Cricket's coming!

[nonsuch]

Well, actually it's been here all year. We won the ladies' ashes and we're about to thrash New Zealand in their own rear garden. Love to watch the sunbathers and hear the Barmy Army in their - is it cups?

[Grammath]

It's certainly a comforting thought after this weekend's weather to realise that the English cricket season starts in less than a month.

There's certainly an intriguing summer to look forward to on the international front. Whilst England have been consistently inconsistent since Peter Moores took charge, our opponents this summer in the shape of a return series against New Zealand and then South Africa, are sides who appear to be on a downward slide, on the Test front at least. Hopefully, the rest of our attack will be inspired to perform as Ryan Sidebottom has this winter so that Graeme Smith will not fill his boots this time around as he did last time South Africa toured here in 2003 (two double centuries as I recall).

As a Middlesex man, I have been gratified to see Andrew Strauss return to form in Napier, but equally wouldn't mind if he was dropped and turned out for us for most of the summer and got us out of Division 2 in the county championship. A top order with Strauss, Owais Shah, Ed Smith, Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan in it ought to produce runs galore. Our bowling often lets us down these days, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of our England under-19 quick bowler Steven Finn, who I saw turn in a great performance at Southgate against Northants on the final Sunday of last season to help secure promotion in the Pro40 league. He is a great prospect.

[Royal Rother]

I know nothing about Finn, but Bob Willis named him as his "one to watch" this season on Sky yesterday.

[nonsuch]

There's certainly an intriguing summer to look forward to on the international front. Our bowling often lets us down these days

And the batting's not too clever either, though I imagine that Vaughan, like Strauss, will eventually return to form. It seems we've been lucky in NZ this winter in that after diabolical performances someone (always someone different) pops up and saves us from shame; this time bowlers Sidebottom, Anderson, Panasar; batters Ambrose, Petersen. But maybe it's always been like that - a Laker or a Botham turns a game and then a series.

[Royal Rother]

Indeed, I think it has ever been thus. These days performances are analysed to death but it has always been a team game and players have always dipped in and out of form.

[Grammath]

And the batting's not too clever either, though I imagine that Vaughan, like Strauss, will eventually return to form. It seems we've been lucky in NZ this winter in that after diabolical performances someone (always someone different) pops up and saves us from shame; this time bowlers Sidebottom, Anderson, Panasar; batters Ambrose, Petersen. But maybe it's always been like that - a Laker or a Botham turns a game and then a series.

I was actually referring to Middlesex's rather weedy bowling resources. When it comes to the England set-up, if we could keep all our bowlers fit then I think we've got a reasonably strong unit. I thought it was pretty harsh to drop Hoggard during the NZ series, but then I suppose he and Sidebottom are there to perform fairly similar roles and Sidebottom is the one seeing much more success at the moment. Harmison I've always thought rather over-rated, and it has been pleasing to see Stuart Broad coming on in leaps and bounds both as a bowler and a useful lower order batsman.

I do agree with you on the batting front, nonsuch. The Cook/Vaughan opening partnership stuttered in NZ, sometimes leaving the middle order with too much to do to spare our blushes.

The side does suffer a balance problem when Freddie isn't fit, although I wonder who would make way for him when he is fully fit again.

[Royal Rother]

If Flintoff is fully fit and selected he should be capable of bowling 20 overs in a day (if he can't is he really worth the place as all-rounder?).

In which case I think we could go in with only 4 bowlers in many games, using Collingwood as a back up for a dozen overs or so - I think he is underused as a bowler in Tests.

This would give a helluva batting line up.

Cook
Vaughan
Strauss
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Ambrose
Broad
Sidebottom
Panesar

[nospacesallowed]

I started cricket today...well, at the my new club. I used to play for Richmond (2 years) but now I play for Hampton Wick Royal C.C.

[MisterHobgoblin]

If Flintoff is fully fit and selected he should be capable of bowling 20 overs in a day (if he can't is he really worth the place as all-rounder?).

In which case I think we could go in with only 4 bowlers in many games, using Collingwood as a back up for a dozen overs or so - I think he is underused as a bowler in Tests.

This would give a helluva batting line up.

Cook
Vaughan
Strauss
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Ambrose
Broad
Sidebottom
Panesar
Is it time to think about recalling Mark Ramprakash?

[Grammath]

Is it time to think about recalling Mark Ramprakash?

Not on the basis of the duck I saw him bowled for at a very cold Oval yesterday, a rash slash caught on the boundary off debutant Middlesex bowler, Danny Evans.

Good win for Middlesex. Andrew Strauss picked up from where he left off in New Zealand with a cracking 163, his best one day score, says Cricinfo.

[MisterHobgoblin]

Not on the basis of the duck I saw him bowled for at a very cold Oval yesterday, a rash slash caught on the boundary off debutant Middlesex bowler, Danny Evans.
You'd think someone would have told him it was a county game, not a test match.