AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND o/d finals REVIEWS

[mal]

AU has brought back its big gun SIR SHANE WATSON
Will EG retalliate and bring back Kevin PIETERSON

AU 2-0 WHITEwash over a much improved EG

[Adelaide Hawk]

I reckon it would look pathetic if Pietersen has suddenly make a miraculous recovery and is available to play. I wouldn't mind betting the English team is a happier one without Pietersen around.

[scoob]

What about tony greig saying aboout KP last night late in the game "if you are watching this kevin get on a plane". WADH...i say let the blokes who have stood up and perservered and have finally found some form play, not some glory hunter...who was pretty quick to jump off the ship when things werent going too well a month or so ago...can see a couple of good games especially if england can win the toss and bat first.

[the wonder elephant]

will be interesting is the 1st game in sydney is so the poms have reasonable record there factor in the won there sun so will go in confidant i think a 2/1 win to aust with the decider here in adelaide that would be awesome

[mal]

PIETERSON +ANDERSON should stay home.
The guys who got EG to the finals deserve to keep thier spots.

If they were in the country , by all means pick them but to fly them out
now is not fair on the rest of the team.

As AH will say, they couldnt win a game with PIETERSON when he did play.

[Dutchy]

Go the Poms, win a game and bring the decider to Adelaide

[dinglinga]

england are SLOWLY gaining momentum ... is it part of their world cup preparation .....

but look at Australia's recent finals experiance alot of big time performers.....

[Dogwatcher]

Such slow momentum that they'll be playing their best cricket two months AFTER the World Cup final....

They won't make it past the first round.

[Aerie]

If Pietersen is fit get him over here asap. Would be perfect preparation for the World Cup and if a rib is healed, it's not like he can do any more damage to it like if it was a hamstring. As for being fair, pffft, you pick your best XI. I'd probably drop Ian Bell for him. Collingwood saved his spot yesterday. Having said that I doubt Pietersen is fit enough to play so they will leave him home.

England have probably made their best move for the summer by opening with Joyce and placing Strauss at 4. Dalrymple has also shown he is of value down the order. They look stronger and more balanced. You would probably include yesterday's XI in their WC squad along with Pietersen, Anderson, Hoggard and one of Bopara/Read/Lewis/Loye.

I'm surprised Australia have dropped both Clark and Tait out of the squad for the finals. It would appear these two will struggle to get a game over in the West Indies even if they are picked in the squad of 15. Watson certainly adds something to the Australian team playing as the 4th pace bowler and middle order batsman and his inclusion may open up a spot for Hogg, who I think is needed as our only attacking spinner.

My team:

Gilchrist
Hayden
Ponting
Clarke
Hodge
Hussey
Watson
Hogg
Lee
Johnson
McGrath
extras for WC: White, Bracken, Tait, Haddin/Symonds

[Max]

Good team Aarie. Can't really object to any of it.

And, if KP is fit he should play. Definitely deserves to be in the team. Drop Bell. Just because KP was injured for most of the series shouldn't preclude him from the finals. I reckon he'd add a heap of excitement to the team, and really bouy their spirits. I don't buy into this "KP is hated by the lads" cr*p.

[scoob]

If he was gonna be fit for the finals he should have stayed in aus. With the world cup around the corner they would be silly to risk him if he is underdone. They have shown they can be competative without him so why risk it? Plus it gives other lads a chance to prove themselves before the world cup squads are announced.

[am Bays]

PIETERSON +ANDERSON should stay home.
The guys who got EG to the finals deserve to keep thier spots.

If they were in the country , by all means pick them but to fly them out
now is not fair on the rest of the team.

As AH will say, they couldnt win a game with PIETERSON when he did play.

Does that count for us too bringing in Watson???

let them pick who they want given the wrld cup is around the corner, they'd be mad not to pick him if he's fit.

[rod_rooster]

As for being fair, pffft, you pick your best XI. I'd probably drop Ian Bell for him.

Spot on. Pick your best available XI. If Pietersen is fit he is easily in the best XI. Yes they have done OK without him but if Ponting missed a couple of games with injury and Australia won would you not bring him back in? Look at it this way, do you think Australia would prefer to play England with KP or without KP?

Cricket isn't about being fair it's about winning and if a player or 2 have to be left out despite working hard to get the team there then so be it.

[ca]

My team:

Gilchrist
Hayden
Ponting
Clarke
Hodge
Hussey
Watson
Hogg
Lee
Johnson
McGrath
extras for WC: White, Bracken, Tait, Haddin/Symonds

I think you are almost spot on with that team although I believe Tait or Bracken add more than Johnson. Watson as the 4th paceman also shoterns our tail.

[RoosterMarty]

Bracken has to be in the team, one of the best ODI bowlers in the world.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Now Vaughan's gone home. I wonder if he enjoyed his holiday?

[Aerie]

Did Vaughan deliberately captain them into the finals and knick off just to give poor old Andy Flintoff one more bashing on a big stage. Vaughan should have stayed for the press conferences. That is basically his role in the team nowadays anyway.

[blink]

As much as I dislike England, I think it is a shame that Michael Vaughan cannot play this finals series. He is a brilliant captain, probably behind Fleming in that regard. The added bonus of having Vaughan in the team is that Flintoff almost automatically becomes a different player, one that is a match winner. When on song he is one of the finest pace bowlers in the world. Also has the added advantage that he can bat a bit.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I agree with the captains.

KP well he can stay home, he chose to runaway rather then stay out here and help his team mates out.

i bet G. Smith is glad he left.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I agree with the captains.

KP well he can stay home, he chose to runaway rather then stay out here and help his team mates out.

i bet G. Smith is glad he left.

I'm probably being a bit thick today, but could you please explain this one?