187.5 overs were spin. Granted seamers were more successful, but you're likely to be seeing innings go 100-150 overs regularly and workload will be an issue. If you can spread the workload (both Sri Lanka and Pakistan used at least 1 specialist spinner and a lot of good part-time spin, sometimes 2 specialist spinners) then it will help those seamers be more effective when they do bowl.

Mainly because Sri Lanka's bowling attack is woeful.

I don't expect much assistance from the pitches, but we haven't struggle to bowl Australia or India out cheaply on pitches that were good enough for England to rack up huge scores on.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Mainly because Sri Lanka's bowling attack is woeful.

I don't expect much assistance from the pitches, but we haven't struggle to bowl Australia or India out cheaply on pitches that were good enough for England to rack up huge scores on.

These are completely different conditions though, with different run-rates. Pakistan might only make a 350 but it could last 130-140 overs (depending on who gets in).

 

[L Trumper]

Winning with spinners against sub continental teams is a myth. If anyone is going through those line ups Swann is the best option anyway. Besides playing panesar will weaken the lower order which is actually the greatest strength of the side.

 

[Pothas]

More to the point. **** me, did Scaly just say he'd pick Panesar?

I know, had to read it at least 3 times.

Would probably stick with the current balance myself but would certainly be tempted to play all 4 quicks in this series.

 

[Jacknife]

I agree that both Morgan is the one that would likely miss out, and that he'll do well in the UAE. But we do select bowlers for the surface, so should Morgan be the one to miss out on pitches where he's expected to excel ? Should these horses for courses selections extend to the batting unit selected and not just the bowlers ?

Trouble is with that, there is no way I'd leave out KP,Bell or Trott because it's not as if any of those 3 will struggle to score runs in those conditions, to warrant leaving one out for Morgan.
The only way you'd do that is if one of the batsmen was hopeless against spin but then again if they were they probably wouldn't make this team anyway.

 

[smash84]

One spinner in the bowling attack should be enough. The weather is really pleasant in January so it won't be that much hard work for the seamers.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So Bopara for Colly from the ashes then. Can't be unhappy with that really. Wish it was next week not next month, been too long.

 

[Howe_zat]

Too predictable. Selection panel needs a bit more '90s flair.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah where the hell is that next Ian Botham?

 

[sledger]

Yeah where the hell is that next Ian Botham?

Rikki Clarke is being unreasonably overlooked, it would seem.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Too predictable. Selection panel needs a bit more '90s flair.

They'd have dropped Cook for Carberry and taken some nomark 30+ bowler for the hell of it.

 

[Prince EWS]

That's all quite reasonable, but personally I'm always going to struggle justifying a spin-heavy attack when we've had all our success using one. I really think we should play to our strengths, and that's our seamers. I don't think we've seen enough evidence from Borthwick either.

Yep, AWTA. You've got a bowling attack that Tremlett can't make at full strength; why you'd want to add bowlers like Panesar or Borthwick into the mix with such quality depth in the pace ranks, not to mention the best spinner in the world, is beyond me.

Morgan is frankly not very good at this point IMO but if the selectors don't have faith in him as a batsman then they should pick someone who they do, not replace him with a number 11 (Panesar) or a someone who would more than likely fall way short of Test standard in both disciplines (Borthwick). Patel is an interesting enough idea if the selectors want a fifth bowling option but his batting seems to have declined from "could possibly argue his inclusion as a specialist batsman" to "very good county batsman but a bit down the list now" in the last couple of seasons and he'd need to get in on the strength of that more than anything.

 

[sudhindra9]

Interestin series up ahead

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Great News, the PCB has managed to get Pepsi sponsor DRS for the Test series.