Anderson and Collingwood in for fifth Test

By Will 3 years ago, at the start of September Leave a comment on this post

James Anderson and Paul Collingwood have been drafted in for the fifth Test against Australia at The Oval. Surprised at Anderson’s recall…

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Tags: australia, england, james-anderson, paul-collingwood, test-cricket, the-ashes, the-oval |

Comments to “Anderson and Collingwood in for fifth Test” Sean wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 12.35 pm

I am slightly less surprised. If Harmison had been injured I think Tremlett would have got the nod but as it is Jones you’d then have 3 bang in in types plus Hoggard. I don’t buy the “not on top of his game” from Grav; I think Anderson’s about on top of his game as Tremlett.

I’m really happy that they didn’t go to Cork, Gough or Caddick though if Gough can teach Anderson to reverse it…… who knows

Harry wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 2.15 pm

Well rixon has called for hayden to be dropped for this match as it is such an important one. Tough call. I’m sure most australian’s would agree, there would be nothing better than watching Matthew Hayden go out there, smash a double hundrend, win us the test match and get some form before the super series. Man oh man we really want our former best opener in the world back!
He wants katich to open instead, a move i put forwed a little while ago. Geez i dunno, i still want to keep hayden because i haven’t given up yep! he had a good knock against essex although that must be a damn awesome pitch.

AlanR wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 3.30 pm

I’m also surprised they added Anderson. I remember his glorious World Cup match vs. Pakistan, but he seems to have had some issues with trying too hard to swing the ball. I’m not sure the most important match in England cricket history is the place to find out whether he’s got those issues worked out. Collingwood looks like the better option, given his fielding, batting, and the success he had bowling vs. Australia early in the summer in the 20/20. But I guess if the conditions happen to be very favorable to swing it’s good to have another swing option if Jones is out.

Innocent Abroad wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 4.12 pm

Tend to agree with you, Alan R.

I would expect Jones to play if he is fit, otherwise Collingwood unless conditions seem ideal for swing.

Innocent Abroad wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 5.26 pm

One other thought - if Collingwood plays, where should he bat?

Nick wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 6.29 pm

You can make a case for Collingwood at anywhere from number 4 to number 8, really. Personally, I’d put him in at number 7, as then he’d likely be coming in to join Pietersen or Flintoff and he’d be a good contrast to either of them, plus he’s a better batsman than Jones but not as good as Flintoff.

As for Anderson, I’m not too surprised as he’s been in the wickets this season (even if his average is a bit high) and he’s not a bad option to have available as a change bowler, rather than an opening one. As it’s the last Test of the season and they’ve had a week off, Vaughan should be able to bowl Flintoff and Harmison quite a bit too, without worrying about tiring them out. That said, I think he’ll only play if Jones isn’t fit and it looks like a wicket that will work for Anderson - as England only need a draw, Collingwood’s a better defensive option, and can be frustrating enough as a bowler to pick up a wicket here and there.

Sean wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 7.35 pm

Agree with you Nick; he would either split Fred and KP (ie bat at 6) or come in after them (ie 7). Of course he could be in as cover for Bell who suffered cramps at Lords on Sunday in which case I’d move KP to four and bat Collingwood at five.

Alan R: Loved your site btw - glad to see that cricket is thriving in the US even if it is with a heavy tennis ball - one question though: As a kid growing up in the UK I often played with a normal tennis ball which I could make move both ways off the pitch by utilising a “seam up” grip and then releasing it from the middle finger to move into a RH bat and off the index finger to move away (I bowl left arm so reverse it for a right arm bowler). This is impossible to replicate with a cricket ball due to the seam - can it be down with the heavy indian tennis ball?

AlanR wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 8.56 pm

Thanks for the high praise, Sean. The short answer to your question about the heavy tennis balls “I’ll have to try it, but I’m not sure I could do it well with the heavy ball”.

I would be a bit afraid to release with just one finger on top, because if you put much pace on the heavy ball you need a strong grip to avoid a premature release, but it might work for a slower ball.

Conditions in our league favor pace (and, of course, good line and length) more than breaks. The ball can take weird bounces, and you generally have to swing hard to get more than a single.

japaddy wrote:
September 5th, 2005 at 3.18 am

If Jones can’t play it has to be Collingwood, a specialist bowler would be better but it seems there are non in favour.
Think not only of the team, but Andersons career, to risky! what’s wrong with Tremlett? after carrying the drinks for the series and playing a ODI surely he not Anderson should be the first considered, if not that is poor selection policy! Worrying about him being a ‘banger in’ rather than a swinger is a bit pedantic, particularly on
a fast bouncy wicket.
The real problem is lack of bowling depth, and in such a cut-throat series, with batsmen always looking to sieze the initiative, you cannot afford to carry a bowler, Australia are losing because at times they have carried two.
Play Collingwood, he won’t
win a match with bat or ball,but he fields brilliantly and he will provide some extra backbone in this tense battle, bat him at eight and he can either consolidate with one of the stroke players or sheppard the tale, don’t fiddle with the top seven. Bowl him sparingly,as a tempo changer he should seve Vaughan well.

Sean wrote:
September 5th, 2005 at 1.03 pm

Alan: The technique for cutting a tennis ball in this manner would be much the same as bowling a conventional outswinger (or inswinger if you’re left handed like me). The key thing is to have the thumb underneath the ball and turned sideways (i.e. where the cuticle would be almost in contact with the seam - this is straight out of the ECB coaching manual btw). This has the effect of cocking the wrist (one of the pre-requisites for conventional swing bowling). Then, at the point of release, the tennis ball would rotate (gently) from leg to off. You won’t get extravagant movement but it should move.

Everyone else: Sorry for meandering off topic.

japaddy wrote:
September 5th, 2005 at 1.14 pm

interesting stuff Sean, although difficult to grasp without diagrams, perhaps you could oblige?

Sean wrote:
September 5th, 2005 at 1.18 pm

Crap at drawing japaddy will see if I can scan the relevant page from the coaching manual though.

AlanR wrote:
September 6th, 2005 at 5.29 pm

FYI, Sean, yesterday I tried to bowl the heavy tennis ball with the cutting technique you mentioned. Maybe I’m just not a good bowler, but I could not do it well. Without 2 strong fingers I can’t bowl as accurately, and the ball didn’t turn well, either. So the effect was to reduce accuracy and pace without turning the ball.

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Anderson and Collingwood in for fifth Test