Ah well, the search for a new number 6 continues....Bopara - no, Morgan - definitely no, Bairstow - laughably inadequate.

Bairstow looks out of his depth, a boy playing a man's game.

He has only played two innings of Test Match Cricket give the lad a chance for christ sakes. Its chopping and changing that got us in a fine mess 20 years ago....

I'm all for giving him a chance, but from what weve seen so far, he looks county standard.....If the Windies pace attack can shake him up, then its scary to think the mess the South African attack will make of him.

Personally, Bopara has the looks of another Ramps to me, all swaggering shot making, but little bottle for the big stage. Morgan is another Fairbrother, perfect for one-dayers, found out at Test level and Bairstow looks like a Jason Gallian - Loads of promise, but once given a chance, obviously not up to it.

For the South Africans, I'd prefer to move the order up one, and bring in either Finn or Panesar, depending on the conditions.....I'm not sure 4 bowlers will be enough against a strong batting line up - They will not roll over like India did last year.

maybe, but that's exactly why he should be given a fair chance surely ?

I wish you were an Australian selector back in the day, Steve Waugh would only have played two test matches. You've basically ruled him out, because he struggled against a good spell of fast bowling with the new ball.

As for the extra bowler, would be nice if we had a Flintoff of 2005, but we don't. And while people say Prior can be the all rounder, it's never really worked when he's batted at 6, he's always looked like he's batting one position higher than he should be. His style of play suits batting at 7, where he's either taking the game away from a team, or counter-attacking when there's only the tail left to play.

More gingers in the middle order. Todd Flanders is ace.

Given the avatar, I think due praise should be given to the Netherlands. Beat Lancs and Essex - bundled the men from Chelmsfort out for 112 yesterday - on successive days and top their CB40 group.
BOW BEFORE BORREN

thank you for reminding everyone .......



I blame Ganson !

It's not like it's the full Dutch team either with Alex Kervezee at Worcester and Ryan ten Inches doing his IPL/Essex thang. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come.

yes, thank you John - now, let's change the subject please!

Bugger off.

Was a belting trip, mind. [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/8580799@N06/sets/72157629972600056/A few photos here[/url if anyone's d.

Pietersen has retired from international limited overs cricket!

Took his bat home because the ECB, rightly, said he couldn't just play Tests and T20's.
Wonder if he'll still play in the IPL???

errmm - ££££££££££££$$$$$$$$$$$$€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ s

Course he'll still play IPL.

Think it's a bit of brinksmanship on his part, but not really sure what he's trying to achieve. The ECB's stance on being available for both short form formats is reasonable - unusually for them - given that there aren't ever long T20I series and tend to be tacked on to the ODIs. It doesn't warrant vastly different squads for the two forms.

But really, complaining about the demands on his body at the age of 32..?? Specious at best - he should be in his prime.

when is a batsmans prime ?

maybe his extra caricketing activities are putting more demands on his body ? (jammy git)

when was your prime John ?

I don't think I ever reached mine - if I did it didn't last long.....you see, i've always been a lazy fat slob !

Early to mid-thirties I'd say, peaking around the 32-34 mark. Obviously it's subtly different from person to person.


*shudder*


Not sure I ever had one. I had times when the pain was less intolerable, if that counts.
My last game of cricket was at the age of 23 - Hudds Uni seconds and I never bothered trying to find a club after finishing there - though I carried on playing football until 29, about two years after I should have packed it in as by that point the injuries were already taking their toll. Carrying on those two years has probably done more damage.

Kent beat Warwickshire by 10 wickets in the CB40

Lancs win a Championship match!

Four balls to spare, I don't think my heart could have taken much more...

Start delayed at Edgbaston. Unlikely to be much play today or tomorrow.

With little prospect of a result, will Bresnan be allowed to rest up for this one to preserve the 100% record?

typical english weather !!!



why don't England play their home games in Toulouse ?

With the Hit & Giggle starting today who are people tipping to win it?
I will go for Surrey or Essex with someone unusual like Derbyshire being a dark horse.

Couple of quick T20 questions....
1) which team has made most Finals Day appearances?
2) which team has made most Finals Day appearances without winning it?
3) which teams have never made it to Finals Day yet?...clue...there are only 3 who haven't got there yet.

Not sure but here are my guesses

1) Leicestershire

2) Lancashire

3) Derbyshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire


Can not agree on Derbyshire as they are good at 4 day cricket but very limited at the one day game (though in Tom Knight have a very good one day spinner). Saw them against Warwickshire the other day and the Bears are my idea of potential winners as they look a very strong outfit and in Darren Maddy have someone who knows the 20-20 game down to a tee. Should come 2nd at worst to Somerset in their Group though can see them topping the section.

Correct, correct and orrect! Well done.

Will Warwickshire be OK with no Bell or Trott in their batting line-up? And do they have anyone explosive lower down the order to win them a game? That is the one area that Lancs haven't improved in and another reason we won't win it.