With Steve Harmison having bowled only 16.3 overs in the warm-up games, it seems highly likely James Anderson will play in the First Test. But he would certainly be fortunate to play.
A pace attack of Anderson, Matthew Hoggard and Ryan Sidebottom has some variety - Sidebottom is a left-armer; Anderson is faster and skiddier; while both Hoggard and Sidebottom can bowl canny 'cutters'. However, it patently lacks a taller bowler which, considering Kandy has the most life of any of the three pitches, could hurt England.
Stuart Broad is surely more deserving of a spot in the final eleven than Anderson, who remains too inconsistent. Broad was far more effective in the victorious one-day series prior to the Tests. And he has shown himself to be fearless at international level, with the strength of his temperament confirmed by his fantastic riposte to suffering the ignominy of six 6s from Yuvraj Singh. Moreover, the maturity of his international batting to date, including twice seeing England to victory with vital innings, means he is the only one of the bowlers, save for Graeme Swann, who could do a good job at number eight.
Fletcher-esque thinking? Perhaps. But runs from the tail are undeniably vital and, in a situation where two bowlers are hard to separate, must count. With Matt Prior yet to convince at number seven, and the trio of bowling certainties ultimately no better than number 10s, England simply must be pragmatic. If they fail to be so, 250-4 could turn into 300 all-out with series-losing regularity.
8 comments:
Wasn't Anderson named England Man of the Series against England. So what has happened since then that Hoggard/Broad should get into the team ahead of him!
against India, sorry.
He was indeed, though rather fortunately in my view. 14 wickets at 35 was a wholehearted effort and enough for him to justify being in the squad but not, to me, to be au automatic pick.
Hey Tim, great minds, eh?
Although, it looks like we're both wrong. The reports coming out of the England camp is that it's between Anderson and Harmison.
Apparently, they're not too bothered about having an over-exposed tail on a fruity pitch? Also, seeing as Harmy won't be picked, not bothered about selecting three swing-reliant quicks.
It would have been interesting to see how Tremlett got on these pitches.
Hullo there...do any of you chaps have an email address? I have a....proposition.
I disagree with Tim's asessment from the India series where I think he and Siders bowled well with little luck. However, I'd have also gone for Broad in this situation as I think the three main bowlers are too reliant on movement in the air rather than discomforting the batsmen.
Intrigued by your post atheist. Not keen on putting my email address on the forum, but Tim has it if you have a means of contacting him.
Oi, achei seu blog pelo google está bem interessante gostei desse post. Gostaria de falar sobre o CresceNet. O CresceNet é um provedor de internet discada que remunera seus usuários pelo tempo conectado. Exatamente isso que você leu, estão pagando para você conectar. O provedor paga 20 centavos por hora de conexão discada com ligação local para mais de 2100 cidades do Brasil. O CresceNet tem um acelerador de conexão, que deixa sua conexão até 10 vezes mais rápida. Quem utiliza banda larga pode lucrar também, basta se cadastrar no CresceNet e quando for dormir conectar por discada, é possível pagar a ADSL só com o dinheiro da discada. Nos horários de minuto único o gasto com telefone é mínimo e a remuneração do CresceNet generosa. Se você quiser linkar o Cresce.Net(www.provedorcrescenet.com) no seu blog eu ficaria agradecido, até mais e sucesso. If is possible add the CresceNet(www.provedorcrescenet.com) in your blogroll, I thank. Good bye friend.
Tim, I have twice attempted to send an email to the address you provided me. It was returned as undeliverable on both occassions.
Try me on:
hecatomb_funk(at)yahoo dot com
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