Your England XI for the 1st Test vs India

that is a fair point Hope - but I think broad is different to Tremlett - although he has been bowling like a Tremlett as of late

What does anyone think of the theory that Flower has asked him to bowl in this way?

Lydney, Cook called Broad the 'enforcer' the other day so it does seem he is encouraged to bowl in this way. I don't believe such instructions are given in test matches though as the bowling coach Straker, was really angry with the bowlers for bowling too short at Lords.

know-it-all:
----------------I would pick Broad he will rough a few batsmen up.. I know hes not bowled well of late

Dolly-Mix:
****************if we feel we can trouble India's batting by roughing them up, we're in for a long long summer of chasing leather.

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Rex:
Well said Dolly- these Indian batsmen have grown up playing against bowlers like Akram, Younis, Gillespie, Lee and just finished a tough tour against Morkel and Steyn on juicy SA pitches just 6 months ago.

And Broad, of all bowlers, is going to rough them up? Broad may be as tall as "Big Bird" Joel Garner, but he is nowhere in that class and even "Big Bird" would find it hard against this batting lineup.

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danny(not-that-kind-of-pc) (U2778)
----------------Hmmmm. Indian boys haven't played the bounce all too well against the pace of the Windies, on some very bouncy pitches mind. Moot point really as there should be a big team change, but regardless of current form Broad does have one of the best short balls in the modern game.

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Rex:
Indian boys? Last time these Indian boys toured "English badlands", their worst "batsman" - Anil Kumble scored the only Indian hundred and yet India won 1-0, could have been 2-0 or 2-1, but surely an Indian win.

And last time India didn't even have Sehwag or Gambhir either.
As for Broad's short ball- really? Is it even better than Steyn and Morkel?

Gosh the amount of hype on Broad and Tremlett to an extent (with the nickname Enforcer), you'd be thinking he's the best bowler by a mile, as tall as a N'avi warrior (12 ft) and takes as much wickets as other bowlers take breaths during a spell.

I would say just drop Broad. One thing I still notice about England's Ashes 2010-11 campaign and other series is that Broad never belonged while Bresnan fit right in.

I don't know where Onions stands right now, but Bresnan seemed to be able to play the role of workhorse quite well in the English attack.

Tremlett can provide magic; Anderson can be the leader; Swann can churning in the overs as the spinner and with Bresnan providing good control, England have an excellent attack.

England's batting isn't so poor that they have consider Broad as an all-rounder and give him a spot. His on-field whining will only increase if India start smashing him around (and there will be days when he is taken to the cleaners) and England could well do without all that in what will be a tough series.

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danny(not-that-kind-of-pc) (U2778)

*****************I have a perception that Indians generally don't like Broad, be it because of comments regarding the IPL or Gavaskar's articles regarding his dad...there is quite an anti-Broad thing (Think of old Swamy). Anyone else feel this? Potentially I think that could work in his favour.

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Rex:
What rubbish! Is this supposed to be an intelligent comment? As silly as a conspiracy theorist!
Do you think the Indian players care a rat's tail about Broad's comments about the IPL or Gavaskar's anger over Chris Broad?

But you're right about one thing- Indians don't like Broad but it never works in his favor I'd say. I still remember Yuvraj's 6 6s and I don't think he has changed much since those days.

What are Broad comments against IPL. I don't know as a fan then I'm sure indian players will know or bother about.

So what I said was incorrect, but accurate? Why don't Indians like him then Rex?

Has anyone noticed that Rex only appears on this site after dark. I wonder if he resides in Transylvania.

He does. He also seems to like typing.

One thing I have noticed about people on this 606 as well as the previous one is that they are all obsessed with investigating my life, character, financial status et al.

Frankly I find it hilarious and like to goad them on.

Anyway, to answer your question danny, which is quite naive and shows poor English knowledge on your part, I said you are right about only one thing- that Indians (I meant Indian players here, and not Indian fans) don't like Broad.

I said so because the last time India hosted England which was probably the last time India played England in any sort of series, Broad took quite a flogging- but then again it was a long time back, almost 3 years and so many things have changed during that time so I might be wrong.

But the reasons you put forth- IPL, Gavaskar-Chris Broad etc. were quite far fetched hence I called that comment rubbish since apart from one spurious claim (that Indians hate Broad) it was just balderdash.

Indian fans, and as a matter of fact many other nation's fans don't like Broad because he gets away with a lot of nasty and petulant behavior on the field while slight errors by Indians/Sri Lankans/West Indians are punished with huge penalties by his dad Chris Broad.

As for me, I couldn't care less about him. He doesn't play a significant role in the England team and the sooner he is dropped the better for England.
He has just replaced Pietersen as the prima donna in the England team.

Ok Rex, I got as far as the second line and thought I'm not (or anyone else on here I'd bet) obsessed with your life, and subsequently could not be bothered to read the rest of that tripe. We'll just go with ok.

danny:
Poor decision because you missed the best part. You know what they say- "Patience is a virtue"