2010/11 Ashes XI

[Howe_zat]

Damning with faint praise indeed

True.

But he did look decent, and in any side right now would be a viable 5th option.

 

[Furball]

To what extent to good bowling units really need a 5th bowler?

 

[Jacknife]

Strauss *
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Hussey
Bell
Prior †
Swann
Siddle
Tremlett
Anderson

Yes ,that would be my side, the only thing you could add to this England side, is Hussey and probably Siddle, but to be fair to Bresnan, if we go on what we've seen from him, I'd be happy to have him in there, instead of Siddle. I would defo have Prior over Haddin and Johnson wouldn't be within a million miles of my side.

 

[Howe_zat]

To what extent to good bowling units really need a 5th bowler?

Depends on the opposition, context of the series, conditions, balance of the side and how your team is performing.

Always, always a valuable option.

 

[Burgey]

Strauss was captain. Every side needs a captain, literally has to, and we have to judge on who played better this series, not who might have done okay.

Picking a composite XI without a captain is like picking one without a keeper.

Pick your best XI and then pick the captain tbh.

Well, IMO anyways.

 

[Burgey]

To what extent to good bowling units really need a 5th bowler?

Australia would have liked one in 05. England had one in 05.

I dare say SA would have liked one last night, but Kallis was injured.

 

[GIMH]

Pick your best XI and then pick the captain tbh.

Well, IMO anyways.

I agree, but this is trumped by the rule, "Don't pick Twatto"

 

[Howe_zat]

Pick your best XI and then pick the captain tbh.

Well, IMO anyways.

Maybe if you picking "The XI that should have played", or something.

Except we're judging on performances with the series, so it's not just a hypothetical XI. You can't make, say, Alistair Cook captain the XI based on this series performance - because he didn't perform as a captain.

 

[Furball]

Australia would have liked one in 05. England had one in 05.

I dare say SA would have liked one last night, but Kallis was injured.

I did say "good bowling units". You didn't really need one in 2006/07 did you?

The current South Africa side aren't a good bowling unit.

 

[Zinzan]

In the final wash;

1. Cook
2. Strauss (c)
3. Trott
4. Pietersen
5. Hussey
6. Bell
7. Haddin
8. Swann
9. Bresnan
10. Tremlett
11. Anderson

12th Man: Siddle

Could have gone either way on Prior vs Haddin tbh, but felt sorry about the lack of Crims in the side.