England v Australia, 4th Test, Trent Bridge, 06-10 August 2015

Changes required:

Anderson and maybe Lyth out for England; Bell certainly secure, Buttler stays in a winning team. Who comes in? Footitt, Hales would be my bet.

Voges and Mitch Marsh likely to be scapegoated by Australia. Sean Marsh and Watson seem likely to return. There may even be a further change with Starc being replaced by Siddle, but I doubt it.

They'll probably give Lyth one more test, considering it's the second of back-to-back tests and they'll already be forced to make one change. England love stability and two changes in the one match is just a bit much for them.

I've got a nasty feeling they'll call up Woakes to replace Jimmy.

All kinds of names being thrown around. Could just be Wood replacing him, but there will at least be another seamer in the squad. I suspect they will want a new ball swing specialist, even if only as a one-off.

At least Lyth wasn't caught at slip chasing a wide one, he was Watsoned this time (complete with failed review)... chances are he will get one more go at it given the short turnaround time.

Presumably S Marsh in at 3 for Aussies, the future captain at 4 and the soon to be former captain at 5? Then flip a coin for the "all-rounder", or perhaps just bat Nevill at 6, Johnson 7, Starc 8 and bring in another bowler?

lardbucket wrote:Changes required:

Anderson and maybe Lyth out for England; Bell certainly secure, Buttler stays in a winning team. Who comes in? Footitt, Hales would be my bet.

Voges and Mitch Marsh likely to be scapegoated by Australia. Sean Marsh and Watson seem likely to return. There may even be a further change with Starc being replaced by Siddle, but I doubt it.

I reckon Mitch Marsh will stay. Watto in for Voges. But as I said some weeks ago the elephant is not being addressed.

Well, touring captains don't generally quit mid series... if they lose at Trent Bridge he might walk though.

Going back to number 5 might be the best compromise for him.

I think Lyth will be safe until the end of the series, regardless, though that's as much to do with the lack of an obvious replacement as any faith anybody has in him. I expect Footitt to come into the squad, but England to err on the side of caution and bring Wood in for Anderson.

If Lyth gets another two failures at Trent Bridge then surely that's it for him, as either it will be a won series in which case we can get someone fresh in to prepare for the winter, or we will have lost the game and be thinking about what needs to change for the decider.

OK, it could be a draw, so a load of rain (apart from some runs) might be his best hope...

Lyth can f*ck off. How can he be allowed to remain - and how could they defend that call.

Ballance was dumped because he looked shot and was liable to get out at any given moment.

Lyth is faring no better. He got an extra game to prove otherwise yet failed to deliver. So why persist with someone who shows no inclination of being able to hang around to see off the new ball, let alone pose a scoring threat to the opposition.

His head cannot be in the right place - so get him out of the firing line and give someone else a go (they cannot do any worse). Don't know who - but at least a new body gives the Aussie bowlers a new conundrum to face as they know how to get Lyth out far too easily.

I'd guess Wood will slot back in.

And all this Woakes talk that keeps going on needs to be stopped right now. ECB should issue an edict that any talk of Woakes recall will lead to summary execution.

The difference is that with Ballance there was an obvious replacement in the in-form Bairstow. With openers we're literally pin-sticking, or pushing someone up in a makeshift role. Can't do much worse though. I suppose Lyth's a decent slip, now they've stopped putting him at short leg with Bell at slip (who's crap there but an expert under the helmet) on old fashioned grounds of seniority...

Woakes as a "horses for courses" pick might have been OK-ish if he was match fit and in form, but he isn't. And I don't think Stokes and Woakes have played a Test together yet have they (or any international game?) How's Foakes developing by the way?

Agree with you it might well be pin-sticking. But they've got Lytht figured out and he has shown no way of combatting them so it's highly unlikely he'll devise a solution in the next 5 days or so.

Therefore pick a new body, someone who isn't already walking to the wicket knowing he's been figured out and feeling hugely under pressure not to waft outside off, not to waft outside off, not to waft outside off...oh shit, too late.

The replacement may get two golden ducks. But goes in without the scars that Lyth is bearing and may, just may, get a few runs on the board before they determine what his enormous flaw is and attack it with ruthless efficiency.

The only course the horse Woakes is fit for is the knackers yard.

Lyth really really has to go. Tosser and waster of a review a la Watto.
He's a walking wicket ( a gimme walking wicket, in fact ) just like his Tyke mate "porky" Ballance was.

England need a RH / LH opening combination IMO.... each with varying styles.
Hales fits the bill - ship him in for the last 2 tests - he cannot do any worse that Lyth.

