[QUOTE=“Fitzy, post: 1159224, member: 236”]- Shaun Marsh or Rogers to open the batting with Warner - Marsh
Watson or Mitchell Marsh as the all rounder at 6 - Watson
Hazelwood or Ryan Harris - Tricky. Harris will feature at some point, but Starc and Hazelwood have been bowling so well, I can’t see either being dropped. They may include Johnson based on the psychological damage he did last time against England, but I think Johnson could well be dropped for Harris for the second test. Harris coming off a long lay off and while fresh, they may think he needs a few tour games and net sessions under his belt before risking him.[/QUOTE]
Johnson has never performed well in English conditions. He’s all about raw pace and doesn’t have the subtlety in his armoury that English conditions demand. I’d agree with your analysis. They will start Johnson first test, but Hazelwood and Harris (in particular) are more skilful and consistent bowlers.
6 sleeps to go.
Ryan Harris is looking highly doubtful for Cardiff, which isn’t a great surprise, the question is whether he’ll be right for Lord’s.
Meanwhile, Shane Watson could be gone with Mitch Marsh looking increasingly likely to be picked in the all rounder who isn’t very good at bowling position.
If it was a pure choice of batsmen, I’d pick Mitchell Marsh on form. I’ve never fully bought into Watson as a Test match batsman. They’ll only be playing three of the fast bowlers, doesn’t matter how good your strength in depth is, a decent fifth bowler that can bat in the top order is gold, especially if it is a decent batting track.
It’s a good argument about him as a bowler, he doesn’t take many wickets, but can take 1 or 2 important ones in a test and he is economical. So he gives the quicks a break. But from what I can see, the thinking is that the top order is so flaky and they’re already essentially carrying Haddin as a passenger, they need a better batting option in the all rounder position. Mitch Marsh might have done enough on the tour so far to justify selection in this case. There seems to be a pall of misery hanging over Watson at the moment and very little confidence in him.
Lyon is gaining momentum as well, so there seems to be more confidence in his ability to take wickets and bowl long spells for this series. That will count against Watson also. He could be a very important player for Australia here. But most of the damage will of course be done by Starc and Hazelwood with Johnson and Harris adding to it.
That’s a huge blow for Australia. Simon Wilde making the point in the Sunday Times today that if they go with Mitchell Marsh as the all rounder, they will have a quartet of fast bowlers who have a total of 8 tests in England between them and two of whom have never used the Duke ball.
Sri Lanka have just completed a remarkable comeback in Galle against India. Were knocked over for 183 first time around and gave up a lead of nearly 200. They were then reduced to 95/5 and an innings defeat looked on the cards. Chandimal then though hit an unbeaten 162 at virtually a run a ball to raise them up to 367 and a target of 176. Herath took seven then as India fell 63 runs short. Not a million miles away from the famous Headingley Test of 1981 in terms of the comeback, with Chandimal and Herath playing the Botham and Willis roles.
Galle is one of my favourite grounds. Usually get good Test matches there on a pitch that turns. It’s a nice size too, and quite picturesque. The guns fired from the fort in celebration when the last wicket fell today.
First test underway between Pakistan and England in the early hours of the morning. Steven Finn is out injured. Moeen Ali will open the batting with Captain Cook. Adil Rashid will finally make his test debut and Jimmy Anderson returns from injury.
