Australia v England, 2nd Test, Adelaide, 5-9 December, 2013

Strike while the iron's hot.

I predict no changes (presuming Cot's back's OK) for the Aus side.

English comrades, what about the England XI?

At least 10 of the hermaphrodites should remain the same. We simply have no-one else.

They'll want to style it out and be all "we back these guys to set the record straight" and pick the same Xi, but I don't see how they can.

They needed more from their third seamer than just steady nagging while Anderson and Broad rested. With Swann a passenger, England need more wicket options.

They won't tinker with the batting line up. Probably. Although if they tried to shoe-horn in Ben Stokes as a fifth bowling option/all rounder, I'd wager Carberry will make way and Root will open again.

I hope Monty takes some wickets in the tour game to put pressure on Swann. Insipid with the ball, and a gutless pair with bat. Even Monty's got a stronger constitution than that, and he's basically incontinent.

Possible XI (if Adelaide is likely to be as hard going for bowlers as rumoured):

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Prior
Stokes
Broad
Swann
Finn
Anderson

Same old. . .  except Rankin (or Huck) in for Trembler would be my guess.

Take a lesson from the 2005 playbook ...no change

The reason you chose this eleven for the first test was because it was your best eleven

The coaches need to get in the batsmen's heads and take them back 6 months

More like 3 years!

(pssst! ~ Goochie < Thorpey ...)

you only need the belf firing

And carry Trott, Prior, Swann, ..... et al?


("Who's Al?")

et Al...that's taking it back 12 and a half years.

"I will call you Betty ..."

Ahh Chevy.

Ahh Pauly.

embee wrote:you only need the belf firing

Aye. I honestly (no reverse woofing or sumsuch) expect England to make 400+ in their 1st innings. If England bat first and perform as I predict, the heat will be straight back on Aus to match a big Pom score, or it'll quickly be 1-1. I also expect the Chin to play a much improved role in Adelaide than his anaemic performance at the Gabba.

On Petey's theory that Gooch is a shit batting coach, when did Andy Flower relinquish the batting coach duties? I'm pretty sure Flower was the batting mentor in Ashes 10-11. Perhaps there's something to our punster's view.

Horrie will be pleased as punch. On last night's post-Test review on Foxy, MacGoo pumped up Bolly's chances of playing in Adelaide with apparently* Rhino and Cot carrying niggles.

Bolly? Really? Oh please let it be true!

Reported this morning, a unchanged Aus side has been named for the Second test.

skully wrote:On Petey's theory that Gooch is a shit batting coach, when did Andy Flower relinquish the batting coach duties? I'm pretty sure Flower was the batting mentor in Ashes 10-11. Perhaps there's something to our punster's view.

I think Gooch joined the set up as a part time batting "consultant" on that very tour. His role expanded and became full time in 2012.

Basil wrote:Bolly? Really? Oh please let it be true!

Pretty much my reaction (in incredulity), Bas .

Dello wrote:

skully wrote:On Petey's theory that Gooch is a shit batting coach, when did Andy Flower relinquish the batting coach duties? I'm pretty sure Flower was the batting mentor in Ashes 10-11. Perhaps there's something to our punster's view.

I think Gooch joined the set up as a part time batting "consultant" on that very tour. His role expanded and became full time in 2012.

Cheers D. England's batting (Belf excluded) hasn't quite been the same since their remarkable effort to win in India. Admittedly, most of that was down to the immense form of Chef and KP.

Blackadder wrote:Reported this morning, a unchanged Aus side has been named for the Second test.

Cheers G. Hopefully they put Rhino's knee and Cot's back on ice so they are fighting fit for the Adelaide Hwy. They may get some work.

skully wrote:Horrie will be pleased as punch. On last night's post-Test review on Foxy, MacGoo pumped up Bolly's chances of playing in Adelaide with apparently* Rhino and Cot carrying niggles.

Surely they won't expect Rhino to get through back to back tests at Adelaide and Perth. Better to rest him from Adelaide and have him fit for Perth

I'm sure Rhino wouldn't mind not bowling at Adelaide.

Heck I'm sure he won't mind not having to go there

I find your theory intriguing and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Johnson should be dropped on the basis that he's only ever capable of one good bowling performance per series. Won't happen though!

skully wrote:

Blackadder wrote:Reported this morning, a unchanged Aus side has been named for the Second test.

Cheers G. Hopefully they put Rhino's knee and Cot's back on ice so they are fighting fit for the Adelaide Hwy. They may get some work.

Might need Watto able to bowl 10-15 overs an innings as well.


With back to back Tests it wouldn't be the worst thing to lose the toss and then chase down a Day 5 target.