The Official England Summer Cricket Thread!

[animal magic]

still raining

[TheStig]

Windies are ****!

[Jayesh87]

India are great!

[Neil Young]

I'm pleased they have discovered that cricket can be played in wintry conditions.

[Colemere]

From the BBC

Jones suffers further knee worry

England paceman Simon Jones is still suffering swelling on his knee
England bowler Simon Jones is seeing a specialist in Loughborough after suffering a set-back in his recovery from a serious knee injury.
The Glamorgan paceman missed most of last season after surgery in America.

He has made a gradual comeback in county cricket in the last month but is likely to miss the Championship game with Essex at Swansea on Wednesday.

Glamorgan captain David Hemp said: "It's very frustrating for Simon because his knee keeps swelling up."

Jones played no part in Monday's three-wicket loss to Surrey in the Friends Provident Trophy at Cresselly, in a match that saw his county's bowling resources stretched to the limit.

As well as Jones, former skipper Robert Croft and Andrew Davies were both missing, while Damien Wright pulled up after four balls and teenager James Harris was absent taking exams.

"I feel sorry for Simon, as he is resting his knee and doing everything he is told," Hemp added.

"He is taking 10 days off or a week off after a game as stipulated by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board), but to come back after that with the knee still swollen is very disappointing.

"Simon gets treated by us and he is in constant consultation with the ECB physios, but the fact that it's swollen up again after a period of rest is a bit concerning and he's gone back up to talk to them."

Wright injured a thigh muscle during Monday's one-day match at Cresselly, and faces a spell of two to four weeks on the sidelines.

But spinner Croft, who sustained a calf strain last week at Swansea, is fit to return against Essex.

Glamorgan also call up Michael O'Shea, Nicky Peng and Gareth Rees for their first Championship appearances of the summer, while Harris is also available following his AS-level exams.


His chances of playing for England again seem to be deminishing. Disappointing as he is quality when he is fully fit.

[Shaggy]

I can't see Jones ever getting back to what he was, sadly.

[captainfog]

I can't see Jones ever getting back to what he was, sadly.

he was probably our best bowler in the ashes. Our side really misses him. Have to agree with your prediction though, sadly.

[captainfog]

Collingwood hails Vaughan return
BBC

Vaughan has won 20 out of 34 Tests as captain
Paul Collingwood says Michael Vaughan's return as Test captain at Headingley gave England a huge confidence boost.
Vaughan made a century and led England to a record innings and 283-run win over West Indies in the second Test.

The result brought Vaughan level with Peter May as England's most successful Test captain with 20 victories.

"His win-ratio is exceptional and you get great confidence from a record like that. He's a world-class captain," Collingwood told BBC Sport.

England's crushing win was the heaviest defeat suffered by West Indies in the Caribbean side's 79 years of Test cricket.

"It's amazing that the England cricket team keeps on making history," added the Durham all-rounder.

"In winning the Test match by such a massive margin we created history and Vaughany's personal achievement in equalling Peter May's record is fantasic for him."

Collingwood also said Vaughan's captaincy skills helped pace bowler Steve Harmison regain some of his old accuracy.

"Michael allows you to go out and concentrate on your own job and not worry about the wife. I think you saw his influence with the way Tresco performed in Australia," he said.

"Harmy has bowled very well under Michael in the past and getting him back to his best is probably a mental thing.

"Harmy proved in that last spell on Monday that he's not far from his best and if he can continue running in like that he's going to be a real handful for the rest of the summer."

[Red Chilli]

I can't see Jones ever getting back to what he was, sadly.

It's like "Sid" Lawrence all over again

So lads, hypothetical one for you:

Flintoff bowls for Lancs at the weekend (as predicted) and Hoggard regains full fitness for the next test.
Who are YOU going to drop?

Looking dodgy for me are : Harmisson and Plunkett, mainly Plunkett; and Strauss and Bell, possibly Strauss with a Vaughan/ Cook opening Partnership followed by Bell, Pieterson, Colly, Flintoff, Piper, the bowlers.

