Should England keep or dump Tim Ambrose?

I think we have to treat him as a bowler who can bat a bit.

He's not a number 6 as things stand.

JKLever wrote:I think we have to treat him as a bowler who can bat a bit.

He's not a number 6 as things stand.

Then surely he plays in a 4-man attack?

Aye.

But that means Broad can't play - don't fancy him in a 4 man attack

JKLever wrote:Aye.

But that means Broad can't play - don't fancy him in a 4 man attack

Well I think that is a pity but understandable. Didn't you (as did the majority) vote to keep him the other day however? Can't really believe this rush to love Steve Harmison all over again.

holcs wrote:

JKLever wrote:How can I prove it?

I'm sure others will remember that test well....

Yup, I remeber it, said it earlier to Gary. There were definately 2 occasions when it happened, think they were in seperate ntests though.

I remember because I thought it was strange, and then Danny went a little beserk about it on here i think.

If you can tell me when it happened, i'll add it to the stats. But its not mentioned in the cricinfo commentary for the game nor any match reports that I have read.

He definitely didn't miss any chances in the Old Trafford game as I watched that one, and like a lot of you were watching the keeping quite closely. As I said I didn't see the Oval game as I was on my hols at the time. Personally, I think people might be thinking of an ODI, as I remember a similar incident happening in the coloured clothing stuff.

I've got a DVD of the oval game - if I can be arsed i'll dig it out later.

GordoninPortsmouth wrote:

JKLever wrote:Aye.

But that means Broad can't play - don't fancy him in a 4 man attack

Well I think that is a pity but understandable. Didn't you (as did the majority) vote to keep him the other day however? Can't really believe this rush to love Steve Harmison all over again.

I did, i'm not saying it's an easy decision by a long shot.

Not sure i'm on the Harmison bandwagon tbh. I'll agree that he has never not tried for England but his last 10-15 matches were hardly test standard bar the freak OT performance against Pak in 2006

Interesting...

Flintoff - 'I'm not ready to bat at 6'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/lancashire/7523389.stm

JKLever wrote:Interesting...

Flintoff - 'I'm not ready to bat at 6'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/lancashire/7523389.stm

Memo to Fred: You bat where you're told to.

I thought he was a bit more convincing than some in the top order...england is a 20% better team with Freddie in the team and batting at 6

horace wrote:I thought he was a bit more convincing than some in the top order...england is a 20% better team with Freddie in the team and batting at 6

Precisely: if he bats at seven, that means Ambrose batting at six (pass me the brandy!)

Word is that Broad will be dropped too. As I mentioned in another thread, I'd have a six, seven, eight of Flintoff, Broad and Foster

bas...doubt if Broad is too tired...i think none of your attack was inspiring but all stuck to the task...the saffies just batted beautifully.....your top order needs strengthening to consistently apply pressure with runs on the board and not simply rely on the opposition bats to have an off day, as the saffies did in the first innings of the first test

The way Bell and Flintoff got out is a worry. KP's innings was bizarre, but he edged a good one.

None of the potential alternative batsmen are making an undeniably strong case to be picked. Sales is probably the pick of them on form, but I doubt if he will ever get selected now. Shah and Key are not pulling up any trees. That leaves Bopara who had a horror of a tour in Sri Lanka.

The young player most likely to break through is Joe Denly - but he's an opener and we've got that pretty well sorted with Cook and Strauss.

is vaughan at risk if he fails again?

Basil wrote:The young player most likely to break through is Joe Denly - but he's an opener and we've got that pretty well sorted with Cook and Strauss.

We do need an attacking opener though, and he appears to fit the bill in that respect. Not suggesting he's ready for Tests yet but I'd like to have seen him given a chance in the shorter game first, so his omission from the Champions Trophy 30 was disappointing really.