Australia v England, 4th Test, Melbourne, 26-30 December, 2017

Will Koo be fit? Is Overs out?

I'd guess Window will be out unless he's totally doped up on painkillers. Having cracked a rib myself earlier this year I'm amazed he was able to bowl at all in Perth. So painful.

Indeed, M. It's hard enough to breathe let alone bowl.

remember that pain well

Me too. I remember the struggle to sleep with damaged ribs. Overton's performance in playing the match in such a wholehearted manner was fantastic and a real highlight for the Poms.

I expect no change to the Oz team. The Hollow Man will again fail with the ball and revert to being a bunny with the bat once there is movement.

I think Starc may be rested, perhaps Cummins too if he is sore at all.

Bird and Sayers could cover.

England have got their team ready.

Unchanged. Overton plays - what's a cracked rib, against consistency of selection?

lardbucket wrote:I think Starc may be rested, perhaps Cummins too if he is sore at all.

Bird and Sayers could cover.

It seems a given that they'll rest Starc for Melbourne given the SA tour later in the summer.

I hope they do ... long-term health is important, don't want him hurting something else as he tries to protect the heel.

Frankly, though Koo might have a reasonable wicket haul, he hasn't looked as good as Purple and 2nd, IMHO.

I'd be happy to see Tweety getting a run.

Interesting to see what the weather will do to pitch preparation and of course next week. Hot and sultry here today with storms and rain anticipated today. Should help green up the G and with reasonable weather over the next few days a reasonable pitch should be on offer for bowlers and bats.

Looks like Bird will play. Hope he is fit enough to get through a lot of work. Seems Hollow Man is not up to delivering only a few leisurely laps of the fish bowl.

probably more overs than Handscomb, though

The Sneak averages about 18 more and does not drop catches. Arguably his blinder to catch AC was the key turning point for the good guys.l

all true ... but weren't you talking about who was competent to deliver a few laps of the fishbowl?

Marsh replaced Handscomb. Scored more runs in one innings than Handscomb in two Tests, and bowled more overs.

I'm not sure how the selectors came up with this particular decision, but it turned out OK.

Let's hope Puddle can back up his batting with another decent effort AND bowl a bit better. Taking a few sitters at 1st slip might also be useful.

[quote="skully"]Let's hope Puddle can back up his batting with another decent effort AND bowl a bit better. Taking a few sitters at 1st slip might also be useful.[/quote

puddle's a qunt.]

Bump.

It's less than a week to go now.

Starc is looking increasingly unlikely to play.

Rumours from the England camp include replacement of Broad, Ali, and the injured Overton with Ball, Curran, and Crane. Seems reasonable ... probably a win overall on both batting and bowling fronts. The only other strengthening option would be to bring Foakes or Ballance in for Cook, but for that to occur, Root would have to open, and that seems unlikely.

So in other words England might have more Balls, but will still lack Balance?

Fred Nerk wrote:So in other words England might have more Balls, but will still lack Balance?

And our goose is Cooked, and we’re completely Rooted...

Anyway, those proposed changes... aren’t we just lengthening the tail even more? Woakes would have to bat 7 and he’s got sod all runs in the series. I’d rather play a couple of extra batsmen and try and get a draw.

The Blokes has not been the worst.

Certainly has a fair amount of guts and application.

horace wrote:I expect no change to the Oz team. The Hollow Man will again fail with the ball and revert to being a bunny with the bat once there is movement.

I do wish you people would refer to players with their proper name,half of what I read on here I find difficulty in understanding the person they are referring to so there is no meaning to me. WHO IS HOLLOW MAN??

Don't like jazz? Then get TF out of New Orleans!!!

(Hollow Man is the same as Steak Knives or Mishmash or Puddle. Glad to help.)

I've bitched about that myself.