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Date Posted: 02:38:23 02/21/03 Fri
Author: fizz
Subject: 22/5/03

Just out of interest, and what seems like an almost insatiable appetite for controversy, what would you guys select as the England team to play Zimbabwe at Lords on the 22nd of May, supposing that it goes ahead?
As a test match it gives England a good chance to tinker with the side and I reckon there is some good competition developing for some key places. In my humble opinion I would go with:
1 Trescothick
2 Vaughan
3 Butcher
4 Hussain (c)
5 Shah
6 Collingwood
7 Flintoff
8 Foster
9 Caddick
10 Harmison
11 Anderson

I realise that this is probably not the strongest side that could be put out but I reckon it could throw up a few useful performers. For me (and I realise many will disagree with me over the number 4 and perhaps even 3) the top four have done well with the bat and lack of form with Trescothick, although concerning, makes you realise how well he has done since he came in to the side in 2000. Crawley is not up to playing against the best in the world and aside with being given his chance to late, does not have the flexibility of game required by a number 6. Key struggled, for me is an opener, and others deserve a shot. I would place heavy odds on Thorpe not playing again and Shah and Collingwood are two potential replacements who can work the ball around in a similar style.
Stewart has to go, simply to let us break someone else in properly before the Aussies arrive on these shores, and Foster has improved markedly with the gloves. That said Read has taken huge steps over the past 12 months and Wallace looks like he may be a very useful player as well. If Foster can't cut it the competition seems sound.
I realise there is no spinner, but this is mainly because of Lord's and to find a few things out about the seamers. This is Flintoff's summer. He can either become a Lewis or a Botham and he has to step up to the challenge now. I thought he bowled well in the summer without reward but in the end wickets are what counts and he has to impress. Anderson deserves a crack of the whip as we already know all about Hoggard, good bowler who will always give nothing short of 100% but lacks the pace and accuracy to take wickets on good tracks. Tudor is in a make or break stage as well and though I am a big fan of his I'm finding it harder and harder to back him. Gough would suprise me if he made it back and Cork ain't going to move us foward. Harmison gets a game as I agree with Hussain in that we have to try and develop wicket taking bowlers and we must persist with him in the absense of Jones. Caddick lends experience but if Anderson fits in and Flintoff starts to take wickets I would prefer to see Kabir Ali given a chance. White has done well and mut remain in the selectors thoughts, as with Giles, but playing against Zimbabwe is unlikely to let us know much more about them. I would love to get a new spinner in the side, preferably either Swann or Blackwell, but I have to admit I would be a little suprised if their bowling made a big impact.

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