creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Puskas]

Meanwhile Lancs are 161-8, in their slow pursuit of relegation...

[BWFC_Insane]

So instead of doing what we need to and playing 5 bowlers we leave our spinner out to bring in a 4th seamer.

Can only be cos they think our batting is shite.

About time we batted properly consistently, rather than tinker around with 4 slots that will struggle to bowl out the very best!

Yes. I believe Strauss and Flower wanted to get to number one in the world - how on earth would they ever achieve that with only four bowlers?
It's not as if we've won many matches in the last few years with only four bowlers, is it?

Its fine a lot of the time, but we don't show flexibility when 4 bowlers may not cut it.....

[Puskas]

Its fine a lot of the time, but we don't show flexibility when 4 bowlers may not cut it.....

Which is essentially saying that if our front-line bowlers don't peform, we need an extra one. The same argument as to why we need six specialist bats (if one doesn't perform, we need more depth...) - can't do both, and four bowlers has been good for us for the past few years. It shouldn't be written in stone, but neither should it be casually dismissed...

Fundamentally, though, I think we may have to accept that we'll be second best in the world for a while. If Swann's injury turns out to be serious, we'll need a new front-line spinner. Strauss and possibly Pietersen are coming towards the end of their careers. These things can't be changed by tinkering with the line-up.

[BWFC_Insane]

Its fine a lot of the time, but we don't show flexibility when 4 bowlers may not cut it.....

Which is essentially saying that if our front-line bowlers don't peform, we need an extra one. The same argument as to why we need six specialist bats (if one doesn't perform, we need more depth...) - can't do both, and four bowlers has been good for us for the past few years. It shouldn't be written in stone, but neither should it be casually dismissed...

Fundamentally, though, I think we may have to accept that we'll be second best in the world for a while. If Swann's injury turns out to be serious, we'll need a new front-line spinner. Strauss and possibly Pietersen are coming towards the end of their careers. These things can't be changed by tinkering with the line-up.

You can't win if you don't take 20 wickets. And South Africa are the best batting line up around. So going in with 4 bowlers.....not for me.

Is Swann injured? Beeb reported it as "dropped".

[Puskas]

You can't win if you don't take 20 wickets. And South Africa are the best batting line up around. So going in with 4 bowlers.....not for me.

Is Swann injured? Beeb reported it as "dropped".

Neither can you win if you're bowled out twice for less than the oppositon...

Swann has been dropped, but has been complaining of a niggling elbow injury that may require surgery.

[Worthy4England]

You can't win if you don't take 20 wickets. And South Africa are the best batting line up around. So going in with 4 bowlers.....not for me.

Is Swann injured? Beeb reported it as "dropped".

Neither can you win if you're bowled out twice for less than the oppositon...

Swann has been dropped, but has been complaining of a niggling elbow injury that may require surgery.

This is true, but you can win with two low scores, you can't win without 20 wickets.

[Puskas]

This is true, but you can win with two low scores, you can't win without 20 wickets.

Indeed - which is why I quite deliberately didn't say "You can't win if you're bowled out cheaply", as I was about to...

Nonetheless, I think it's worthwhile remembering that over the past few years England's strength has been their bowlers - think of the Pakistan series earlier this year. Weakening the batting to strengthen the stronger part of the team is risky, to say the least.

I don't think it's quite as clear cut as "we need five bowlers", basically.

[Puskas]

Still, at least Lancs have taken a couple of wickets.

Glen Chapple for England?

And David Lloyd's latest tweet: "I like this tactic by England of not getting Amla n Kallis in"

[Worthy4England]

This is true, but you can win with two low scores, you can't win without 20 wickets.

Indeed - which is why I quite deliberately didn't say "You can't win if you're bowled out cheaply", as I was about to...

Nonetheless, I think it's worthwhile remembering that over the past few years England's strength has been their bowlers - think of the Pakistan series earlier this year. Weakening the batting to strengthen the stronger part of the team is risky, to say the least.

I don't think it's quite as clear cut as "we need five bowlers", basically.

No it's not, but we could have fitted another one in last test for Ravi Bopara!

[Puskas]

England take a wicket! Woo!

Have that, doubters.

Unfortunately, Amla now comes in, but we can't have everything, can we?

[Puskas]

Amla? Schmamla.

He now has an average for this series. It's not bad.

[Puskas]

Woo-hoo - Jimmy gets Kallis! Now we're talking.

And Kerrigan got a wicket for Lancs some time back, too.

Tumbling, they are. Tumbling.

[Puskas]

Kerrigan gets a second!

Perfect replacement for Swann...

So England can go into the Lords test with Anderson, Chapple, Broad and Kerrigan as their attack.

Maybe Hogg in for Broad...

[Worthy4England]

Kerrigan gets a second!

Perfect replacement for Swann...

So England can go into the Lords test with Anderson, Chapple, Broad and Kerrigan as their attack.

Maybe Hogg in for Broad...

No place for Ken Shuttleworth and Peter Lee then?

[Puskas]

Kerrigan gets a second!

Perfect replacement for Swann...

So England can go into the Lords test with Anderson, Chapple, Broad and Kerrigan as their attack.

Maybe Hogg in for Broad...

No place for Ken Shuttleworth and Peter Lee then?

No. Don't be silly. This is a very serious discussion.

How long does Farokh Engineer have left before he qualifies for England?

[Worthy4England]

Kerrigan gets a second!

Perfect replacement for Swann...

So England can go into the Lords test with Anderson, Chapple, Broad and Kerrigan as their attack.

Maybe Hogg in for Broad...

No place for Ken Shuttleworth and Peter Lee then?

No. Don't be silly. This is a very serious discussion.

How long does Farokh Engineer have left before he qualifies for England?

He can't qualify. You have to be South African.

[BWFC_Insane]

Pietersen getting plenty of turn out there apparently.

Bet Graeme Swann is making a point or three.......

[thebish]

bollox - serious rain at the cricket - had hoped to listen to that this afternoon...

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

bollox - serious rain at the cricket - had hoped to listen to that this afternoon...

There is always the Olympics

[thebish]

bollox - serious rain at the cricket - had hoped to listen to that this afternoon...

There is always the Olympics

decided it was a better option to go and visit someone in intensive care and then take the kids to watch batman...

did I miss anything??