Never watched Footit ... but Woods (does he swing the ball?) ought to be inked in for TB.
Ideally need a swinger/seamer for TB ... so maybe Footit ?!

Compo isn't opening
Carberry can't buy a run
Hales - see Compo

Belf to open - everyone else moves up one and Rashid plays?

Basil wrote:Compo isn't opening
Carberry can't buy a run
Hales - see Compo

Belf to open - everyone else moves up one and Rashid plays?

Noooooooooooo.

Leave Dinga where he is.
Like I said earlier, he's like a born again batsman at #3.
Purposeful, intent, focused and looking to score off practically every delivery.

Two spinners (three if you include Roooooot) at TB ??  

Basil wrote:
Carberry can't buy a run

He's got 855 of them @ 39.

Basil wrote:Compo isn't opening
Carberry can't buy a run
Hales - see Compo

Belf to open - everyone else moves up one and Rashid plays?

He's as good as opening now. In fact sitting in the changing room/on the balcony watching Cook/Lyth must be more nerve shredding than facing the first ball of the match.

I like where you're going Basil, it's seriously out there - I suspect the selectors won't have this radical a thought in their minds though.

In the absence of your above genius/mad plan - I'd probably go for Hales as at least he may tonk a few before he gets out (and Comp and Carb really don't get the scoreboard moving). However, I'm not sure he's quick enough at the crease to deal with the Mitches, especially when pulling the ball. I kind of fear for his physical wellbeing.

Merlin wrote:

Basil wrote:Compo isn't opening
Carberry can't buy a run
Hales - see Compo

Belf to open - everyone else moves up one and Rashid plays?

Noooooooooooo.

Leave Dinga where he is.
Like I said earlier, he's like a born again batsman at #3.
Purposeful, intent, focused and looking to score off practically every delivery.

Two spinners (three if you include Roooooot) at TB ??  

I take it you're counting Mo as a spinner rather than a bloke who lobs down 55mph slow bowling Merls?

Craig Overton: 40 wickets @ 17.

I liked the look of Craig Miles of Gloucs when I saw him the other week. 50 FC wickets @ 24 this season. Very Stuart Broad-y.

So frustrating that Reece Topley can't get a game for Essex's four-day team. He's a lefty Steve Finn.

All of the above just 21 years old. Bit of promise about. I don't know where I'm headed with this as there's no chance of them getting a call up for this series.

lardbucket wrote:Changes required:

Voges and Mitch Marsh likely to be scapegoated by Australia. Sean Marsh and Watson seem likely to return. There may even be a further change with Starc being replaced by Siddle, but I doubt it.

oh GAGF. Siddle has to come in for either Starc or Hazelwood. If they want to gamble on Cummins, that's up to them

Dello wrote:Craig Overton: 40 wickets @ 17.

I liked the look of Craig Miles of Gloucs when I saw him the other week. 50 FC wickets @ 24 this season. Very Stuart Broad-y.

So frustrating that Reece Topley can't get a game for Essex's four-day team. He's a lefty Steve Finn.

All of the above just 21 years old. Bit of promise about. I don't know where I'm headed with this as there's no chance of them getting a call up for this series.  

At Gloucs he probably has six months max before he's turned into a 77mph dobber.

As for Craig Overton, he's probably a shoe-in for the ODI squad. 

Tom and Sam Curran are two others with a ridiculous amount of promise.

Lindsay no.2 wrote:

Merlin wrote:

Basil wrote:Compo isn't opening
Carberry can't buy a run
Hales - see Compo

Belf to open - everyone else moves up one and Rashid plays?

Noooooooooooo.

Leave Dinga where he is.
Like I said earlier, he's like a born again batsman at #3.
Purposeful, intent, focused and looking to score off practically every delivery.

Two spinners (three if you include Roooooot) at TB ??  

I take it you're counting Mo as a spinner rather than a bloke who lobs down 55mph slow bowling Merls?

Spinners may be the go as I doubt the order for seamer's decks will prevail with this lead. Think Kansas or Oklahoma in the thirties.

England would be foolish in the extreme to ask for a slow, low featherbed at Trent Bridge. Trent Bridge is already on a warning after the ICC rated their pitch as "poor" for the India test last year. A bit of life, please.

What? After an inside three day match?

With regard to a replacement for Jimmy A, TMS were reading out listeners suggestions as to who could come into the attack.

Imagine my shock when some fooker actually suggested a recall for .....


Tim Bresnan

     

I saw James Harris mentioned!

Not much love for Saj the Wonder Horse though.

Sidearse.