Which Australians would get in the England side? Or to put it another way – if you were to pick a test XI from both sets of players, who would you select? To get the ball rolling, here’s the Full Toss’s own choice – what’s yours?
1. Andrew Strauss (captain)
2. Alastair Cook
3. Jonathan Trott
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Mike Hussey
6. Ian Bell
7. Brad Haddin (wk)
8. Graeme Swann
9. Ryan Harris
10. James Anderson
11. Chris Tremlett
As the anticipation escalates for the 2023-24 Big Bash League, we present to you our comprehensive wagering guide, brimming with crucial statistics, meticulous team breakdowns, and insights into past season trends to bolster your betting adventures. The BBL13, the twelfth iteration of the Big Bash League, is set to unfold in 2023-24. The Big Bash League houses eight fiercely competitive teams, each facing off against the others twice in the regular season, leading to a total of 56 thrilling...
We shouldn’t let the ODI series in Bangladesh go unmentioned. Yes, it was ‘only Bangladesh’, but not everybody realises that the Tigers are rather handy in their own backyard. In fact, England are the only side to have won a bilateral ODI series in Bangladesh since 2015. And now we’ve done it twice! It’s an impressive achievement. Who were our stars in the 2-1 series win? Two familiar faces excelled with the bat. Jason Roy returned to form with 155 runs at an average of 52 (although the lion’s...
With the dust having truly set on last year’s painful series defeats in England and Australia, which all but damaged their hopes of making the World Test Championship final (2023), the Proteas will want to regain their form quickly against the West Indies at home. The Windies, on the other hand, would like to make it a double sweep on their travels to Southern Africa after beating Zimbabwe in a recently concluded two-match series. This instalment of the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy is therefore...
Rolling out of bed the other morning after a leisurely Saturday lie in, I turned on the TV expecting to see a good couple of hours of cricket. Instead, BT Sport was screening a documentary about Pele. Checking the internet to see what had happened, I was shocked to find Australia had already been bowled out for 91 to lose the first Test to India by an innings and then some. Leaving aside for a moment the arguments about doctored pitches and favourable home conditions, this is a shocking defeat...
Hussey for Colly? – absolutely…
Haddin for Prior? – I don’t think so. For me he is miles behind as a sticks-man…
Harris? – If I were to pick an Aussie bowler (and personally I would stick with Broad) I would go for Siddle. He had a couple of quiet games but really put his hand up at the MCG.
Harris v Siddle was a close call – Rolf wins for being superior at Adelaide and Perth. Haddin has been more influential and reliable with the bat than Prior – eg at Brisbane.
I’d agree with Hussey and Haddin (on the basis of this series)
Overall I’d stick with Prior though, their career stats are v.close with Prior just ahead in average, strike rate and well ahead in number of 50s, (very useful at 7) don’t know much about Haddin’s glovework, but Prior’s is really good. Don’t know much about Haddin’s input into the dressing room, but I think Prior adds real value to the team dynamics of England, (watching from a distance)
If I had to pick an Aussie bowler I’d go for Siddle, (totally against my heart) – but with two 6-fors that’s impressive, although only 1 other wicket in the series and you can bag 6-fors when the rest of your bowling unit is struggling. (See Hadlee & Murali’s career stats)
Much as I love Swann and he’s bowled economically, you could argue that with the pitches he’s had (& the Australian top order collapsing to seamers) he’s not had much chance to take wickets, so you could accomodate another seamer. – However every team needs a spinner and Swanny is the best.
Prior’s glovework has become very good, but his batting has tailed off. Just like Geraint Jones, he’s turning from a batsman who couldn’t keep into a good keeper who can’t bat. That’s putting it a bit harshly, perhaps, but you know what I mean.
Prior’s 75 at the MCG rather goes against the view that he can’t bat, even if luck was on his side. More to the point, his 6 catches were instrumental in winning the match.
I am a firm believer in picking a top-class wicket keeper who is useful with the bat, rather than an extra bat who can don the gloves on occasion. In a team of specialists it makes no sense to go for a jack of all trades. We’d be right back in Alec Stewart territory!
Hussey yes. Tend to agree with Sidall in preference to Harris, Harris has been good but two 6-fors is hard to sniff at. Prior vs Haddin. Prior on top for the glove work, the runs are from the top six.
Swann has been the only spinners to play, so gets in by defaults (no apologies to Doherty and Smith offered)