things changed rather rapidly today though , great effort by broad, the bowlers get them out of the poo again, need to do something about the batting because they wont always get away with it against better teams than the aussies

Neither can be trusted to do the business regularly, but Bresnan has a habit of picking up the odd important wicket, whilst Broad - who has been abysmal - will bowl a match-winning spell now and again.

Anderson should be rested for the Oval - he has been crap since that huge poster went up that alluded to his greatness - and Tremlett should be brought in.

I do worry for our hopes in Australia and feel that unless there is a return to the form of two winters ago for Cook, Trott, KP and Prior, we will get hammered on their faster pitches.

Wow this was like his annual haul to keep him in the team.

Anderson (aka World's Greatest Bowler) vs Broad (aka Mr. Useless)

This series:
Anderson: 4M - 17w @31, SR 60 - bat av 8
Broad: 4M - 17w @25, SR 51 - bat av 28

Career:
Anderson: 86M - 324w @30.2, SR 59 - bat av 11
Broad: 61M - 212w @30.5, SR 60 - bat av 25

Bowling average: 30.2 vs 30.5
Strike rate: 58.6 vs 59.8
Almost identical; aren't they?

Neither is a Steyn, for sure.

Broad reminds me of Caddick. At their best, unplayable. But other times, too short and wide.

Caddick was infuriating.

Quite a few people have been rather fickle recently. As in assuming that every match/pitch is the same and batsmen and bowlers should just be able to rip into the other team whenever they like or they aren't good enough.

Some conditions suit one where they won't suit another, it's all about the balance of a team whether batsmen or bowlers.

Too many variables game to game to classify someone as not good enough. Every player can't get a 5for/100 every match

Exactly the same thing i have noticed. Just wonder how this people behaved in 90s when Eng lost consistently?

Amazing what happens when you bowl full and straight . Thats his place guaranteed for the next 15 tests

Broad bowls the odd unplayable spell but isn't entirely economical when it isn't moving around for him (yet).

His "deficiencies" are more exposed by Englands 4 bowler attack. If another bowler were selected (for instance in place of Bairstow who hasn't really fired yet) then he could be tried for a couple of overs and then "hidden" if it wasn't coming off.

Cook
Root/Carberry (I agree keep Root opening to get him experience but I think we need another opener getting experience too)
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Prior
Swann
Bresnan/Tremlett/Finn
Broad
Onions/Tremlett/Finn
Anderson

Should still be a strong batting lineup with a stronger bowling attack but the selectors prefer to hedge on the side of caution.

Addisons,

That for me looks a very long tail. They might be able to pick up a bat but Swann will never be a Test no 7, Broad perhaps could be but I still doubt that very much.

Prior batting at 6 wouldn't fill me with confidence neither.

I've never been and never will be a fan of a 5 man attack. If your best four bowlers can't take 20 wickets on a regular basis, then the problems lies there in them. Changing the balance of a side to fit in an extra seamer wouldn't be the answer.

Not just that but a side struggling to post 400 runs for how many Tests it is now can't afford to be dropping a specialist batsman.

Can anyone remember the last time we played Prior at six and five bowlers?

If memory serves me right, Headingley 2009. We got beat by an innings.

I cannot understand when bowling has been our strong point why anyone would weaken the batting for another bowler.

Especially when Root is becoming a useful part timer.

Swann is the key, whilst he takes up an end we can rotate 3 bowlers.

Agree fully with Galloping.

No one in their right mind would opt for a 5 man bowling attack...

Broad is a very good second bowler.

mostly when the presure is on he comes with the goods.

Really disagree with the Broad ~ Caddick comparison.

Caddick was someone who usually didn't take wickets unless someone else - usually Gough - had done well already.

Broad is the opposite - likely to produce his best if the rest of the attack is struggling.

And, the most successful England bowler is...........?

Who bagged the most wickets in the just concluded Ashes?