There's no need at all to apologise for this!
Ha ha, ok.
On your summation of the rest of the Australian attack, I don't agree.
There is probably enough doubt on the bowling in both camps for me to wait for the action to start to completely pass judgement.
Well we're not great by any means, it's simply because it's at home that I think we're better. Come the 2010/11 Ashes I will be equally in favour of the Aussie attack (though I don't expect Lee or Clark to be there. Apparently McKay is heir apparent) over ours unless we learn to bowl in places other than at home on other wickets (Sydney and Adelaide will be especially difficult).
If he can't raise himself for the prospect of getting out of county cricket I'm worried.
It's not just that, he may also prefer pace bowlers. There's absolutely nothing saying he wont be in his element against the better bowlers of the world.
He's pretty crap against medium pacers, but a beautiful player on the off-side to fast-medium bowlers IMO.
Banking on someone to be the next Gower (he's about the only one who's ever had a decent Test career for England while being a mediocre county batsman) is asking one hell of a lot.
Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Ravi Bopara also.
Well there is such a gap between international level (especially bowlers) and test level. I think long-term Hildreth is a better prospect than Bell who continually gets himself out, Shah who is Ramprakash mark 2 imo, Key who's obviously had his chance and blown it or Morgan who isn't ready for tests yet IMHO.
I'm hoping we don't need to find a replacement for Bopara.
Hildreth seems to me to be in the category of the likes of Vikram Solanki and Geraint Jones - looks great when he hits his shots well, but fails to pick the right one far, far too often and consequently looks like he could average 45-50 but can barely even manage to average 35.
Talent wise he's above both of those, but I understand what you're saying.
I just feel he's someone who needs to get out of the deathpit which is county cricket and away from that easy wicket @ Taunton to flourish. It's not uncommon for boredom to hinder talent.
There's no debate on his talent and much like Bell he is frustrating. But Bell has had his chance, I think if Bopara fails, we should try someone new. You never know- it may just work out.
Anderson v Lee
Flintoff v Johnson
Broad v Clark
Onions (?) v Siddle
Hmm, let me see. I'll take Lee, Johnson, Clark and Siddle. Thanks.
No, you'd take Lee and Clark based on their career overall. You aren't taking into account recent injury and lack of match practice coming into a 5-match series.
Also, you've got the comparisons wrong, it should be:
NEW BALL: Anderson and Broad vs Johnson and Siddle
1st CHANGE: Onions and Flintoff vs Hilfenhaus and 1 from Lee/Clark
SPIN: Swann vs Hauritz
I think while it's obvious Mitch is much better in all conditions than Anderson and Broad, this is England, pretty much the only place we bowl well and Siddle has yet to play a test here. He may take to it like a duck to water or he may flop. I think that's pretty even overall- though I expect Johnson to be the series leading wicket taker. Broad, while genuinely hitting 90mph+ isn't getting too many wickets.
The 2nd band is no comparison for me. Hilfenhaus is expensive and both Lee and Clark are coming off injuries plus are post-30. Flintoff always bowls accurately and even though he doesn't take wickets by number- takes important wickets (good batsmen) and bogs batsmen down with his accuracy.
The 3rd category is a no-brainer too. Hauritz is a very poor spinner, hell Paul Harris looks great in comparison!
If Panesar or Rashid play, it'll only be at Cardiff. Since we aren't playing at Old Trafford, there's no need for 2 spinners anywhere else. All 3 of our spinners are way above Hauritz. Why Krejza isn't even in the squad, God knows!
