Testing Forum CC

[andyc]

Well, after a long deliberation process, the starting line-up for the Testing Forum CC has finally been announced. Manager Andyc, in his press conference today, said that he was looking forward to what will hopefully be a very successful season.

The starting line-up Andyc announced was:

	Player	        Bat	Bowl	 SR
1	G Boycott	47.72	54.57	134.85
2	WM Lawry	47.15		
3	FMM Worrell	49.48	38.72	103.49
4	RG Pollock	60.97	51	103.5
5	SR Tendulkar	57.25	48.83	86.91
6	Tillakaratne	42.8	WK	WK
7	SM Pollock	31.32	22.09	56.53
8	J Briggs	18.11	17.75	43.18
9	JEC Franklin	15.33	27.1	44.89
10	Waqar Younis	10.2	23.56	43.49
11	CEH Croft	10.53	23.3	49.32

Andyc also mentioned the strength of the players on the side lines, who would be pushing for a game every week with their great stats. Zimbabwean Travis Friend, however, may have to begin to learn where the drinks are kept in the Testing Forum CG.

Player	         Bat     Bowl   SR
RO Schwarz	13.85	25.76	47.98
J Ryder   	51.62	43.7	111.58
DR Jardine	48		
R Peel	        14.72   16.98	51.64
TJ Friend	29.8	43.6	80

Frank Worrell from the West Indies was named as captain, although if Jardine manages a game during the season, he is heavily slated to replace Worrell as skipper. When asked why he had Jack Ryder, who averages nearly 52 with the bat, not in the starting line up, Andyc replied that although he had a high average, he was relatively inexperienced, and therefore did not offer enough to replace Frank Worrell, which would also leave the team without a leader. He did stress, however, the flexibility of the side, with Shaun Pollock as allrounder and Frank Worrell likely to turn his arm over every now and then, that meant a bowler could be dropped in order to incorporate another batsman, most likely to be Ryder. Similarily, on a spinning pitch, South African Reggie Schwarz can be expected to unleash his googly on the batsmen.

Andyc also said that he hoped the team would gel nicely, and with two members of the same family in the team, this should be no problem. When asked about the strengths of the team, Andyc stated that it was too early to pinpoint a certain strength, but that the low strike-rates of the bowlers definite plus, while Tendulkar and Graeme Pollock will no doubt be looking at combining for some big partnerships during the season.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Peel's bowling average not low enough to deserve a spot in the side?

 

[andyc]

Peel will be used, in place of probably Franklin or Croft, when coming up against a strong batting side so he can keep the runs down, but my main bowlers were selected primarily for strike rates.

 

[chaminda_00]

Back to the 80s there, Tillakaratne keeping, im sure he will love that

You got a pretty good side there and some interesting selections to boot.

 

[andyc]

There has been rumours of some big impending changes in the Testing Forum line up, with Frank Worrell averaging 13.4, Bill Lawry 15.8, and Colin Croft's 3 wickets have come at over 70 a piece. Kiwi James Franklin has reportedly been chomping at the bit for a go, while Douglas Jardine has been previously mentioned as a replacement captain and batsman if Worrell were to be dropped. Zimbabwean Travis Friend was also hoping for a possible call up, but was then reminded of his laughable stats.

Testing Forum CC manager Andyc was asked about possible team changes at the press conference after the team's third consecutive victory. "Up till now, we've only changed the starting eleven due to pitch conditions, and we're obviously a bit wary about changing a winning combination. Despite that, we are always looking at fielding the best team and some players haven't been playing as well as they can, while others have done enough to deserve a go. We've got a while till our next game, however, so there'll be plenty of time to talk over any potential changes."