I kind of agree with you, I've maybe come at this the wrong way a tad. I wasn't as much saying "get rid of Patel & get the lad Rashid in", the point was more aligned with one that you make, that within the current setup, there are no roles, nobody has a clue, and at some point they need to lay out a footprint, and put in players around that, within that, I can't see how Patel figures. Over the last few years they've kind of dipped their toe in the water with various ideas, get your ODI side as close to your test side as your can, hence Cook, Struass etc. Then we've toyed with the idea of specialists, Mal Loye's etc. I think it's time to get a plan and stick to it.

I've no qualms with Patel if England pick him as a number 4 or 5 who can bowl fill in overs, like a Yuvraj. I have issue with him at seven, and being Englands frontline spinner.

I think England have to get back to basics, forget pinch hitters, bits and pieces, wicket keeper batsmen, all these terms that get strewn around. Get an 11 or 12 and stick with it, people who do specific jobs.

Totally agree with you on Bell, great word you use 'Soft', it's exactly what he is. The only time he's covinced in his test career was when he batted at six and had that spell when he scored hundreds when England were dominant.

World class cricket players can play cricket in all forms!! The Australian ODI team of the last dozen years did not vary too much from their test team. We just don't have enough quality full stop.

I know what your saying, but I do feel that cricket is evolving. Australia also had some incredible individuals, like Warne & Gilchrist, Gilchrist ccould open in any form of cricket, the same cannot be said for Cook or Struss or a direct comparison in Prior/Ambrose etc. (England have trialed using Prior & Gerraint Jones as an opener, it hasn't worked) I also think the introduction of 20/20 has changed ODI cricket, bigger scores are now seen, the powerplays are now more important seemingly than ever so I think even the Australian formula of the last decade would have been tested further.

I agree that England have the players. We've all seen KP & Flintoff be destructive. I watched Owais Shah decimate an attack in the 20/20 final, so he can play with aggresion, Denly is a quick scoring, aggresive opener, Patel plays with aggresion, Masceranhas and many more, I just think Enlgnad lack the intent, that's all. I watched in amazement at the likes of Sehweg coming in and smashing the ball from ball one, and then I thought, yeah, but he's special, but he isn't, ordinary players like Yusuf Pathan come in at six, face two balls, finish 10/12 not out. It's incredible,but it must come from the dressing room, being told to be extremely positive. England don't do this, I think that's half the problem. We're always playing containing cricket as oppose to expressive, it's all about dot balls, saving a single etc, more aggression needed, starting with team selection.

Intent is key. (not Robert.)

I'm hearing ya. When England lose a wicket or 2 they hang around and attempt to rebuild for far too long.

We all know Gilly was a test batsman in his own right and not just a wicket keeper batsman, whoever decided to give him the openers position in ODI's pulled a master stroke. I wonder if Freddie or KP could do the same thing in the first 10/15 overs??? 100+ strike rates at the top of the innings.....Cook, Strauss, Bell and Vaughan can't. Oh for Marcus Trescothick.......

Exactly, Tres was fantastic for England. Thing is, he's a cracking example, as when you listen to the players etc who were involved in the 2005 Ashes, they reckon that he set the tone for England winning it, 2nd Test, England one down, the writing on the wall as usual and he comes out and blasts the Australian attack to all parts pre lunch. I don't think it's always that important how many you get (if you get me), but how you get them. He showed an intent and gave England the initiative. In that series, I don't think I've ever seen a more aggresive England side, and I haven't since. Yes, Warne took 40 wickets, but they cost him 37+ runs each, he was carted to all parts, England were keen to get after him as oppose to being sitting ducks, eventually, he'll bowl a ball that has your name on it, it's a matter of time, so make him work for them.

I suppose what i'm saying is, I think England have the players (minus one or two areas, an aggresive opener, a keeper (I still don't feel convinced with Prior & another seamer, Sidebottom when fit, Broad - who whilst being inexperienced must now kick on bowling wise, he looks a little predicatble at times, no variation, Anderson - which one ?, Harmison - Which one ?...) I think we are a seamer light, a quality seamer.

2005 Attack v 2009 Attack

Hoggard - Sidebottom
Harmison - Harmison
Fred - Fred
Jones - Broad
Giles - Panesar

Are we stronger or weaker ? I can't make my mind up.

Anyhow England selectors, ODI cricket & Test cricket, more positive intent please, it's when England look best. For recent example check 1st Test v India, fantastic until they eeked about for a session on the 4th day and handed the momentum right back.

Really? I'd say we are weaker, by a long way too.

Obviously two of the personnel are the same, but I'd be surprised if they performed as well as they did in 2005 as they have shown little sign that they will be capable of it, I don't think Sidebottom and Broad are anywhere up to the standards of Hoggard and Jones in '05, if Monty finds some form he should be an improvement on Giles in terms of taking wickets but that is a big if.

Most importantly of all will the attack work as a unit the way it seemed to back in 2005? I can't see it, but then again they shouldn't need to as the Aussies have gone backwards too.

I know one thing, if it's the Ashes we are talking about Australia are certainly a helluva lot weaker!

For sure, they've not only been beaten in India and at home to SA, but they've been outplayed, comfortably at times. Interesting listening to the Indian commentators on the England tour, they spoke at length about how they felt England had posed far more problems for the Indians than the Aussies did on the recent tour.

To be honest, what with us all thinking that both attacks are a fair bit weaker than 2005, doubts about many on either side. I think it's a series that is there for a batsmen to really dominate, like a Ponting, KP, or anyone really, 5 Tests - I think if an individual gets on top they could really cash in, as oppose to 2005 where you felt there was always a threat from the bowlers end, England were chucking the ball about making things happen, reverse swing etc, Australia had Warne wheeling away, whilst Lee, McGrath did their thing. This series it will be far more important to get your runs on the board, big runs, as you can't see attacks being as dominant, it'll be I feel tougher to get wickets.

Really can't wait for it to start, just mortified that I haven't been able to get tickets.

They've just called up Doug Bollinger (left arm fast bowler) for the next Test so they must be getting desperate. He was Worcestershire's overseas player last year and was total dross when I saw him in a Championship match against Surrey - bowled consistently short and wide outside off stump as Surrey batted out the final day to stave off an innings defeat after Worcs had made 700 in their first innings. I recall one maiden over in which the batsman just left every ball without even playing a shot.

I also heard on commentary of New Zealand v Windies last night that Australia had looked into Brendan Nash's background before he played for Windies


They really are scraping the barrel.....

I have loads of tickets for cricket over the whole summer but as yet (awaiting the Headingley ballot fiasco results), none for a test match. Which is most annoying

I will however be going to Lords, The Oval, Trent Bridge, Old Trafford, Headingley and Durham over the course of the summer. Can't fooking wait

You a county member?

No mate, I'm not. I've been to the Headingley test of a series for the past four years, SA, West Indies, Pakistan etc. Generally, I get tickets as a Christmas pressie from the wife, I guess from Ticketmaster etc or a similar source, 2 tickets, generally the same block of the party stand, she books them nice & early, I give her a peck on the cheek, we all win.

This year, I think she made polite enquries, said they were like goldust, and had gone up from like £28 & booking fee, to like, circa £80 but couldn't get any for love nor money. To be honest, i'm gutted, I love my annual day out at the cricket, as an avid watcher getting up at daft o'clock when they are all over the world, actually spending a day there, watching it live, I don't think you can beat it, you get so much more out of it, get to appreciate the speed of delivery, batsmens footwork etc, anyhow i'm waffling, no mate, back to your point, not a member, no tickets.