Lrrr

Well 45 mins down, same situation as we started the game so all good in one respect

Off to a stream.

 

c o y r ! !

don't get wet....

How many not from Smith....?

We'll just have to put the wind up em....don't worry...will be a breeze....

Do they have a player called Gayle?

No Gayle, but they do have a Tempest

Should be able to breeze though this...

Is our patient play costing us? Not panicing because its still 0-0 after 65 mins or so, but then if the opposition get one after that it becomes very hard to get 3 points. Maybe a bit more urgancy is required in our play?

I've stuck my standard bet on 2nd place to win, last 4/5 times I have they've failed to win....

Will be interesting to see how Freeman does being back on the wing compared to CM

Can't make this now either, I'm also coming back from Spain on the Friday and the coach is going straight to Preston so not as if I can even get off somewhere and travel to Bristol.

Wouldn't have affected me, but the club really should have said earlier they may be moving it so people held off on travel bookings, I can understand why it's been moved because of the extra day before Stevenage which should be 3 points for us and keep us well clear but it has been poorly handled.

Osbourne and Williams are decentat  full back and certainly not lightweight....

Williams didn't look it particularly on Saturday, much better in the middle.

Don't think Moloney did alot wrong to deserve being dropped and for Osborne to be out right instead out of position (which cotterill admits) shows Cotts will only really play him if no one else can, also think if El-Abd hadn't been someone he'd just signed he'd be dropped by now. 

5212 I'd guess, not overly optimistic with El-Abd there and Osborne at wing back/right back, think we may get overrun in centre of midfield as well

...............................Moore..................

..............El-Abd........Flint.......Williams

Osborne.............................................Cunningham

.........................Pack......Elliott

.................................JET

....................Baldock.......Barnett

Pretty even game I thought however a few things for me, Williams is no left back definitely should have been Cunningham if he was fit to play or even Bryan. Drop El-Abd gave away so many pointless things, the constant rigging of shirts etc was picked up by the ref and we were lucky to not concede a penalty by him. Could be that the conditions didn't suit him but Wes didn't seem as effective as when he was a sub, still did alright though and wade Elliott was totally invisible when he came on.

Positives, as said pack had a very good game I thought, Flint played well and I thought Moloney did alright. Baldock worked tirelessly whether out on either wing or down the middle. All in all a point away when Oldham play some nice stuff is a plus.

If you go with the idea of a pinch hitter at the top of the order then yes, there aren't many better in the country for that role.

Buttler is there for his batting and is a keeper so keeps. You could easily include both in the side as Buttler is a very good outfielder as well. I know what you mean about Kieswetter being a pinch hitter for us and I do think it could work, however I'd have Bell at the top with him.

It's what happens when you put a more or less inexperienced bowling line up out there/one that isn't threatening. However last nights total wasn't big enough, Stokes at 3 and Ballance 4? 

Stokes definitely isn't the answer at 3 and then I'd have thought Morgan would have gone ahead of Ballance. I expected something more like

Cook

Bell

Bopara

Morgan

Ballance

Buttler

Stokes

Just my opinion, but however bad this tour has been it doesn't out do all the good Flower has done for the England team. Give him the summer to see if he can get England back to winning ways.

I've said for a while but some of the squad has to go and start a rebuilding process, KP to go, Carberry to go, Prior too and maybe Bell although i'm not sure there.

Bring in the likes of James Taylor, I'd give Gary Ballance another chance, give Root a number and stick to it! If he opens new middle order guy (maybe Taylor) if he's 5/6 then either Compton for a year or 2 (like before Carberry needs to go, Compton was more impressive in his spell as opener imo, he was playing for a place in the side and throwing the bat as an opener) before someone like Sam Robson, or go for a Varun Chopra/Alex Hales, records not as impressive but hope they can make the step up.

Sounds like he's a fair dinkum Aussie (played for their U 19's) so he should play for them if good enough.

 

We have enough imports with KP, Trott, Ballance, Prior, Stokes (ish)

Fair enough if that is what you believe, but he is out with the England Performance Squad in Aus atm and has scored a couple of 100's in games.

Next guy I would say is Sam Robson, some people may take issue with him being Australian by birth but I don't have an issue with it.

I remember saying to a mate before the start of the series that Anderson's stock had peaked. As good a servant as he has been, I think he's nearing the end.

Pietersen, although devastating at times, needs to learn that a run a ball 50 is not what we need when our backs are against the wall. Far too irresponsible.

Panesar has never really done it for me.

Bresnan is in the team simply because he's a Yorkie. He couldn't be more average.

Still, there's always the 5th Test...

Anderson will still play when in England as no one swings a ball like him in England, when touring it may be a different story.

Agree KP gone, Panesar won't stay nor will Prior I don't think. Bresnan won't stay in.

I'd like to see something like: Cook, Root, Taylor, Bell, Ballance, Stokes, Bairstow/Buttler/Kieswetter, Broad, Borthwick, Anderson, Finn.

Also one awful series, I don't think Flower should be kicked. Lets see if it acts as a reality check and how they do next summer. Flower has done an incredible amount for the England side.

Cook becomes the youngest player to score 8000 test runs

Hoofball without Taylor is the side is useless, JET isn't great with a high ball for flick ons and knock downs, needs the ball at his feet and Baldock without someone next to him who can do those is pretty useless with hoofs forward

Expect JET to play just behind Baldock so I'd have thought it was to get the extra man in midfield

Cunningham should have done better but you could see in the replay that the ball bobbled just before he hit it.

Screamer, been fairly quiet otherwise, would still say Moloney has been out best player