11th July 2006, 12:24
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PakPassion Moderator
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Debut: Oct 2004
Venue: Apnay ghar mai - aur kahan ?
Runs: 37,044
Wickets: 2,699
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Problems mount for England cricketers ( Reuters) - and we think we have problems ?
So here we are worried about Paks team selection - just spare a thought for our hosts, becharay... they need our support too ( not !) 
Quote:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/new...&archived=False
Problems mount for England cricketers
Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:00 AM BST
LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) - Meticulous planning by the England backroom team headed by coach Duncan Fletcher formed the basis of England's stunning Ashes triumph over Australia.
However, almost from the moment Michal Vaughan's team left the Oval for celebrations which seemed to stretch out for days, England have lurched from one mini-crisis to another.
Now Fletcher has only one series, four tests against Pakistan starting at Lord's on Thursday, to assemble a team capable of beating an Australia side thirsting for revenge in the return series this year.
The problems facing England run from the top of the team to the bottom:
*CAPTAINCY: Andrew Strauss, barely two years into his test career, finds himself a replacement for a substitute this week. Vaughan, who outwitted his Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting at every turn last year, has not played a test in 2006 and underwent a fourth operation on his right knee last week. He will miss the Ashes series and almost certainly the World Cup early next year and, in the gloomiest scenario, may never play test cricket again. Yet, mystifyingly, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) still consider Vaughan the national captain with Andy Flintoff to take over from Strauss as soon as he makes a full recovery from a heel injury. Under Strauss, England were humiliated 5-0 by Sri Lanka in their recent one-day series and on that form will pose no threat at the World Cup in the Caribbean. Flintoff looks certain to lead England in Australia if fit and although he proved an inspirational figure in India, the burden of living up to his billing as the world's top all rounder coupled with the demands of captaincy could prove too much.
*OPENING BATTING: Strauss, while not appearing to be struggling for form, needs to start making big scores again. Lord's would be a good place to start.
*MIDDLE-ORDER BATTING: Australians, in general, and Shane Warne, in particular, do not rate Ian Bell as a test cricketer. Good judges in England believe he possesses the ability to succeed at the highest level. After a good tour of Pakistan and a less distinguished trip to India he was considered surplus to requirements against Sri Lanka and will bat at number six at Lord's in place of Flintoff. There are no doubts about Paul Collingwood's temperament. Through bloody-minded application he has made himself into a test cricketer after being labelled as a one-day performer only, but he, too, needs runs and his technique will be examined closely by Pakistan.
*WICKETKEEPER: Rapidly becoming the most controversial spot in the England setup. Geraint Jones replaced Chris Read two years ago because it was decided that his superior batting off-setted his inferior wicketkeeping. But after a bright start with the bat, Jones is now in a slump and his average of 26.47 puts him just under West Indian Denesh Ramdin in last spot among wicketkeepers from the world's top eight nations. Read, meanwhile, has worked hard on his batting and scored a century against Pakistan for England A.
*LOWER-ORDER BATTING: Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, who hopes to return after a hip operation before the end of the season, contributes useful runs at number eight. Nobody in the present England lineup looks an adequate replacement.
*FAST BOWLING: Steve Harmison was consistently fast and hostile two years ago, providing the spearhead England had so badly needed for years. On the first morning of the Lord's test against Australia last year he showed England meant business by hitting each of the top three Australia batsmen. His form since has been erratic and he was smacked for 97 from his 10 overs against Sri Lanka in the fifth one-day international. Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood, who are competing for the place left vacant by the injured Simon Jones, are still learning their trade. Plunkett is the more consistent, Mahmood looks the more talented but both are on a steep learning curve.
*SPIN BOWLING: Left-armer Monty Panesar is a throwback to a previous era, spinning and flighting the ball like the masters of old. Unfortunately he also fields like the masters of old and the Australian crowds will be merciless.
*FIELDING: England threw away victory in the first test against Sri Lanka by dropping nine catches. Hiding Panesar is another unwanted chore for the captain.
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