i'm not sure i have that much of a problem with geraint jones, i think he's got a lot better behind the stumps and i think he's just as patchy as read with the bat. however read's scores from last summer were 38, 55, 33 and jones' were 11*, 4, 19, 6, 18, 16, 8. i really hate dropping test players based on how they perform in odi's - that doesnt make sense? especially since they were in india. i'm just baffled really.
i can't blame flintoff for declaring at 551, that's a no brainer at that stage of the match. you could pile on the runs, but that's precisely the defensive move that we're critisising the team for in picking giles.
and giles. i really like giles, i think he's been england's best spin option in the past x years, scored a brilliant 50 at the oval last year, took the wicket of all these top order aussies last year but he hasnt played cricket in 12 months and we're expecting him to take wickets off the back of one tour game?! he wasn't played in the south australia game whilst we played panesar. it just didnt make any sense!!
however; the whole test was like the bad dream that 2005's ashes could have turned into. giles drops ponting the way warne dropped pietersen. the way we just needed to bat out for a draw in the final day and we completely failed whereas in 2005 we succeeded. there was the back of the innings resistance by collingwood and anderson whereas in 2005 it was flintoff and jones at edgbaston, but in 2005 it was 50 runs added for the last wicket and i am under the impression collingwood and anderson added about 10. it was every nightmare completely unleashed.