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by **bigmick** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:12 pm

I think we'll have to give Bell another go. Yes I know he's a little ponce, but apparently he's been blubbing in his cornflakes ever since he got dropped so there should be some motivation. At least you can count on him to score 81 runs in his two innings, 39 and 42, that's his normal level.

by **Fowler_E7** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:52 pm

bigmick wrote:I think we'll have to give Bell another go. Yes I know he's a little ponce, but apparently he's been blubbing in his cornflakes ever since he got dropped so there should be some motivation. At least you can count on him to score 81 runs in his two innings, 39 and 42, that's his normal level.

he's poor, id give Owais Shah another go, i know he flopped on his last chance vs the West Indies, but at least he's got some balls about him, and he can play some great shots. Bell just blocks and prods and looks like he's gonna wet himself most of the time.

by **Fowler_E7** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:53 pm

GYBS wrote:
Fowler_E7 wrote:
Gerrard30391 wrote:KP is out of the rest of the series.

He saw a specialist who has told him he requires surgery, ruling him out for 6 weeks from all cricket.

i think with KP out that England will really struggle IMO, apart from Flintoff he's the only genuine world class player in the team and his batting talents will be a huge loss. I hope they bring in Ian Bell, he's awful.

Kp hasnt done anything for england for a while now .

he gotta 50 in the first test, and his test average is easily the best in the England squad. Bowlers fear him, and he can usualyy be relied upon to get runs, something you cant rely on from any of the other middle order batsman.

by **we all dream...** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:35 am

The Ashes: Ian Bell confident ahead of England return for third Test
Ian Bell says a successful stint in county cricket has given him huge confidence ahead of his expected return to the England side for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
By Telegraph staff
Published: 8:47AM BST 23 Jul 2009

Bell has scored 640 county championships runs at an average of 80 this season, scoring two hundreds and four fifties.
That form should be enough to earn him a recall to the side in place of the injured Kevin Pietersen. And Bell is confident he can produce the goods in front of his home crowd.
"I have enjoyed being back with Warwickshire and having plenty of input, but I still have an eye on what is happening with England, naturally," Bell said. "In many ways county cricket has been refreshing and given me a chance to look at my game and where I am going. I've been going well, converting my 50s into hundreds.
"I take nothing for granted in terms of selection. I may be in many respects the next cab on the rank, but you cannot assume it. I'm also an England supporter and as such I want us to be playing our best team possible.
"Obviously that would include KP because he is our No1 batsman. I have played against the Aussies many times and I am aware how tough they are to beat, but it goes without saying it is something I would look forward to if selected."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, writing in his Daily Telegraph column, says Bell must learn to relax at the crease.
"For all that Pietersen will be gutted, his absence will create a massive opportunity for Ian Bell," wrote Vaughan. "He should be mentally fresh and he will have a huge point to prove after he was left out in the Caribbean.
"It is important, though, that he doesn't try too hard. Belly has a habit of always striving for the perfect shot and the perfect innings, and sometimes you need to make an ugly 20 or 30 just to get your knock going."

His average of 80 for Warwickshire shows that he is in good touch, the step up will be difficult but I think he will be ready and able to perform well, just as well as Pieterson in my opinion.

by **RobinHood6969** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:51 am

Ian Bell is a good batsman.. I would like to see him at No.3 ahead of Ravi Bopara

by **we all dream...** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:32 am

RobinHood6969 wrote:Ian Bell is a good batsman.. I would like to see him at No.3 ahead of Ravi Bopara

He is best at 5 but they won't want to shake it up anymore than they have to already. He will bat at 4 in my opinion.

I think Harmison should be brought in, heard the track could be a bit of a mine field which would suit him. Variation in length on a track with un-even bounce at 92 miles an hour is a little tricky. So they say..

by **RobinHood6969** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:43 am

we all dream... wrote:
RobinHood6969 wrote:Ian Bell is a good batsman.. I would like to see him at No.3 ahead of Ravi Bopara

He is best at 5 but they won't want to shake it up anymore than they have to already. He will bat at 4 in my opinion.

I think Harmison should be brought in, heard the track could be a bit of a mine field which would suit him. Variation in length on a track with un-even bounce at 92 miles an hour is a little tricky. So they say..

