tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post8026682273991998583..comments2024-02-11T10:15:25.794+00:00Comments on Third Umpire: Prior KnowledgeTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09215417891130654291noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-76445491059466036792008-06-01T19:07:00.000+01:002008-06-01T19:07:00.000+01:00100 runs clear of Mark Butcher as the highest run ...100 runs clear of Mark Butcher as the highest run scorer with 615 in 9 innings now at an average of 76.87 with 3 hundreds, 4 fifties and a top score of 133. And this in a Sussex side which is well down on the standards set over the last two years. I am amazed he was not in the squad in some capacity. I hope England don't open with Wright. It isn't T20 cricket and I don't see Australia opening with Symonds, or India with Dhoni. Wright bats best at 6/7 - we have seen it before.Chrispyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116768172493122694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-71961963098864663452008-06-01T15:31:00.000+01:002008-06-01T15:31:00.000+01:00Prior's innings against Durham is little short of ...Prior's innings against Durham is little short of phenomenal, scoring 60+% of their runs. Top 6 batsmen in England? He may well be.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09215417891130654291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-52363980004001364462008-05-31T10:50:00.000+01:002008-05-31T10:50:00.000+01:00It's clear that England's number one priority is t...It's clear that England's number one priority is to find the fast scoring ODI opener, who can take the game to the opposition from ball one.<BR/><BR/>Sadly I don't see any obvious candidates in the current setup, with the possible exception of Wright, who may develop into that player.<BR/><BR/>Whatever happens an opening partnership of Cook and Bell is going to leave England playing catch-up from the start.<BR/><BR/>For me Pietersen must bat three - he must have the maximum overs to play a potentially match-winning big innings. Perhaps, he should even open, though it would be an extreme gamble and I daresay he wouldn't like it.<BR/><BR/>England need to do something if they are to bridge the gap to the very best teams.Nick Gammonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15078764238948971216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-34482583088110115372008-05-30T14:47:00.000+01:002008-05-30T14:47:00.000+01:00I suspect that either Wright will be given his opp...I suspect that either Wright will be given his opportunity or Shah will open (as he does for Middlesex). Ambrose strikes me as a Chris Read type batsman who you would want for a last few overs thrash rather than setting up the innings. <BR/><BR/>Given the squad, I'd expect<BR/><BR/>Cook<BR/>Shah<BR/>Bell<BR/>KP<BR/>Colly<BR/>Wright<BR/>Ambrose<BR/>Swann<BR/>Broad<BR/>Sidebottom<BR/>Anderson<BR/><BR/>Not a bad line up, but we can do much betterRichard Lakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12305428361656401297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-16764721668461513762008-05-30T14:22:00.000+01:002008-05-30T14:22:00.000+01:00Good stuff Chris - agree, as ever, about Shah batt...Good stuff Chris - agree, as ever, about Shah batting in the top 5 at least. Cook and Bell opening together? A sign of just how far behind the times England are, I'm afraid.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09215417891130654291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-36523281842514477972008-05-30T11:34:00.000+01:002008-05-30T11:34:00.000+01:00Looks like it will be Cook, Ambrose and Swann for ...Looks like it will be Cook, Ambrose and Swann for Prior, Flintoff and Panesar. I am dissapointed, but at least KP may bat at 3 in that current set up now, with Cook and Bell opening, gulp. I can't see Ambrose opening and I hope that they keep Wright down the order. That leaves only Swann...Chrispyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116768172493122694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-73539053388412107362008-05-30T09:59:00.000+01:002008-05-30T09:59:00.000+01:00Indeed, they are almost spot on. I started writing...Indeed, they are almost spot on. I started writing at 8.27 once I had seen there was nought there. Then I go to paste the thing and low and behold I've been pipped to the post! Still, it shows neither of us is completely nuts. Two is better than one, etc.!! <BR/><BR/>I'd probably bowl Sidebottom for eight, Broad for five, Flintoff (Anderson) for five and then it wouldn't really be a problem. Besides, Masca opens at Hants now we are that short of bowlers! ;-) I always tend to find Bresnan a bit uneconomical despite him now opening the bowling. Masca offers control the majority of the time and brings the keeper into play behind the stumps, which could be very beneficial against the likes of McCullum. We shall have to agree to disagree, or we could do a Cloughy, "We sat down and talked about it for twenty minutes and then we decided that I was right!" :-)Chrispyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116768172493122694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37251922.post-52869041994027677192008-05-30T09:29:00.000+01:002008-05-30T09:29:00.000+01:00Looks like we wrote them at the same time Chris, a...Looks like we wrote them at the same time Chris, and not too dissimilar either. Without Flintoff, I'd have Bresnan over Masca, as he's an opening bowler and better suited to the fielding restrictions. In your team you'd have Masca or Colly bowling with the field up, which is very risky.Richard Lakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12305428361656401297noreply@blogger.com