I just wondered what thoughts the assembled wiseacres might have about team selection for next week.
Do people advocate a two-spinner attack, as I do? If so, do we play Rafiq or Wainwright? Are the old-timers fit enough for another run out? Will Kruis' legs hold out? Is it worth risking him? If we do play two spinners, is it Kruis who would make way? Any room for Lyth? Or is it sensible to keep a winning combination?
This message has been edited by AlexRoberts on Aug 15, 2009 8:42 PM
One victory in 21 matches should not disguise the fact that there are still serious deficiencies in Yorkshire's squad and in the tactics employed by McGrath and Moxon. There are still too many "passengers" in the sides that Moxon/McGrath put out on the field.
McGrath himself is in appalling form, and you have to wonder how long Yorkshire can continue to play a "walking wicket" - even if he is captain.
Our strike bowling still lacks penetration. Kruis rarely takes more than 2 or 3 wickets in a match. and Hoggard is 3-174 in his last two matches.
Despite the century stand in the last match, I still believe Rudolph would of much more value to the team going in at 4.
Where does Lyth fit in? He could hardly do worse than McGrath.
It's too bad Moxon gave up on Taylor, as he should be opening with Sayers.
In my opinion, the sides Moxon is putting out will not save us from demotion. Intelligent changes need to be made for the last five matches.
it will be tricky to alter a winning team (god that phrase sounds good at last!) even if it is roughly the same team that has performed poorly over the majority of the season.
At Hampshire we had a good opening partnership, we finished them off twice after they had decent starts, our spinner took wickets and our seamers bowled well as a combined unit. If they can repeat this then i see no reason why the team should be changed - it shows that all along the team has talent and ability but has not performed consistently.
The only possible change would be to leave out Kruis for a second spinner if the track is to be more spinner friendly but then only if Mags is prepared to bowl the second spinner.
The only minor tweak to make is the batting line up - no not the opening pair, but to put Rashid back where he should be above Bresnan and possibly Brophy
I'm afraid I dropped Rafiq because he was always being whisked off by England!
My team is currently boasting an all-spin attack with Rashid, Tahir, Schofield, Will Beer and Richard Dawson. Now that would be a team worth watching...
Drop Mags for obvious reasons, leave Brophy out and let Bairstow keep wicket for two reasons, he is a liability in the field and it strengthens the batting and Wainwright has always done a decent job as night watchman, so let him open. We bat right down to 10, have 4 seamers and two spinners. Possibly play Rafiq for 1 of the 4 seamers.
It will not be that side as Mags WILL play, Rudolph WILL open and Brophy WILL keep wicket.
if Mags is going to continue to fail with the bat then he may as well open the innings so at least when our opening failures return we would only be losing a walking wicket anyway!
not sure there will be any radical changes on the back of a win (at last).
Interesting selection will be between Kruis, Wainwright and Rana for final bowling slot.
My team would be Sayers, Gale, Lyth, Rudolph (c), Baistow, Brophy (W), Rashid, Wainwright, Bresnan, Shahzad & Hoggard. I definitely would not play Naved and I hope McGrath is not fit for this match.
We need to get 20 wickets to win, the only doubt is the weather, when I suppose another seamer may be advisable and it looks as though Kruis may need to be included.
Is anyone going tomorrow? I've managed to convince my other half to holiday in Yorkshire this year and will get one day at the Roses match (tomorrow) and two at Scarborough next week.
Yep I will be there and at Scarbro next week, looks like tomorrow is the only day when rain isn't forecast for the Lancs match but as we know they are not always right, we need to aim for max bonus points if we end up drawing due to the weather.