Where to put Flintoff...

England have added the big guy from Lancashire to their squad for the second Test against South Africa, which starts later this week, and I think we can assume that barring any late injuries he will play.

But should he? And who should be dropped to make way? And where should he bat? For what it's worth, my answers are: yes, Collingwood and (with crossed fingers) No 6 but what do you think?

Much of the first part of this summer was spent worrying about whether Flintoff had lost his batting mojo, but having made two fifties and a thirtysomething in three of his past four innings, that is an area of his game that, if not totally recovered, is at least looking better than it was.

One comment on this blog yesterday suggested that Stuart Broad should bat at No 6, which is intriguing but almost definitely won't happen.

I was impressed with the way Broad bowled at Lord's, though. He regularly forced the batsmen on to the back foot, so much so that some of them were almost treading on their stumps.

I think he has earned his place for Headingley and one assumes that Sidebottom, if fit, and Anderson go too. If Sidebottom's bed-hopping has finally knackered his back, though, there will be a temptation to play Flintoff instead of him and give Collingwood a reprieve. I'd rather see Flintoff and Simon Jones in if that were the case.

Anyway, over to you: who's in, who's out and where do they all go?

Comments

[matthew tupper]

In my mind it has to be ol' colly who takes a bow for the moment. Yes he has had some bad luck with the decisions but at the same time he hasnt scored any decent runs in nigh on two years. So bringing in Fred who might not get loads of runs but at the moment has the same chance of scoring runs as ol' colly but is more likely to pick up a wicket or five would be a good choice.

Yes Broad hasnt taken wickets but at the same time he has kept the pressure on at one end which means that wickets can be taken at the other. An old adage but a good 'un all the same. Also if he keeps chipping in with the runs the team has a more balanced feel to it.

Any talk of Simon Jones coming back should be silenced very quickly. The poor lad only bowls short spells at Worcs in 4 day cricket but if hes asked back into 5 day cricket theres a large chance he ll just end up crocked. Which noone bar the Aussies want.

Further more anyone who wants Matt 'Cymbol hands' Prior back needs putting against a wall and being shot. The lad can bat very well but when he drops 3 a game and costs the team twice the runs he scores, he just shouldn't be asked back. Ambrose has done well, kept very cleanly and scored some decent runs as well.

So my team would be@

Strauss
Cook
Vaughan
KP
Bell
Flintoff
Ambrose
Broad
Sidebottom
Anderson
Panesar

[James Roberts]

I'm with JF. Anderson has had a decent summer so far but can be utterly wretched even when it is swinging. It's him or Sid for me - not both. Broad has to be in, he needs to develop as a bowler but as a batsman he's covering the fact that we can't find a decent wk batsman. Without Broad and with Ambrose in current form, nos 7-11 are all fighting to be last out of the pavilion.

So.

6. Coll
7. Fred
8. Broad
9. A keeper who can catch
10. Sid/Anderson
11. Monty

If Jones/Harmison has to play I'd say its still over Sid/Anderson for the 10 spot.

[Nick]

Resounding feeling is that its a bit unfair to drop Collingwood buy no-one can realyl make a convincing argument to keep him in. Problem is leaves the tail looking as long as a que at the post office.

The lack of a wikcet keeper batsman who can play more than a semi-savage off cut will beocme increasingly a problem-especially if Broad doesnt make any runs.

[Jim]

I'd love to see Jones back in the side and bowling as he did in 2005, but given his (desperately unlucky) fitness record, talk of picking him for the next Test is premature. Nor would I consider a player who has 31 wickets @ nearly 40 in List A cricket to be a great option for England's one-day side. Let's see how he's going at the end of the season - and how the current England bowlers do in the meantime - before rushing him back. The tour to WI seems like it could be a good time to get him back into the squad.

As for Friday, it has to be Fred in for Colly, with Ambrose (for whom it is sink-or-swim time) moving up to six.

If Sidebottom is anything less than 100% fit, Tremlett should come in at nine. He deserves to get another chance ahead of both Harmison and Jones.