Edgbaston is a seamers paradise,i guess.. So harmison would be very useful... Hmmm what happened to ryan sidebottom.. still injured?

by **we all dream...** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:00 pm

Not sure, I'm going to find out actually because he was a sure bet for the squad even starting 11 before. He must be injured but I am sure I have seem his ridiculous hair flopping around on ssn over the past few weeks. You're right to think of him though he can seam and swing a ball on a flat track on a cloudless summers day so overcast at Edgebaston would be ideal for him. I like his attitude as well, battles hard all day.

by **RobinHood6969** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:14 pm

we all dream... wrote:Not sure, I'm going to find out actually because he was a sure bet for the squad even starting 11 before. He must be injured but I am sure I have seem his ridiculous hair flopping around on ssn over the past few weeks. You're right to think of him though he can seam and swing a ball on a flat track on a cloudless summers day so overcast at Edgebaston would be ideal for him. I like his attitude as well, battles hard all day.

Yeah Sidebottom can bowl swing and can do the hard workin hit the deck stuff also..

by **GYBS** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:17 pm

i reckon sidebottam would get smacked all over the place by the aussies . He is a decent bowler that does a good job against the weaker test nations but think he lack pace and variety against the top teams . Also shah is nowhere near good enough to be a number three in test cricket .

by **RobinHood6969** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:35 pm

GYBS wrote:i reckon sidebottam would get smacked all over the place by the aussies . He is a decent bowler that does a good job against the weaker test nations but think he lack pace and variety against the top teams . Also shah is nowhere near good enough to be a number three in test cricket .

Shah is not that great to hold no:3 spot in test matches..but SideBottom... i remeber he was class and had sachin and co in his pocket during last series against englad...In fact he was the only one who bowled his heart out whereas anderson n rest were smacked all over the park

by **we all dream...** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:30 pm

RobinHood6969 wrote:
GYBS wrote:i reckon sidebottam would get smacked all over the place by the aussies . He is a decent bowler that does a good job against the weaker test nations but think he lack pace and variety against the top teams . Also shah is nowhere near good enough to be a number three in test cricket .

Shah is not that great to hold no:3 spot in test matches..but SideBottom... i remeber he was class and had sachin and co in his pocket during last series against englad...In fact he was the only one who bowled his heart out whereas anderson n rest were smacked all over the park

Shah will get a ton at least 1's in these next 3tests, he is the weak link yes but he has the quality to perform in the Ashes specially against this failing Aussie attack. I think we have a pretty good squad including fringe players that play county cricket but the step up into a Ashes series would be difficult and Shah is the best bet.

I disagree with the Sidebottom comment as well, his variation is the good thing about him, he offers loads, that's why he bowled well in the West Indies and in 1dayers. He can bowl off cutters, inswing, out swing, has a very good slower ball and he is left armed so that is a variation in itself.

by **we all dream...** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:57 pm

Flintoff passed fit for Edgbaston

Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston: England v Australia
Dates: Thursday, 30 July to Monday, 3 August Start time: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live Test Match Special commentary (from 1025 BST on day one, 1045 BST on remaining days) on BBC Radio 4 LW, 5 Live sports extra, the Red Button and BBC Sport website. Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones. Also live on Sky Sports.

England captain Andrew Strauss expects all-rounder Andrew Flintoff to play a full part in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, which starts on Thursday.

The Lancastrian has undergone intensive treatment on an ongoing knee problem, but Strauss said: "Barring any dramatic stuff overnight, he'll be fit."

England, who lead 1-0 in the series, will pick from a 12-man squad after spinner Monty Panesar was released.
Australia are expected to keep faith with misfiring bowler Mitchell Johnson.

The paceman, who came into the series with a burgeoning reputation following a series of match-winning displays against South Africa earlier this year, has struggled in the first two Tests.

The left-armer took a total of eight wickets at an average of 41.37 from the Cardiff and Lord's Tests, and was then hammered for 107 runs in 18.1 overs, taking only one wicket, in a tour match against Northamptonshire last week. But asked if he had considered dropping Johnson, Australia captain Ricky Ponting replied: "No, to tell you the truth. "There has been a lot of talk about his technique and his action being all over the place. (But) we have had some good close looks at that and it is actually not. "I think right at the moment it is more of a confidence thing and we will probably use him more as a strike impact type of bowler."

Johnson's form is in stark contrast to Flintoff, who produced a sensational spell of bowling on the fifth morning at Lord's to lead England to a 115-run victory.

The 31-year-old has been sleeping with a special 'Game Ready' compression wrap - designed from NASA spacesuit technology - around his troublesome knee, which helps to remove fluid and reduce inflammation.

