England's Tour of Australia - Ashes, ODIs and T20s 13/14

Borthwick, I read earlier finished 15th in Durham's bowling averages. His batting really came on last summer but he'll be batting at 8 and we need him to bowl or else he'll be another one that gets out bowled by Root.

(01-01-2014 22:46 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Panesar is a doubt for the final Test in Sydney with a calf injury.If Borthwick plays he will get marmalized.

Yes I agree. If this was the WACA or the MCG then there would be a case for going without a spinner to be honest. I tend to favour a four man pace attack! stokes,finn, broad, Anderson and Rankin.

However the SCG tends to take spin.

Can we do any worse if we bring in some new players.

In the last test Panesar (bats at no11 and is a liability in the field) got 1 wicket in the second innings where as Nathan Lyon got a 5 wicket haul.

Graham Swann was overlooked at the start of his career but he was given a chance to prove himself and he took it.

This series has gone, we must develope the next generation. Time to bring in Borthwick, Rankin and Ballance (and Buttler but he's not with the touring party)

Swans retirement just goes to show how bare the spinning cupboard is.
As I understand it Borthwick has hardly got a look in with his bowling on seem friendly Durham pitch but still managed 34 wickets at an ave. 33.5 He has done well with his batting scoring over 1000 runs and promoted up the order to bat at 3. Tredwell has had a poor season for Kent in first class game taking just 17 wickets at an average of over 50. He will probably do OK in the one day games though.

Borthwick is a leg spinner,the hardest types of bowling to perfect & by it's nature,they have the highest economy rates.England need control,he may take wickets but will his captain keep him on long enough to facilitate this,he hasn't shown much faith in Monty who generally bowls with good economy.

(02-01-2014 02:46 )sweetsugar007 Wrote:  Yes I agree. If this was the WACA or the MCG then there would be a case for going without a spinner to be honest. I tend to favour a four man pace attack! stokes,finn, broad, Anderson and Rankin.

Of course that would be sheer lunacy, anywhere in Australia. This series has been played in temperatures of over 40C, meaning that pace bowlers are only used in short spells. If England didn't play a spinner it would mean that Root and Pietersen would end up bowling a lot of overs.

If England pick Borthwick,it would suggest that,after the retired Swann & the untrusted,ineffective,injured Monty that he is the 3rd best spinner,do they really believe that or are they hoping that a player that has batted at number 3 in first-class cricket for Durham will get them some much needed runs in the lower order.

Tredwell has been called up but hasn't had any cricket after a poor first -class season in England.Borthwick didn't even make the performance squad out in Australia,England picked Kerrigan,which we know about & Briggs,a good one-day spinner who doesn't turn it & hardly gets a game for Hampshire in Championship cricket.

Make way for the Irishman to save the day......

New caps have just been presented to Ballance, Rankin and Borthwick

Australia are expected to be unchanged

5-0?
4-0?
4-1?

England have won the toss.
Bowling first.