[captainfog]

I would play 4 bowler

Monty
Harmy
Hoggard
Fredie

batting lineup

Strauss
Cook
Vaughan
KP
Colly
Bell
Prior
Freddy
Hoggy
Harmy
Monty


That is a ****ing good team

if we had to drop a batsman then for me it would have to be Strauss and I would promote Vaughan to opener

[dww]

It's like "Sid" Lawrence all over again

So lads, hypothetical one for you:

Flintoff bowls for Lancs at the weekend (as predicted) and Hoggard regains full fitness for the next test.
Who are YOU going to drop?

Looking dodgy for me are : Harmisson and Plunkett, mainly Plunkett; and Strauss and Bell, possibly Strauss with a Vaughan/ Cook opening Partnership followed by Bell, Pieterson, Colly, Flintoff, Piper, the bowlers.

Plunkett out Hoggard in for me. Freddie needs to prove he is fit enough to bowl a full shift if he is selected and I don't think one match is enough for him to prove that in considering his record. Plunkett has been lacking in accuracy and I like Hoggards experience.

[Neil Young]

Straussy
Cooky
Vaughany
KPy
Colly
Belly
The Priory
Freddy
Hoggy
Harmy
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montogmery, 1st Viscount of Alamein

I have taken the liberty of editing your post so we can feel we're all good mates with the players.

[captainfog]

Flintoff to have ankle operation

Flintoff missed the first two Tests because of his ankle problem
Andrew Flintoff will have an ankle operation this weekend and looks set to miss the majority of the remaining international fixtures this summer.
The England star, who missed the first two Tests against West Indies because of the condition, experienced pain after a fitness test on Tuesday.

The injury, although also in the left ankle, is said to be separate from the bone spur problem he had last summer.

On that occasion, he missed more than three months of cricket for England.

Dr Nick Peirce, England and Wales Cricket Board chief medical officer, said: "Andrew Flintoff has undergone rigorous fitness testing over the past two days, most recently 30 minutes of net bowling on Tuesday.

"But he has reacted to the testing with further discomfort in his left ankle.

Having bounced back from ankle surgery before I know how much work is ahead of me

Andrew Flintoff

"Despite intense treatment and rehabilitation with England and Lancashire's medical teams, Andrew's ankle has continued to cause him discomfort when bowling at full capacity.

"As a consequence he will undergo an exploratory arthroscopy on his left ankle over the weekend."

Flintoff will be hoping to get fit for the Tests and one-day internationals against India, who are likely to offer a sterner examination for England than West Indies.

India's first Test at Lord's begins in 19 July, and that may be the most optimistic target for Flintoff.

606: DEBATE
Discuss Flintoff?s injury problems

"A comprehensive timescale of rehabilitation will be clearer following the operation," added Peirce.

"This current ankle injury is separate to the previous posterior impingement injury the recovery period is not expected to be as long as Andrew's previous surgery."

Flintoff said: "Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed to face another operation on my ankle as I really thought I was making progress with the injury over the past few weeks.

"I've been working really hard on my game and the rest and rehabilitation appeared to be helping the ankle but after giving it a strong workout this week, it now seems that an operation is the only option.

"Having bounced back from ankle surgery before I know how much work is ahead of me but I'm desperate to get back playing for England and determined to overcome this setback as soon as possible."

Flintoff had ankle surgery on 27 July 2006, and when he made his international combeack on 15 October - against India in Jaipur - he played as a batsman only.

The all-rounder generally struggled with the bat all winter, however, and will probably need to be fit enough to bowl at 100% before he next plays for England.

[Colemere]

Simon Jones is playing for Glamorgan today. His knee couldn't have been as bad as the BBC reported.

[Jayesh87]

Bopara should be given a chance in the test team imo, and his hero is Sachin so he must be a class act

England have named the same team for the third test with Jimmy being 12th man.