After a colossal win with everyone contributing, we now have a week or so off then its on to the Oval for the showdown...
Engerland is tipped to make sure that the pitch turns, so Hauritz presumably comes back in...
Who for?
Teams please (or inclusions and omissions at least)
For once the side I'd pick is the side I think the selectors will pick. Given they are all fit, no changes. If the pitch spins, how does picking Hauritz help? The Australians have crushed England with a pace attack and regardless of pitch conditions, that's what blokes like Bell and Bopara will be afraid of. If Hauritz is picked, Clark will be shafted, even though it was he who tore the English apart in the telling first dig at Headingly. Think about it ... Hiilfenhaus has been our best bowler, Johnson is made of teflon, Siddle's just taken Pfeiffer and he's a Vic. Clark will get the sword if changes are made.
ReplyDeleteAustralia unchanged I say..
England ... Strauss, Cook, TROTT, Collingwood, Bell, Prior, FLINTOFF (even on half a leg), Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions. If Freddie is unfit, then Panesar.
They still have a long tail but its the top five that have to fire. Nowhere to go in England outside this batting lineup, as the remaining form batsmen in the country are either too old (Ramprakash), retired from Tests (Trescothic) or Australians!
Siddles 5 for will not save him. The fact that he is a Victorian will work against him. The truth is Clark should have got a guernsey in the 1st test. His bowling is not just about taking wickets, it is about building pressure at one end with his nagging line and length. Siddle can be wayward and short which can leak runs and relieve pressure. The selectors should, but will not risk leaving the spinner out on a raging turner. The four pronged pace attack is so perfect for England. Especially if Ricky's luck with the coin continues and they bat first. A spinner is for the 2nd innings and you shouldn't pick a side for the 1st but England got no respite from the pace battery in their first innings with Hauritz throwing down innocuous offies. Instead they were treated to over upon over of quality leather flinging and they wilted.
ReplyDeleteAs for England I am glad I don't have to pick their side. For me you have to bring in Flintoff, even if half fit. He is one of those cricketers who just looks likely all the time. Bopara is not a number 3's ring gear and should at the very least be demoted to the lower middle order. Bell is soft and should be discarded. Collingwood to be retained, he is a scrapper which they may need. I think they should explore the replacement keeper option and bat Prior higher up. He scores freely which they will need to win this test and may benefit from being relieved of the gloves. MaSiddles 5 for will not save him. The fact that he is a Victorian will work against him. The truth is Clark should have got a guernsey in the 1st test. His bowling is not just about taking wickets. It is about building pressure at one end with his nagging line and length. Siddle can be wayward and short which can leak runs and relieve pressure. The selectors should, but will not risk leaving the spinner out on a raging turner. The four pronged pace attack is so perfect for England. Especially if Ricky's luck with the coin continues and they bat first. A spinner is for the 2nd innings and you shouldn't pick a side for the 1st but England got no respite from the pace battery in their first innings by Hauritz throwing down innocuous offies. Instead they were treated to over upon over of quality leather flinging and they wilted.
As for England I am glad I don't have to pick their side. For me you have to bring in Flintoff, even if half fit. He is one of those cricketers who just looks likely all the time. Bopara is not a number 3's ring gear and should at the very least be demoted to the lower middle order. Bell is soft and should be discarded. Collingwood to be retained, he is a scrapper which they may need. I think they should explore the replacement keeper option and bat Prior higher up. He scores freely which they will need to win this test and may benefit from being relieved of the gloves. Maybe bring in Ramprakash, he seems to be scoring runs but County ruins aren't really runs, are they?
I doubt the Poms will tinker with a side so late in the series and will just blindly hope for an Aussie shocker in the last.
When it all comes down to it Australia need 400 in either innings and we keep the burnt bits.
ybe bring in Ramprakash, he seems to be scoring runs but County ruins aren't really runs,are they?
I doubt the Poms will tinker with a side so late in the series and will just blindly hope for an Aussie shocker in the last.
When it all comes down to it Australia need 400 in either innings and we keep the burnt bits.
You seem to be you seem to be repeating yourself yourself.
ReplyDeleteSo do you.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a bit long. I coy and paste from Word cos sometimes it doesn't publish it and I lose the lot. Should have proof read it first.....
ReplyDeleteNo worries Nos. Some good points which probably needed emphasis anyway! What do you make of the supposed disagreement between Strauss and Flintoff when Freddie was "denied" a chance of playing at Headingley?
ReplyDeleteI don’t like a player’s manager speaking in the press about what should happen with the English side. I think Freddie is playing games to enable him to play a farewell test which detracts from his character. Poor form indeed.
ReplyDeleteEngland are in real strife as their most dependable batsmen are Swann, Prior and Broad. These are bad signs. When will they give Bell the flick for good! He is rubbish through and through. Bopara has done nothing but they’ve persisted for 4 tests with no results from him at all. This is the Ashes you idiots! You’re not on roads in the West Indies anymore.
The Aus selectors can’t win which ever way they go for the Oval. They persisted with Siddle when he was wayward (and Johnson) and he comes back with a bag. How do you drop him now? I think they’ll go with Hauritz and drop Clark. Even when England were throwing the bat in the second dig Ponting didn’t bowl a single over from North, Clarke or Katich: he stuck to the plan. I say go with 4 pacemen again and blast the hell out of them. It’s entirely up to Cook and Strauss as if they go cheaply England are effectively 4 down. Their biggest problem, however, is getting 20 wickets: sound familiar guys? It’s been so pleasing to see most of our blokes get some runs at some stage, even if they’ve been 50s (Watson, Hussey).
I think Flintoff will play but Broad was the guy I think would have struggled to hold his place. As Harmison wasn’t overly threatening he’ll be the bloke to go now: Broad is really in allrounder territory now.
There’s so much pressure on the England attack now as it’s up to them to get the Ashes back. They have to bowl us out cheaply in the first or it will be a long road to redemption. I don’t feel one bit sorry for them either. Bring on the Oval!