England v NZ, 2nd Test, Manchester, 23rd-27th May

England (from): Michael Vaughan (capt), Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose (wk), Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett

Both teams will be unchanged barring injuries.

England need to Drop Jimmy from the Squad and add Onions or Shah! More likely Shah as he's had test experience on two continents. Collingwood needs to perform in Old Trafford or I'm afraid it's time for him to get the chop. Moores needs to sort his top 6 out and FOR GOODNESS SAKE, stop making them all think their position is safe even if they don't deliver the goods, FFS that is why England dwindle and make little to no progress in the Test Arena!


Also, Chris Read might be a useful choice to bring into the ODI squad to see how he gets on....

Paul "we all average over 40 so we're untouchable" Collingwood in fact averages 34 in his last 10 tests. If he doesn't make runs at Old Trafford then it's time for Shah to get a proper chance.

Someone needs to slap Ian Bell and tell him to start bowling again.

If Bell is to bowl, maybe Vaughan needs the slap....

Bhajji's free nowadays, don't think he'll decline a holiday in England. Get him to slap Anderson too, it's done wonders for Sreesanth's bowling.

Isn't Bell's lack of bowling injury related?

doremi wrote:If Bell is to bowl, maybe Vaughan needs the slap....

Why? Averages 31.7 in FC cricket. Would be no worse than Collingwood as 5th bowler.

doremi wrote:If Bell is to bowl, maybe Vaughan needs the slap....

Bhajji's free nowadays, don't think he'll decline a holiday in England. Get him to slap Anderson too, it's done wonders for Sreesanth's bowling.

Thing is, Anderson wouldn't cry. He'd beat the living daylights out of him. And even if he did cry, his bowling will be forever in the good/shit/really shit cycle.

This test is crucial for Anderson. If he has a stinker here (After a pretty good game at Lords) then I will well and truly give up on him for good.

He'll end up with a mid-30s average for the series. 'tis usually the way.

I'll be there on the Saturday. Meantime, I shall be making a sacrificial offering to the Sun God of my neighbour's cat. That should do the trick.
Anyone else going?

Our best chance of winning the series on the bouncy OT track.

Pity about Fred, only heard about the injury the day before the Lords test.

Bouncy track- surely big tall bouncy china in your hands Tremlett's got to attempt to play.

Can't you just put Jimmikins in a fiery furnace and when he emerges still alive like the Alien in Alien 3 douse him with cold water and watch him explode?

Ah, Alien 3 - the worst Alien movie of the bunch (until the franchise took pity on it and released Alien Resurrection).