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Dec 2013
11:50am, 18 Dec 2013
5,928 posts
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rf_fozzy
Problem with KP, is as Aggers has said, he plays for himself 100% of the time. In a team that's winning/playing well, that's great - he plays for himself and sometimes comes off and plays match-winning innings. In a team playing badly, he's a liability and a waste of space. I've always thought the same about him. Look at the way he got out in the last test on 40-odd - he could have carried on playing safe, but no - just like his non-problem with left arm spinners - Siddle comes on and he has to try and make a point to massage his enormous ego and try and hit him out of the park. What happens? He gets out.
I don't like non-team players, so he'd be out.
As for the rest:
Cook - captaincy starting to affect his batting (as it always would) - too much pressure on him to be the mainstay of the innings (esp without Trott) and captain.
Carberry - Not convinced he was the right pick. Too old and hasn't shown anything to be worth his place really - a couple of 40s and some silly mistakes (chopping wide ones onto stumps).
Trott - obv some issues. I can sympathise with him, having similar problems myself.
KP - see above - waste of space.
Bell - Needs to move up to 3 or 4. Best player in side, but like Cook, feeling the pressure a bit to be the mainstay of the innings.
Root - Needs time.Done ok, but a couple of silly mistakes when set - also had some cracking deliveries to get him out.
Prior - Very out of sorts - needs a rest - ok to fail with bat for a bit, but continuously failing (bar one innings) and dropping stuff etc not good
Ballance - probably deserves a chance
Bairstow - as above - if good enough to be put in at 6 earlier in year, he could play at 6 and keep with Stokes at 7
Stokes - Boy done good - deserves place in the side despite my earlier reservations
Broad - done well so far - unfortunate to be injured. Prob had spells of bowling too short - needs to pitch it up like in 1st test, instead of trying to copy Mitch and co.
Bresnan - not 100% match fit, but did well in Perth (relatively) - holds an end down, has a good bouncer and steady away (look at his figures compared to the others when Watson and Bailey were hitting swann and Anderson on Day 4 morning). Plus can bat.
Anderson - Still our best bowler in terms of craft. Needs someone to hold an end down at the other end though (Bresnan?) when it doesn't swing - Swann not been able to provide that.
Swann - very out of sorts - something not right with him. Maybe rest him and try and get some of his hunger back
Monty - did well at Adelaide - prob only dropped because Swann better batsman and fielder
Tremlett - looked waste of space in 1st test
Finn - unlucky not to play 1st test - yes, quick. Prob deserves to play next test
Rankin - Not convinced he's ready. Finn better in warm up games etc.
Onions - not there, so not an issue.
Flower - still think he's the best man for the job overall - if he still wants it. But he has to want it.
I'd probably make a few changes for next test, but wholesale changes? No. Here's what 'd play:
1. Cook
2. Carberry (no other choice)
3. Bell
4. Root
5. Ballance
6. Bairstow (w/k)
7. Stokes
8. Bresnan
9. Finn (if Broad not fit)
10. Anderson
11. Monty.
The only possible change is that if Broad is fit, I *might* be tempted to play Broad and Finn instead of Anderson. Also helps the lack of batting depth in the tail a bit...
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Dec 2013
11:54am, 18 Dec 2013
5,929 posts
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rf_fozzy
Re: 90mph+ bowlers.
We don't have many around, so there's no point in speculating. And yes, there is something to be said that we do coach some pace out of our young very fast bowlers, but if you don't have control then there's no point in bowling at 95mph.
A 89mph ball back of a length that's hitting the top of off-stump is far better and preferable to a 95mph who can hit the stumps one ball and chucks the next 5 either 13ft over the batsman's head or down the legside or 3ft wide of offstump.
We've had fast, fast bowlers before - Truman, Both, Willis, Goughy, etc. - but we don't have the same pedigree throughout history in the same way that, for example, the West Indians do. Their lack of quicks is far more puzzling!
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Dec 2013
12:00pm, 18 Dec 2013
5,602 posts
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Tinsel Snake
They all play Basketball these days.
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Dec 2013
3:14pm, 18 Dec 2013
3,063 posts
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Doctor K
I'm not keen on Pietersen's lack of team ethic either but Teabers got me thinking back to Old Trafford last year when I sat there complaining about being bored by Cook and Trott's painstaking progress. Then on came KP and fired a brilliant ton as good and more spectacular than Clarke's 2 days previously. That's why he's in, box office appeal. I think he'll be selected for a while yet for that reason, winning or losing.
The best batsmen I've seen amongst them is Bell who I think is just a fabulous player at his best.
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Dec 2013
4:44pm, 18 Dec 2013
10,472 posts
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The Teaboy
KP is the only player we have who can win a test largely on his own. I actually don't think you can criticise the man's work ethic. Similarly to someone like Cristiano Ronaldo who appears to be a selfish show-off but who in fact is immensely dedicated. When things don't go for that type of player, they always appear worse than for a lower profile team man.
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Dec 2013
4:52pm, 18 Dec 2013
5,606 posts
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Tinsel Snake
Durham, last Summer
Durham, last summer,
first Innings, broad 5-71, KP 26
second innings Broad 6-50, KP 44
We can win without him, I was there, I saw it.
I too think KP is dedicated, to himself, itlooks to me as if there is a divided dressing room, as per WI a few years back, then it was because KP was treated as a special case, I think Cook is doing this now, it is a team.
Cricket is an odd game, played out as individuals, but I think KP is a problem.
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Dec 2013
5:21pm, 18 Dec 2013
670 posts
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makkem
Friends Provident Trophy Final Lords 2007, Durham v Hampshire.
KP is made to look very ordinary by a County trundler called Neil Killeen, albeit a very experienced trundler and a former West Indies Fast Bowler called Ottis Gibson, who nailed KP LBW.
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Dec 2013
5:37pm, 18 Dec 2013
3,064 posts
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Doctor K
Interesting debate about KP -which probably mirrored the debate in the England camp when they decided to rehabilitate him. We can win without him I agree and we will have to get used to being without him before long in any case. I'm not too worried if they fire Jimmy off (although he has bowled his heart out with little reward) he'll be available for Lancashire !
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Dec 2013
5:52pm, 18 Dec 2013
259 posts
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Crash Hamster
Just looking at KP's average on Cricinfo; 47 overall, 39 in last two years, 33 in the last twelve months (all cumulative figures); I don't think he could have many complaints about being dropped...
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Dec 2013
5:54pm, 18 Dec 2013
53,141 posts
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Gobi
Carberry is an interesting one.
He is old enough to be calm and to be fair he has not looked nervous or like a beginner. Has batted better than most of the establishment.
In some ways he could be the perfect foil for blooding young players. Experience and novice in one and wise enough to take his chance. I like him.
He is also young enough to play for 4-5 years at that level .
I am more concerned about oour indifferent bowling
a 95 MPH bowler who gives 3 loose deliveries an over is expensive but can be a break through man, let him have 2 or 3 overs and if he gets knocked for 20 but gets 2 wickets I'd take it.
Better than this johnny average stuff we have put down over after over in Australia in a climate that does not suit our best bowler.
Just seems a lack of ideas as well, no block hole bowls no yorkers, very little round the wicket, no change ups
just very poor, hard to believe these same bowlers were feared 6 months ago
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The Ashes 2009
Jun 2022
