Sports Betting: Bookies write off England hopes

AT least Michael Vaughan has the honesty to admit England’s selection for the second Test against South Africa was “confused”.

Coach Peter Moores, on the other hand, is sticking to his guns and trying to justify some crass selection decisions after the debacle, rather like a recent England football manager who talked a good game but failed to deliver when it mattered.

In fact, Moores reminds me of a cricketing Steve McClaren and I have absolutely no doubt that unless he goes before next spring our chances of beating Australia in the summer are zero.

Right, having got that off my chest, here are my suggestions for the third Test starting at Edgbaston next Wednesday.

Firstly, promote Ian Bell to number three and drop skipper Michael Vaughan to five.

Vaughan has enough on his plate with the captaincy without having to come into bat at three at a time when he is clearly out of form.

Next, drop Tim Ambrose and replace him with Matt Prior, who is good enough to bat at six.

Readers of this column will know I would much rather have the best wicketkeeper, Chris Read, in the team, but if the selectors insist on going for a batsman who can keep wicket then Prior is clearly the most capable man with the willow in hand.

This move would enable Andrew Flintoff to bat at seven yet allow England to have the five bowlers needed to take 20 South African wickets.

As for the bowlers, I’m afraid Darren Pattinson has to go. It was not his fault that he was selected before many others with more obvious claims and I do feel genuine sympathy for the lad.

England’s obsession with swing confuses me. When we won the Ashes in 2005, we did so with three bowlers of rapid pace and one swing merchant in Matthew Hoggard.

The ball swings only at certain venues such as Trent Bridge so I would play Jimmy Anderson and tell Ryan Sidebottom to take more time out to recover from injury. In any case, Raz does not like bowling with Prior behind the stumps.

Stuart Broad is a tricky one because I would hate to see our brightest young prospect jettisoned after some sterling work in the last 12 months.

I would give him another chance in Birmingham as he was clearly jaded at Headingley and will be well rested by next week. His batting at number eight is a huge bonus and gives the team much-needed balance.

Finally, let’s bring back Simon Jones.

This guy was England’s most effective bowler in the 2005 Ashes triumph – yes, I know Flintoff took all the plaudits, but take a look at their respective strike rates – and now that he is back to full fitness the Worcestershire speedster is taking wickets galore at county level.

Granted at least one or two of these changes, then England are not totally out of the series despite Betfred’s quote of 14-1 for them to win it 2-1 by taking the last two Tests.

England have a habit of bouncing back after losing Test matches and 100-30 about them winning at Edgbaston is a price I would be interested in if they make the right decisions in selection.

That said, I trust Moore and Co. not one bit so it’s not hard to empathise with the bookies who go 11-8 about a South Africa win in Birmingham, with the draw at 13-8. The Proteas are 100-30 ON to win the series with the draw at 4-1.



HAMPSHIRE’S Rose Bowl stages the county Twenty20 finals on Saturday.

Kent, 5-2 to win the trophy, take on Essex (7-2) at 11.30am, Middlesex (7-2) play Durham (9-4) at 3pm, and the two winners meet in the final at 7.15pm.