Australia v England at Brisbane, 1st Test, Nov 25-29

Well?

fuknose, but I'll be there! on days 1 and 2, anyway, and maybe 3.

Don't you be calling me fuknose.

conkface, then. Can I have three sharpies and a flatty?

lardbucket wrote:fuknose, but I'll be there! on days 1 and 2, anyway, and maybe 3.

Gracious of you to think we'll last that long!!

Lever, I presume nothing!

England win the toss and bat. Swann dropped for Tredwell. KP still out with depression. Anderson pregnant.

Henry wrote:England win the toss and bat. Swann dropped for Tredwell. KP still out with depression. Anderson pregnant.

Is Ashley Giles the father?

Oh dear . . smerky still in wish fulfilment mode . .

Grouse Yarn, mate.

DJ_Smerk wrote:

Henry wrote:England win the toss and bat. Swann dropped for Tredwell. KP still out with depression. Anderson pregnant.

Is Ashley Giles the father?

Passed Gilo in the street today - had a very forlorn expression on his face. I think he must be missing Bellykins.

Basil wrote:
Passed Gilo in the street today - had a very forlorn expression on his face.

Was that before or after you had sung 'if giles can play for England so can I' at him?

JKLever wrote:

Basil wrote:
Passed Gilo in the street today - had a very forlorn expression on his face.

Was that before or after you had sung 'if giles can play for England so can I' at him?

I was clearing my throat when he ducked into M & S!!

Hopefully not a comecough.

What will the teams be for Brisbane? I reckon:

Katich
Hughes
Ponting*
Clarke
North
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Bollinger
Hilfenhaus

vs

Strauss*
Cook
Pietersen
Ramprakash
Bell
Crawley
Read
Caddick
Dawson
Jones
Harmison

England to win by 9 wickets.

You joker! Cook will never get in that team

What the ..??

Who is this PeterCS chappie making such accurate predictions ... ?

Likely England team-

Strauss(c)
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bell
Prior+
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

Likely Australia team-

Katich
Watson
Ponting(c)
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin+
Smith
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Siddle

As I predicted 7 months ago Strauss and Cook have been picked, along with Bell. Bit surprised Harmison, Caddick and Dawson failed to make the cut though.

England's win is now in doubt.

Basil wrote:

DJ_Smerk wrote:

Henry wrote:England win the toss and bat. Swann dropped for Tredwell. KP still out with depression. Anderson pregnant.

Is Ashley Giles the father?

Passed Gilo in the street today

serves you right for eating him ...

lardbucket wrote:

Basil wrote:

DJ_Smerk wrote:

Henry wrote:England win the toss and bat. Swann dropped for Tredwell. KP still out with depression. Anderson pregnant.

Is Ashley Giles the father?

Passed Gilo in the street today

serves you right for eating him ...

It brought tears to my eyes!

The series starts in just 5 weeks.

Some ponderings from an Australian selection perspective:

Watson, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey*, North*, Paine*, Johnson, Hilfenhaus, Bollinger, Harris/Wright/Copeland/Harris/Siddle/Clark/George/Starc/Laughlin*

(* = positions in some doubt)

I suspect Hussey and North will both be chosen for the First and probably 1 + 2 Tests. George Bailey, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith, Cam White, David Hussey, and even the dreaded Brad Hodge (NTBPFAA) are their main threats. I regard Smith and White as batsmen threatening the positions of Mike Hussey and North; their bowling 'ability' is probably about as relevant as that of Katich when considering selection.

It seems very unlikely that Hauritz will get a run in Brisbane, though he may be kept in to carry the drinks. The fourth pace bowler is hard to choose ... on a horses for courses policy I'd be keen to see someone like Damien Wright get a go, or perhaps even Stuart Clark. If Ryan Harris were fully fit, I'd pick him like a shot. Copeland has some amazing figures very early in his career, though I've not seen him bowl. I can't imagine Siddle being fit enough for a Test just yet. After that it's young hopefuls. Even Drew ('Nancy'?) from Tasmania might be worth a look.

I would not return Haddin to the side after Paine's outstanding series in India. Apart from a single and costly missed stumping (bringing back memories of Healy losing us a Test and a series in Pakistan by 1 wicket), Paine did nothing wrong. His batting at Test level continues to improve, and he is a genuinely skilled keeper, whilst Haddin has never been more than adequate behind the stumps.

Shirley Aus wouldn't go into a Test series without a specialist spinner?

When was the last time they picked four seamers at home (alomst 5 with Watson). Would be like a defensive Cronje era Jaapie team.