Pattinson out for the rest of the series with a stress fracture of the lower back, so a fairly decent chance now that Bird will come into the team. Starc of course will come back into the reckoning too, but as I said above Harris seems unlikely to play all three remaining Tests.
Worrying lack of durability in their young fast bowlers continues though.
Bird has to play. Lyon will be given a go at Old Trafford. What to do witb the batting line up? Well, Cowans gone, Khawaja will probably be there for the rest of the series. There is a lot of talk about bringing Wade in as a specialist batsman, but who do you drop? As braz83 noted, each of them have had a decent score.
I heard a good interview with Mike Hussey yesterday. He reckons a lot of the issues Australia have with batting relate to the amount of domestic short form cricket and the devaluing of the Sheffield Shield. He also said that pitches in Australia are prepared for wicket taking now, its too easy for bowlers and its very hard for batsmen to gain experience occupying a crease, which is certainly something being borne out in the test side. Can anyone remember, without checking the internet, when was the last time an Australian batsman, other than Michael Clarke, scored a big hundred against decent opposition? They’ve been batting in this Ashes like a bunch of blokes shitting themselves about the next ball, not getting themselves in but with a woeful lack of concentration. They seem to panic if they haven’t got a run after 1 over and start flailing at the ball. Obviously never watched Justin Langer play. Funnily enough, Justin Langer resigned as batting coach last year. Australia could do with him back.
Warner’s after smashing 193 in the first innings against South Africa A. Not a bad looking attack either with Marchant de Lange and Kyle Abbott in it. They need to get him on a plane to Manchester I reckon, he’s undoubtedly in their best six batsmen. He hit centuries against both SA and India (seem to remember that being a big enough one at breakneck pace in Perth) in the last two Aussie summers from memory Fitzy. As said above, I’d have him opening with Rogers for the moment. Watson is not, never has been and never will be a Test opener.
They’ve picked a strange side for their match against Sussex, drafted in some young spinner that’s on a development programme with Hampshire to make up the numbers. A chance for Wade, Faulkner, Lyon, Starc and Bird to press their claims though. England have requested that James Taylor make a guest appearance for Sussex, pretty much confirming that he will play at Old Trafford if KP doesn’t recover from his injury.
[quote=“braz83, post: 806098, member: 390”]Warner’s after smashing 193 in the first innings against South Africa A. Not a bad looking attack either with Marchant de Lange and Kyle Abbott in it. They need to get him on a plane to Manchester I reckon, he’s undoubtedly in their best six batsmen. He hit centuries against both SA and India (seem to remember that being a big enough one at breakneck pace in Perth) in the last two Aussie summers from memory Fitzy. As said above, I’d have him opening with Rogers for the moment. Watson is not, never has been and never will be a Test opener.
They’ve picked a strange side for their match against Sussex, drafted in some young spinner that’s on a development programme with Hampshire to make up the numbers. A chance for Wade, Faulkner, Lyon, Starc and Bird to press their claims though. England have requested that James Taylor make a guest appearance for Sussex, pretty much confirming that he will play at Old Trafford if KP doesn’t recover from his injury.[/quote]
James Taylor eh? I can foresee fire and rain.
Might be the only hope Australia have of getting a draw.
braz83 - I reckon that will be enough for Warner to be included. Agree with you about Watson, I’d have him at 5.
Watson should open with Warner. That would be a nice partnership.
How are the Aussie media taking the hiding Fitzy?
Century for Taylor for Sussex, looks like he’s in decent nick if KP doesn’t make it anyway. Finn has been dropped from the squad altogether for the third Test. Tremlett and Monty named. I find it very hard to see them picking two spinners, but Old Trafford has been a bit of a spinner’s paradise in the Championship since they turned the pitch.
[quote=“balbec, post: 807305, member: 193”]Watson should open with Warner. That would be a nice partnership.
How are the Aussie media taking the hiding Fitzy?[/quote]
They’re circumspect, accepting and respectful.
must be picking Tremlett with an eye to next winter
So this Ashes series could be over in the next three days and we can all go back to watching a fascinating hurling and football championship. If the big Aussie performance is going to happen, it has to happen today, hopefully by winning the toss and batting well all day with the loss of no more than 3 wickets. Some hope.
Warner will be in, question is does he replace the possibly injured Steve Smith, or what would be the highly unfortunate Phil Hughes? Personally, I would drop Chris Rogers, can’t see the point of having a 35 year old with 3 tests playing. Agar might get the flick for Lyon and they had better for the love of jaysus listen to me and pick Jackson Bird.
Trepidation. Thats how people here are viewing it. Disbelief at how bad Australia are.
Agree on Rogers.
[quote=“Fitzy, post: 810295, member: 236”]
Warner will be in, question is does he replace the possibly injured Steve Smith, or what would be the highly unfortunate Phil Hughes? [/quote]
What would so ‘highly unfortunate’ about Phil Hughes been dropped? He’s scored 0, 1 and 1 in his last three innings. That’s hardly form deserving of a place.
Is it unfortunate in terms of your own credibility seen as you spent so long proclaiming that Hughes was effectively the next Donald Bradman.
It was a shocking decision that did for Hughes at Lords in all fairness Manuel
Very good day for Australia. Decent batting conditions and they made the most of it. Makes a big difference when Michael Clarke has a good knock.
[quote=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 810374, member: 377”]What would so ‘highly unfortunate’ about Phil Hughes been dropped? He’s scored 0, 1 and 1 in his last three innings. That’s hardly form deserving of a place.
Is it unfortunate in terms of your own credibility seen as you spent so long proclaiming that Hughes was effectively the next Donald Bradman.[/quote]
Yes Manuel, I am very concerned about my credibility on TFK.
Great days cricket for Australia, at last. Not just Clarke, but Rogers (I still wouldn’t have him there) and Smith going exceptionally well. Watson’s a plonker. And Warner still to come. They need to get to 500 by tea and then try to get a few quick wickets. This pitch will break up soon, so winning the toss and batting well day 1 was always going to be critical. We may, at last, have a test match on our hands.
The DRS is a fucking joke. No need to say anything more.
They will collapse to 350 this morning.
That would be a decent enough collapse. You’re being overly pessimistic Balbec.
Bet Warner goes for a duck.
Australia have just decided not to use a review on Pietersen when he would have been out LBW. Their use of the DRS is laughable. Watson, the bowler, won’t be all that happy with his captain…again.