Phil Tufnell
C_Linden
had a good kicking, but:
Is Phil Tufnell really the best spin bowler in England??
I ask this in all sincerity, as I don't have the opportunity to see any
County Cricket. Nothing against 'Tuffers' but he's hardly likely to instill
fear in the best batsmen (let alone the Kiwi's). Wasim (or whoever the next
match fixer is) throws the ball to Saqlain, Sanath to Murali, Waugh the
elder to the fat bastard etc. and the batsman's arse begins to twitch.
The only thinking a batsman has to do when Tufnell (or probably any English
spinner, for that matter) comes in to bowl is 'Shall I hit the 4th ball or
the 5th ball for 4 this over'.
I know plenty of wannabes have had a go, such as Such, Croft, Salisbury but
they have all been average to say the best. If there is nobody else coming
through (I see Solanki is being bandied about) then I would plump (no Shane
Warne pun intended) for Salisbury but that may be my Surrey bias coming
through.
Or - and this will have the purists choking on their G & T's - if we have no
spinner good enough to be worthy of a Test Match, simply don't play one.
Hick can do as good a job as many and would certainly strengthen the batting
coming in at No. 11.
Any comments?
Cheers,
Chris
Jackie Hewitt
any English
> I know plenty of wannabes have had a go, such as Such, Croft, Salisbury but
> they have all been average to say the best. If there is nobody else coming
> through (I see Solanki is being bandied about) then I would plump (no Shane
> Warne pun intended) for Salisbury but that may be my Surrey bias coming
> through.
>
As one who sees him play often for my county, I wouldn't choose Solanki as a
front line spinner, but as a batsman who can also bowl. I think maybe we just
have to realise- there isn't a real world class spinner around. Admittdely like
most I am more familiar with my own counties players and haven't the time to
keep tabs on who is doing what everywhere, so followers of other counties may
well be able to suggest promising spinner.
I do think Tuffers is the best there is available.
-
Jackie Hewitt
Courtney Walsh's Biggest Fan
See my tribute to Courtney at
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~jackieh/courtney_walsh.html
Neil Selby
: As a new participant in this forum, I apologise if this subject has already
: had a good kicking, but:
: Is Phil Tufnell really the best spin bowler in England??
yes (at least if you mean 'qualified for England'). And by some margin.
[snip]
: The only thinking a batsman has to do when Tufnell (or probably any English
: spinner, for that matter) comes in to bowl is 'Shall I hit the 4th ball or
: the 5th ball for 4 this over'.
That's not true of Tufnell now is it? Be fair. Any other England spinner, yes.
(Although in actual fact the batsman wouldn't normally have to think even
about that)
: I know plenty of wannabes have had a go, such as Such, Croft, Salisbury but
: they have all been average to say the best. If there is nobody else coming
: through (I see Solanki is being bandied about) then I would plump (no Shane
: Warne pun intended) for Salisbury but that may be my Surrey bias coming
: through.
yes but Salisbury's rubbish. Tried, tested and failed.
: Or - and this will have the purists choking on their G & T's - if we have no
: spinner good enough to be worthy of a Test Match, simply don't play one.
: Hick can do as good a job as many and would certainly strengthen the batting
: coming in at No. 11.
10 years ago or so Hick was actually a very talented spinner. He should have
kept it up.
Croft was also very promising when he started playing for England - flight,
dip, spin, and a great arm ball. 3 tests later he was firing it in a la
Emburey. What a waste.
Neil
Marquis
tour and did very well, and he can bat well too.
Neil Selby <ne...@earth.ox.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:7nmp59$15s$2...@news.ox.ac.uk...
WL
news:933175343.28632.0.nnrp-
> > : Is Phil Tufnell really the best spin bowler in England??
Yes. He's not as good as he used to be, obviously - he's been playing
English County Cricket for God knows how long, which is a formula for
disaster for any cricketer, but he's still England's best (as he showed at
Edgbaston) Swann is the only good prospect for England, and he can bat as
someone has already said. BUT....what about Schofield? He was nearly about
to play in OZ, the Sydney Test; what's happened to him?
