Sidebottom ??

looking decent in the county game

I dunno if I can agree Jezzer, if he's good enough, he's good enough. Warnie was certainly an excellent spinner before he was 25.

Warne was a once in a generation type player. If there is an exceptional player, then to hell with the rules. However none of the current English crop fall under that definition

comment by Jezzer (U4205)
posted 20 minutes ago
Warne was a once in a generation type player. If there is an exceptional player, then to hell with the rules. However none of the current English crop fall under that definition
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KP did

I meant current crop of youngsters, but even then, I don't think KP was a once in a generation player. Tendulkar, Ponting, Lara, these are the once in a generation type players I'm talking about. Does KP's name sit well up with those guys? I'd argue it doesn't.

and to be more specific, I think that spin bowlers should have to prove their worth over multiple first class seasons to develop their game and character, and only spin bowlers. If a fast bowler or a batsman is on form, put him in the team. I think that spin is a specialist art and one that very few are able to master at a young age.

comment by Jezzer (U4205)
posted 23 hours, 41 minutes ago
England may not have the Graeme Swann type match winning spinners, but England do have Ashley Giles hold an end up type spinners. Gareth Batty could do a job for England, Danny Briggs could do a Job and there are others too.

England need to stop looking for a Swann, and settle for what they have.
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I agree that we do have to settle with what we have but neither Batty or Briggs are the answer. Batty is over the hill and Briggs is massively overrated.

Like I said before go with Rashid as he is no mug with the bat either

"batty is over the hill"

This is indicative of ECB thinking. The ECB are looking for a long term answer, which Batty certainly isn't, however as a short term call up, he's the man in form and the same goes for Briggs. They've both been bowling well in the CC and been taking wickets, which can't be said for Rashid.

comment by Jezzer (U4205)
posted 18 hours, 34 minutes ago
"batty is over the hill"

This is indicative of ECB thinking. The ECB are looking for a long term answer, which Batty certainly isn't, however as a short term call up, he's the man in form and the same goes for Briggs. They've both been bowling well in the CC and been taking wickets, which can't be said for Rashid.
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Briggs and Batty are both playing in Division 2, and before you say there is no difference, the gap in class is huge. Sides that come up from Div 2 generally go straight back down again. Also the ECB in their glorious wisdom decided that DIV 2 should use a different ball to that in Div 1.

Another argument is that hampshire & Surrey both produce decks that are conducive to spin whereas Yorkshire who have the strongest seam attack in the country don't have too. If putting a 36 year old guy in the side is your answer then I thank the lord you are not in charge

"Briggs and Batty are both playing in Division 2, and before you say there is no difference, the gap in class is huge"

Moeen Ali Plays in div 2, doesn't seem to have stopped him doing alright.

Another argument is that hampshire & Surrey both produce decks that are conducive to spin whereas Yorkshire who have the strongest seam attack in the country don't have too

The Oval might spin, But that can't be said for the Rose Bowl, in any case, Even is they did both spin, they represent two of the next 3 tests, so surely it would be logical to put a spinner in on a supposedly turning track in their home conditions?

"If putting a 36 year old guy in the side is your answer"

Age isn't relevant if the call up is temporary, just for this series. It's even less relevant for a spinner.

comment by Jezzer (U4205)
posted 16 hours, 40 minutes ago
"Briggs and Batty are both playing in Division 2, and before you say there is no difference, the gap in class is huge"

Moeen Ali Plays in div 2, doesn't seem to have stopped him doing alright.

Another argument is that hampshire & Surrey both produce decks that are conducive to spin whereas Yorkshire who have the strongest seam attack in the country don't have too

The Oval might spin, But that can't be said for the Rose Bowl, in any case, Even is they did both spin, they represent two of the next 3 tests, so surely it would be logical to put a spinner in on a supposedly turning track in their home conditions?

"If putting a 36 year old guy in the side is your answer"

Age isn't relevant if the call up is temporary, just for this series. It's even less relevant for a spinner.
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Moeen gets in the side as they tested him to see if he could be used as our main spinner, personally I see him as a back up spinner in the same sort of bracket as Samit Patel who for the record is a better batsmen than Moeen. Moeen has been the stand out Div 2 player for sure but look at the quality of the bowling attacks.

The Rose Bowl is a turning track, just look at how Hampshire load their side with spinners, its pretty clear.

Batty & Briggs are spinners who need batsmen attacking them to get wickets, in tests you wont get many wickets caught long on or on the boundary.

England need to face the fact that currently we don't have the kind of spinner who can bowl sides out, in fact there arent many sides out there who do. Ajmal is the one that stands out and to be honest he wouldn't look out of place with a baseball mitt on

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Comment deleted by Site Moderator

You Can't make comparisons with 4 day and T20 and one day. It's a completely different game.

In first class matches this season the Rose Bowl has looked green but has played like a road. It looks like that is what the test pitch is as well. It ain't no spinners paradise, but still offers something if you bowl well. With four proper seamers, England might just get away with not playing a spinner, but I think they will miss the containing role that the spinner could provide.

should have done the decent thing and stepped down at the end of the sri-lanka series.. Prior was obviously not fit.
Buttler looks to be huge prospect and his glove work was excellent when he was behnd the stumps.

I would say Buttler just about as competent as Dhoni with his glove work!

dhoni looks like he has oven gloves on.