As you say, the mistake was in the balance of the team. One spinner and only one experienced seam bowler in a four man attack, and no "batting all-rounder" of note. Broad, Bresnan, Swann & Tredwell are all good enough to bat at least 8 in county cricket; occupying positions 7, 8, 9, 10 against Bangladesh in a Test they would have given us enough insurance against a middle order collapse. Playing the same opposition at Durham in May, last week's team selection would have been fine but a fifth bowler (especially with Tredwell having showed up so well in the warm up game) would have been of more use than a specialist batsman at 6 in these conditions. Bowling them out twice in tropical heat on a slow pitch was always going to be more challenging than making more runs than them.

Which they did. I don't expect England to tinker with a winning team at all.

Why did Cook not use Collingwood at all to give his front line attack a breather?.....

And Colly bowled pretty well in the one day games aswell.

I've read he may be carrying an injury thats preventing him from bowling.

Now I've absolutely nothing against James Tredwell and as the only other spinner in the current squad it's right that he's playing in this test...however, what does he offer at 28 and a containing off-spinner that Adil Rashid at 22 and an attacking leg-spinner doesnt???

Neither did I, so we were both taken by surprise.

We ought to outscore Bangladesh under any circumstances; the point I was trying to make is that a more bowler-centric selection would in theory make for a lower scoring match and reduce any danger of Bangladesh batting for long enough to escape with a draw.


It's been a weakness of England Test cricket for many years now that other countries seem to have top order batsmen who can do a servicable job as fourth seamer or second spinner, whereas the likes of Collingwood and Pietersen are given a couple of overs here and there but don't seem to be trusted to do more than just give the main bowlers a breather. Our captains just don't seem to regard them as a genuine bowling option, which Collingwood given his experience and variations of pace certainly ought to be in subcontinental conditions. (Or in English conditions for that matter.) Today Collingwood bowled one over for eight runs. I'm not sure at which juncture he bowled his over, but why wasn't he trusted to have a spell of half a dozen? It seems that our part-time bowlers are expected to have an instant impact and if they don't they're not worth perservering with.

Pray thanks for the return of old school test cricket

Some may say negative batting, i would say far more negative bowling. Besides, England don't have to make the running.

Even god got bored with Trott and decided to intervene

Nice knock by Bresnan, showed he's not just a big lad who can come in down the order and lump it around in ODIs.

Potentially gives the selectors an interesting dilemma come the summer - presumably Tredwell makes way for Anderson, but do England stick with five specialist batters and in which case who makes way to accomodate the return of Strauss?

A few more wickets before tea and this game is well in England's grasp....

How many more strange ways will someone be out in this test

Trott ball hits elbow and trickles on to the stumps
Swann dropped catch ball rdeflects on to stumps
Sidiquie full blooded shot on to Cooks boot and dollys in to Treadwells hands

Don't think they will stick with 5 batters, if they did then it would be either Bell/Trott to miss out I reckon.

i might be sounding biased but some palyers from lancashire are as good as the peole getting picked for the england team in all formats. Because i think saj mahmood is as good as tim bresnan. Gary keedy is as good as james tredwell. It does seem that they are giving the young ones ago so why not give paul horton a go in the lions and also give steven croft a chance in some 2-20 games instead just pickin all essex, sussex and middlesex players.

To be fair those 3 counties you mentioned have at least won one day trophies in the past few years unlike ourselves, sadly.

I do think that Steven Croft can get himself into the reckoning for the England ODI squad if he has a good start to the season - he's as good a fielder as anyone in the country and if Luke Wright can get a regular game then there's nowt stopping Croft.

Mahmood has had his chances and never really delivered despite his promise, and Bresnan has done absolutely nothing wrong in any format of the game so it would be ridiculous to swap them.

Keedy is, IMO, the best spin bowler NEVER to have played for England and that's a crying shame but he's too old now sadly.

Well done Tredwell on your test debut

Decent enough showing from England. They can only beat what is put in front of them and that is exactly what they did. Thought Bangladesh showed up well and gave England a good couple of tests. Don't know if I'll be coming back here though!!!