Will
www.localads.net - The UK's Classifieds Portal
Covering the whole of the UK
Ian Burt
>BUT....what about Schofield? He was nearly about
>to play in OZ, the Sydney Test; what's happened to him?
I think you will find it was Ashley Giles who was called up for that Ashes
test, god knows why they left him out.
As for Schofield, he got 4 wickets the other week didn't he? If that was at
Old Trafford then it should be taken with a pinch of salt though.
Ian.
A suffering Wolves and Warwickshire supporter
WL
news:19990731172530...@ng-ba1.aol.com...
> As for Schofield, he got 4 wickets the other week didn't he? If that was
at
> Old Trafford then it should be taken with a pinch of salt though.
True. Although people were talking about him at the beginning of the year,
like he was something special. Another wasted wonder.
Will
www.localads.net - UK's Classifieds Portal
John Hall
WL <wi...@localads.net> writes:
>Ian Burt <ian...@aol.com> wrote in message
>news:19990731172530...@ng-ba1.aol.com...
>
>> As for Schofield, he got 4 wickets the other week didn't he? If that was
>at
>> Old Trafford then it should be taken with a pinch of salt though.
>
>True. Although people were talking about him at the beginning of the year,
>like he was something special. Another wasted wonder.
Premature to write him off, surely? He's still only 20, and prior to
this season had played a grand total of 2 (yes, 2!) first-class matches.
I think he was talked up because he's about the only young leg-spinner
in the country.
--
John Hall Weep not for little Leonie
Abducted by a French Marquis!
Though loss of honour was a wrench
Just think how it's improved her French. Harry Graham (1874-1936)
David Zotov
BUT....what about Schofield? He was nearly about
> to play in OZ, the Sydney Test; what's happened to him?
in preparation for the spin threat of MacGill and Warne. He was in
Australia at the time, and I'm sure the experience of being with the England
team will have given him encouragement. I think his actual chances of
playing, though, were pretty slim.
As for what has happened to him since, well it is only 8 months ago and he
is only in his 21st year. I hope he has learned plenty in the art of spin
bowling from Murali this season and hopefully will get a proper chance when
the Sri Lankan has to leave at the end of the month to play in the series
against Australia.
I would like to think that Schofield will have broken into the England side
by the time of the Ashes series in 2001, and hopefully will have many
successful years as a Test cricketer. I don't think Warne broke into the
Australian team until he was 23 or 24, so give the lad a chance.
David Z
Ian Diddams
>
> I would like to think that Schofield will have broken into the England
> side by the time of the Ashes series in 2001, and hopefully will have
> many successful years as a Test cricketer. I don't think Warne broke
> into the Australian team until he was 23 or 24, so give the lad a
> chance.
If it is true that it is widely held that spinners don;t "mature" until
later in their career (a bit like prop forwards but that's just my
excuse!) then I don;t necessarily see the concern about rushing in a
young spinner at the cost of an "old one" as long as the young 'un is
getting some decent coaching (preferably from the old 'un) and
encouragement.
I know that Warne started young (in spinners terms) but much as I
dislike the chap (although admire his talents) I have to say Warne
is/was exceptional in many aspects of leg spin bowling, not least his
phenomonal control.
Didds
Chris Weston
<nws_...@jhall.demon.co.uk> writes
>In article <dvUo3.31$AJ2....@newreader.ukcore.bt.net>,
> WL <wi...@localads.net> writes:
>>Ian Burt <ian...@aol.com> wrote in message
>>news:19990731172530...@ng-ba1.aol.com...
>>
>>> As for Schofield, he got 4 wickets the other week didn't he? If that was
>>at
>>> Old Trafford then it should be taken with a pinch of salt though.
>>
>>True. Although people were talking about him at the beginning of the year,
>>like he was something special. Another wasted wonder.
>
>Premature to write him off, surely? He's still only 20, and prior to
>this season had played a grand total of 2 (yes, 2!) first-class matches.
>I think he was talked up because he's about the only young leg-spinner
>in the country.
He played a role in the success of the under-19 test side last year,
in which both he and Swann showed glimpses of class. Rare enough to
take notice of, that...
cheers
--
Chris Weston