[James Whitaker]

I would like to see Prior and Flintoff in for Ambrose and Colly. I dont see how Ambrose justifies his inclusion. Hopefully Jones to come back later in the summer.

[Jayaru]

I agree with some of these guys, I dont think Ambrose has been doing his job. So.. bring back Matt Prior as the wicket-keeper!! I honestly do not think that they should drop Stuart Broad cause he has been in great form throughout. He has been one of the players who saved England's ass when they were being kicked hard, if you know what I mean!

So my pick for the team will be...

Cook
Strauss
Vaughan (c)
KP
Bell
Ambrose (w/k)
Flintoff
Broad
Sidebottom
Anderson
Panesar.

They've gotta do something about this wicket-keeping problem!

[The Pav]

Yeah Patrick,

Bat somebody at No 6 who has two fifties & thirty in a comp that is little better than A grade club cricket in Perth.

That's sure going to frighten us Aussies when the Ashes come round

[AC]

We have to drop collingwood for flintoff and play a five man attack. Only a five man attack will win the ashes.

Jones should come in for Sidebottom or Anderson if either are not fit. If they are fit he should be left out until the winter tour.

He has to come back for the one dayers because we need a death bowler (along with flintoff) that can bowl reverse in-swinging yorkers !

Broad can not be dropped, even if his bowling average is too high. We need a solid number eight batsman to beat Australia.

Ambrose has to play because he can move his feet. Prior very often was immobile and never looked like catching an edged ball.

[Will H.]

It's got to be Collingwood. He's giving the team very little at the moment and has shown no evidence of form. Coupled with the fact that England should play five bowlers (especially after a gruelling draw), it's a no-brainer, as they say.

If Simon Jones is to come back, then I think Broad will have to make way. It's great he can bat (highest score by an English tail-ender since Craig White in 2002, and he was an all-rounder), but his bowling just doesn't justify a place - 18 @ 45.33 should not keep Simon Jones out.

I worry England are going to be seduced again by bowlers that bat, even after pretty much everyone agreed that it was an absurd reason to play Giles over Panesar.

SOMEONE HAS TO BRING THE DRINKS OUT

[JF]

6 Prior just to wind Mr Kidd up.
7 Flintoff
8 Broad
9 Jones
10 Anderson
11 Panesar

Assuming Sid's back doesn't improve. If it does I'm afraid it's still a straight choice between him and Anderson for me. Both are much better with a conventionally swinging ball. The rest all have something a bit different.

[Rob]

1. Cook
2. Strauss
3. Vaughan (c)
4. Pietersen
5. Bell
6. Flintoff
7. Ambrose (w/k)
8. Broad
9. Sidebottom
10. Jones
11. Panesar

Very bad luck for Anderson, who has been impressive so far.

[Johnmc]

Why not keep Collingwood in, bring in Flintoff, and drop Ambrose. Then throw the gloves up in the air and anyone who gets close to catching them gets to keep wicket. I assume that's how Ambrose got the job in tmhe first place as his performances behind and in front of the stumps don't seem to suggest he has played much cricket before (save when average Kiwi bowlers serve up a succession of long hops outside off stump)

[david harris]

no one doubts that "freddie" is one of our better cricketers, but i think that given his injury record it would be a massive gamble to bring him back in just yet, give him a couple of really tough county workouts under supervision first.

[M Sherrall]

My side for Friday:
Cook, Strauss, Vaughan, Pietersen, Bell, Prior, Flintoff, Broad, Sidebottom, Panesar, Andersen

A bit more firepower in both departments. I know that Prior is not in the squad, but he should be (and surely shall be if Ambrose fails again).

[Straight Point]

if side bottom is fit...i don't wanna see any change...if there were any doubts on collingwood he should not have been in final x1 from start...now he deserve another chance (he got rough decision as well) and also coz how can somebody who was not even in your initial squad can come and replace from first choice eleven...barring injury i.e.?