Who will get the final bowling spot for Thursday’s 1st test against India? Personally, I think the selectors will stick with Stuart Broad.
Broad has been struggling for some time now, he looks like he came back into the England side too quickly after injury, he needed more games in county cricket first. He has looked short of match sharpness and test cricket against the No.1 side in the world is surely no place to try and bowl yourself back into form.
I’m not for a minute jumping on Broad’s back here and claiming he’s rubbish and should be dropped, just purely that he is out of sorts at the moment and this series is not one for taking risks in. He could well play and perform, that wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest as he is a class bowler.
It could also be a risk of sorts picking Bresnan, as compared to Broad, he is relatively inexperienced at this level. But Bresnan played a big part in the Ashes win last winter, arguably a bigger part than Broad.
It also wouldn’t hurt England too rotate the bowlers a bit more. This is probably going to be a batsman dominated series, so Bresnan’s stamina and ability to bowl long stints could help England. Such is Bresnan’s work rate, he almost does the work of two men and goes some way to filling the void of the 5th bowler that England currently don’t have.
There is nothing wrong with going for a bit of ‘horses for courses’ from time to time. If the pitch looks flat, pick Bresnan for his stamina. If it looks like it carries bounce, then pick Broad (but with a whisper in his ear not to get carried away).
As I already said, I believe the selectors will stick with Broad. They have done this with the batsmen with remarkable success with Alastair Cook, and I expect them to take the same view with the bowlers.
And a mention for the unlucky Steven Finn as well. When it comes to England selection he must feel he has upset someone somewhere as hasn’t really done anything wrong and keeps on getting left out.
He is a good young bowler who’s time will come again. He’s had a taste of test cricket and I’m sure he is well aware that there is one or two things he needs to work on with his bowling and county cricket will give him the chance to do so. He will come again for England and he will be better for the experience when that time does come.
tracerbullet007
btw, why is Onions not getting a chance?
Cricket Betting Blog
Hi Tracer, Onions seems to have dropped down the order after his injury, Steven Finn would get picked ahead of him at the moment as well.
He offers something different to Broad, Finn and Tremlett. But is a bit similar to Bresnan, at the moment Bresnan is the preferred man.
Apparently Bresnan is also a personal favourite of the bowling coach as well. So think Onions will have to take county cricket by storm or just wait for his chance again.