QUOTE:
G-Man, did you know that Broads nickname is Malfoy?

No, I didn't. It's not a big stretch to see why he has that nickname.

Stuart Broad could do with taking some bloody wickets. Good batsman though he is, I don't think this attack can carry him if his bowling average continues to be 40 throughout the series. And over the course of the series, I doubt he'd score that many more runs than Flintoff- even if Freddy is an average bat at best these days.

He's only 22. One shouldn't expect too much more. Flintoff wasn't taking many wickets at that age.

Broad is so much the future he should be playing with a little jetpack. The important thing about his bowling is that the technique is all there, it's just a little bit of pace and experience he needs to become something really threatening. His batting is already streets ahead of anything England have had at 8 for a long old time, and if Flintoff comes back as a fifth, not a fourth, bowler, that'll count for a lot.

Oh dear, Sidebottom is not fit and so England have a restricted bowling attack today.

Flintoff back in the team for the next game then, despite not being the leading candidate based on perfmorance?

Radio 5 is bizarre. Flintoff took two wickets yesterday, and suddenly "he's inked, not pencilled, in for the next test."

That's 2 wickets? More than England took yesterday, but surely not anything to write home about.

Yeah, Jones took 3, Harmison 4... I like Flintoff, but I don't see him as the absolute definite choice here.

But maybe the management want his attitude and inspiration?

I'd be really really tempted by Jones though I have to say.

Sidebottom is bowling (though England still can't get any wickets).

The thing with Flintoff is he does seem to have that "golden arm" ability to break a partnership at a crucial time.

aye, I concede that I'd love to have him at Lords right now. Though I'd say the same of Jonah.

Shaun Pollock, whose, duckworth lewis calculations apart, opinion I hold in high regard reckons he'd drop Broad for Flintoff if everyone is fit.

On the evidence, Sidebottom may make way as apparently he's nursing a side injury, which is the killer for bowlers.

indeed, see my post of 0645 today.

South Africa are 26 ahead at the tea break with seven wickets about 30 overs left (given the rule for 15 in the last hour if a win's possible). The Prince was dropped twice (on nought and two) by Vaughan and Cook.

Possible teams on Friday in Leeds (if Siders is hurt):

Cook, Straus, Vaughan, Pietersen, Bell, Ambrose, Flintoff, Broad, Harmison?, Anderson, Panesar.

Smith, McKenzie, Amla, Kallis, Prince, De Villiers, Boucher, Nel, Morkel, Harris, Steyn.

I never want to see Harmison in an England team again. I don't care how many rabbits he's cleaned up for Durham, he's fucked up too many times to be given another chance.

I don't disagree with your issues on Harmison in the England team, but I do disagree that Trescothick and Langer are Bunnies.

Amla completes ton, it's started raining lightly and they're off. Ten minutes until a formal confirmation of the draw.

Well, I enjoyed it (particularly yesterday in the Edrich stand), even if my fellow fans were in a slow-scoring trance by teatime

I don't see the logic of bringing in Harmison for Sidebotham they are completely different types of bowlers. Simon Jones would bring a better balance (assuming you are not playing at Old Trafford).

Dropping Broad for any of the old guys makes no sense at all.

My team - assuming Sidders is injured...

Cook
Strauss
Vaughan
Pietersen
Bell
Prior (wk)
Flintoff
Broad
Jones
Anderson
Panesar