tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post3629854261049166061..comments2024-02-11T10:15:25.794+00:00Comments on Third Umpire: Shambolic England On The BrinkTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215417891130654291noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-49507177256956160722008-08-01T13:17:00.000+01:002008-08-01T13:17:00.000+01:00Very interesting stuff Chris - and agree with most...Very interesting stuff Chris - and agree with most of it, with the exception of what you say about Harmison. He's in form and would do well in the next game - that should be our priority, not some mythical date in the future. Australia have been 'too old' for five years, apparently!<BR/><BR/>In terms of pitential captaincy replacements - Rob Key? <BR/><BR/>I've been lamenting the cosyness of the set-up for something like a year - it's there for all to see, as the averages you quote prove! Am not convinced about Strauss actually - two years since a ton not against the Kiwis!Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09215417891130654291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-28985217333349372222008-08-01T12:36:00.000+01:002008-08-01T12:36:00.000+01:00Firstly regarding Mickey Arthur I think that what ...Firstly regarding Mickey Arthur I think that what he is saying is a great indicator of where the England hierarchy are right now. The South Africans are targetting the leadership because it appears so confused and has an obvious lack of accountability. No-one takes responsibility for mistakes and there are clearly disagreements over selection going on behind the scenes. What he said about Harmison was true though. England fans hoped for over two years that he would buck up his ideas, but other than his brief purple patch in the Windies in 2004 Harmison has not played well away from home. Indeed he gets home sick, so that will always effect his away performances. He is only bowling well now because he a) is at home, b) is playing lesser quality on what is a wonderful wicket for bowling c) is bowling regularly d) is away from pressure. Like I said stick him in the team now and he will take wickets, but it would be short term. He isn't going to play ODI's or away from home and how can you tell a guy great performance on tour this year fella, but Harmi is back for the summer. As with Tres you couldn't do it. Better to work with a bowler who will be there consistently and who you can rely on. Kabir Ali is ahead of him on performances this year, but he won't be given a chance I guarantee it, which reinforces the idea of a closed shop which prevents top county performers from getting a look in.<BR/><BR/>As for the bowling I don't think that it is the bowling which is losing us matches at the moment. Monty isn't up to much so far tho. If you fail to get in excess of 200 because of poor batting and not conditions (which is what is happening) then the opposition are always going to go past you and they will have time and confidence to build a big lead and tire the four bowlers. I would dearly love to get Jones in the side, which would mean having Broad also, but the batting would be even weaker, which is why the likes of Ambrose, Collingwood and Vaughan have to be made accountable. From playing West Indies (3/4), India (0/3), Sri Lanka (0/3), New Zealand (4/6) and South Africa (0/3) we have only won tests against WIN and NZL. Not one test has been won so far against the others - that is a great indicator of how far this current IX is behind and why they are heading for fourth.Chrispyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116768172493122694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-4042288006589894722008-08-01T12:12:00.000+01:002008-08-01T12:12:00.000+01:00I think this series is showing that there is no ro...I think this series is showing that there is no room for Anderson and Sidebottom in the team, particularly if we insist on the folly of four bowlers. You said yourself that "good batsmen need to be tested with pace and bounce", and I agree. At this time, and on current form there is no better purveyor of pace and bounce than Harmison. For this reason he should be picked, but on the condition that this is his last chance. Any more failures to adequately prepare should see the end of him. <BR/><BR/>In past interviews Harmison has come across as being rather immature. This is probably the cause of his problems. However, he is approaching thirty, an age where people tend to mature and where the end of his career looms into view. If he grows up and trains properly we may get two or three years of Harmison at the top of his game. Any England fan would want to see that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-47679942131655694182008-08-01T11:26:00.000+01:002008-08-01T11:26:00.000+01:00Interesting article, I notice that the SA coach si...Interesting article, <BR/>I notice that the SA coach singled out Harmison and no one else, probably because he has regained form on the county circuit and could have been a handful for them. M Arthur isn't offering advice to England out of the goodness of his heart, it was aimed at keeping England replacing Sidebottom/Anderson who appeared quite toothless yesterday. <BR/><BR/>I would like to see some players dropped for the next test, it must appear like England are a closed shop to regular county performers - maybe a revamp with thelikes of Denly/Sales/Shah/Bopara/Read/Harmison/Jones/K Ali consideredAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-81346604659344636342008-08-01T09:40:00.000+01:002008-08-01T09:40:00.000+01:00Chris - it's not just the England selectors who ad...Chris - it's not just the England selectors who advocated the return of Harmison http://third-umpire.blogspot.com/2008/07/time-for-jones-and-harmison.html (sorry Tim). Personally, I would pay little attention to Micky Arthur. A fit and firing Steve Harmison is a player who would be in Ashes contention. Personally I don't see it happening due to his other frailities, but he's not at an age where he should be discounted completely.<BR/><BR/>As for the rest of your points - I shall be putting my own thoughts up on the situation soon.Richard Lakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12305428361656401297noreply@blogger.com