And his fitness, proven over two days of intensive workouts leading up to Thursday's start, is a major boost for England following the loss of star batsman Kevin Pietersen to an Achilles injury.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell will come into the side as Pietersen's replacement on his home ground, despite a concern earlier this week over a slight ankle problem.
And Strauss is tipping him to return to the side "a better player" since being dropped in February.

"A player of the calibre of Ian Bell coming in is very reassuring. He's a proven Test performer, he's played in the Ashes before and he's done that spell out of the side that a lot of us have been through.

"Ian's done a lot of work. We sent him away and it was a pretty bitter pill to swallow. He's done a lot of fitness work, scored a lot of runs for Warwickshire, he's done everything we've asked of him and he's had to dig pretty deep to do that.

"I think he's going to be a better batsman for that experience. It makes you very, very hungry when you come back in."
That means England's only selection issue would appear to be the final pace-bowling spot, with Steve Harmison vying to replace Durham team-mate Graham Onions.

Onions, who took 3-91 at Lord's, has been suffering with a slight hand injury, but is widely expected to get the nod again, despite Harmison being the leading wicket-taker in County Championship division one this season.

However, England will not name their final starting XI until the morning of the match, with the Edgbaston pitch causing some concern.

Groundsman Steve Rouse described the surface as "jelly" last week, and the outfield was still covered in pools of water on Wednesday, despite warmer weather in recent days helping to dry the Test strip.

"I am actually a bit surprised that the wicket itself is so dry but there's plenty of rain around still," noted Ponting, who believes spin will still have a part to play.

Heavy rain showers are forecast for Thursday, which could see a delayed start, with more rain expected on Saturday and Sunday after sunny intervals on Friday.

With conditions expected to favour seam bowling, Australia could recall either Shane Watson or Stuart Clark, but are still without Brett Lee, who is recuperating from a side strain which has kept him out of the first two Test matches.
Meanwhile, Ponting has the chance to become his country's highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

The 34-year-old needs only 25 runs to overhaul Allan Border's record tally of 11,174 runs, and averages 56.31 for his country since making his debut against Sri Lanka in Perth during the 1995-96 series.

But he insists he would swap the record for victory at Edgbaston in a heartbeat, saying: "I must admit I haven't thought about it at all. I've got bigger fish to fry than than that right at the moment.

"Twenty five runs is not what I am after in this game. I'm after a big score. I haven't thought about it since the end of the Lord's Test.

"We are looking to get level in this series."

England (from): Strauss (capt), Cook, Bopara, Bell, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions, Harmison

Come on England.. :buttrock

by **we all dream...** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:22 pm

Times Online
Ben Smith

Andrew Strauss says England have nothing to fear from the current Australian side, which he believes has lost its aura of invincibility.
The England captain, speaking before tomorrow's third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, says the fear factor associated with great Australian sides of the past has gone and the current team was no different to any other Test team.

“I don’t think this Australian side has an aura about it,” Strauss said. “We didn’t think so even before the series started.
“Not to be disrespectful, they still have some great players. The aura came from players like [Glenn] McGrath, [Shane] Warne, [Matthew] Hayden and [Adam] Gilchrist. A lot of the guys in this team are at the start of their Test careers and don’t necessarily have an aura yet.
"[Playing Australia now] feels like playing any other Test team.”

Strauss's comments provoked a typically spiky response from Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain.
"It's OK for him to say that now, but I am not sure if he would have said that after Cardiff," Ponting said. "We had the wood on most of their batsmen down there.

"An aura is built up over time. We've got some reasonably fresh faces around our group finding their feet at international level. An aura comes from results as well, and if we come out on top in this test I'm sure they will be thinking slightly differently."
Strauss went on to speak about the importance of the third Test, which he believes could be pivotal to the outcome of the series. He also expects Andrew Flintoff to play.

"Freddie [Flintoff] seems fine. He has come through all the workouts okay. Barring any dramatic stuff overnight, we are confident he will be fit," he said. "We are very happy with the way things have gone for the last two days and we take a lot of confidence from Lord's [the second Test, which England won]. I believe this Test will be the hardest of all, a huge Test, and whoever does well will take the momentum into the second half of the series.

"If we can go 2-0 up, we will be in a great position but we've got to raise the level of our performance from Lord's. We expect the Australians to come back strong and motivated. We need to raise things to another level and, if we do that, we will put them under pressure again."

Strauss also revealed that England have released spinner Monty Panesar from their squad.

by **GYBS** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:31 pm

the game will be a washout for 3 of the 5 days with the weather .

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