tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55636410663420272.post4456254748222114089..comments2023-12-27T06:44:09.195+00:00Comments on Polly's Pause for Sport: England's Tour of Bangladesh - More Than Just 'Job Done'Dominic Pollardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15873610807787984958noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55636410663420272.post-17261633615501936052010-03-28T17:54:36.406+01:002010-03-28T17:54:36.406+01:00yes boss, ajmal sahzad is badman. his bowling is g...yes boss, ajmal sahzad is badman. his bowling is great but his batting is even better, if that's even possible. how's kevin peterson doing?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401385203410020909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55636410663420272.post-33282782346876778132010-03-28T13:10:28.885+01:002010-03-28T13:10:28.885+01:00I take you point but I still think there is time f...I take you point but I still think there is time for someone else to put their name in the hat. If someone has a good start to the county championship season then there is a good chance they will get a shot at the test team this summer and maybe get the chance to make a name for themselves (I would suggest that Ajmal Sahzad at Yorkshire is a real contender to do this).<br /><br />If Bresnan is going to go to Australia then he will have to prove he can take wickets at Test level against Pakistan this summer. It is also thought that the conditions in Australia will suit Finn's bowling more so I wouldn't rule him out of being in the side.Rutherfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10353999566154393194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55636410663420272.post-33303799057122599482010-03-28T00:28:19.466+00:002010-03-28T00:28:19.466+00:00We clearly agree on most issues and you make a ver...We clearly agree on most issues and you make a very good point on how England's matches against weaker sides ahead of the Ashes is not idela preparation and may well prove detremental. I would, however, have to disagree with your point that Bresnan will not be ready for the winter trip to Oz.<br /><br />He must surely be our 4th choice seamer behind Anderson, Broad and Onions. Swann will obviously be our primary spin option with Tredwell and Rashid in reserve if we want to go for two spinners. If when we are Down Under it is decided our best option would be a five man bowling attack it would have to include Bresnan, especially if he continues to show that he can bat in the same way Broad and Swann have.<br /><br />Sidebottom is hampered with injuries and when the ball isn't swinging fails to look dangerous. Steve Finn, 20, showed some promising signs on debut but he is certainly still too young. Bresnan, if he stays in the team and performers well over the summer, could end up having a big role to play against the Aussie's. But there is a lot of cricket to be played before the Ashes and ultimately time will tell.Dominic Pollardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15873610807787984958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55636410663420272.post-39096582058233229512010-03-27T17:25:15.724+00:002010-03-27T17:25:15.724+00:00Nice post. I have to say that I was quite pleased ...Nice post. I have to say that I was quite pleased with the tour of Bangladesh. Bangladesh are a much improved side these days and, in Shakib Al Hasan, they have one of the best young all-rounders in world cricket (as he proved throughout the series).<br />The objectives for the tour were always going to be to make sure we won both tests, see the batsmen (in particular KP) get runs, and see how some a relatively inexperienced bowling attack would cope in difficult bowling conditions. All of these objectives were achieved and I agree with you that Tim Bresnan really shone out but he is still a long way off being they player he could be. Personally, I don't think he is ready, nor will he be ready, to go to Australia.<br /><br />With regard to Engand's summer programme, I can't see Pakistan causing us too many problems at home. Pakistani cricket is in absolute turmoil, with them having sacked two of their best players and suspended a number of others. They are in a rebuilding phase and I think it could be a very difficult series for them in England this summer. Our batsman are too comfortable on English pitches and our bowlers know exactly how to exploit the varying conditions.<br /><br />The main problem I see is that we wont be playing any really competitive cricket before we go to Australia in the Winter (which makes it even more bemusing that Strauss decided not to tour on what could potentially have been a 'banana-skin' trip to Bangladesh).<br /><br />I imagine all the batsmen will score runs, all the bowlers will take wickets and then we will go to Oz and be confronted with a proposition we are completely under-prepared for: an Australian team and a public desperate for revenge.Rutherfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10353999566154393194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55636410663420272.post-4690580107366160392010-03-27T15:18:39.030+00:002010-03-27T15:18:39.030+00:00I agree with what you have said as Strauss' ab...I agree with what you have said as Strauss' absense will continue to be the subject of negative comments including Shane Warne's suggestion that it was an 'insult' to Test cricket. I personally think that he is right. The progress of KP and Bell is also of key interest to the team as they are essential players for the Ashes Down Under.<br /><br />How convinced were you with England's tour of Bangladesh though?Dominic Pollardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15873610807787984958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55636410663420272.post-65997358992616710782010-03-27T14:34:09.410+00:002010-03-27T14:34:09.410+00:00Ultimately we are looking ahead to the Ashes Tests...Ultimately we are looking ahead to the Ashes Tests this coming winter, and a tough Test series against Pakistan before this. With these games in mind it seemed a strange decision to leave Strauss out the tour even though it was against mediocre opposition. <br /><br />Swanny again proved he is developing into a top class spinner, and if England have any chance of winning the ashes down under, he needs to be fit. With regards to KP and Bell, it will be interesting to see how they fair over the summer. Bell is undoubtedly talented and if he can hit some good form could have a large role to play in the ashes this winter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18371500710852915609noreply@blogger.com