England v Australia, 3rd Test, Old Trafford, 1-5 August, 2013

JGK wrote:

Henry wrote:Wade isn't great but on the evidence I've seen, he's no worse than Haddin. He's also 10 years younger as well so there's a chance he MIGHT end up being a better cricketer. Aus should play him as the first choice keeper for the rest of the series.

No they shouldn't.  He's shit.

Haddin is just as shit. So why not play the younger guy who has a better chance of improving?

Nath wrote:Lehmann considering playing Wade as a specialist batsman.  oh great!

I suppose there aren't many other batting choices in the squad.

He'd be better off sending out an SOS.

He's Victorian.

PeterCS wrote:

Nath wrote:Lehmann considering playing Wade as a specialist batsman.  oh great!

I suppose there aren't many other batting choices in the squad.

He'd be better off sending out an SOS.

Katich ain't far away.

JGK wrote:

Henry wrote:It's likely England will be unchanged unless KP's calf rules him out. James Taylor the favourite to replace him.

Will the selectors take up his offer to just call out his name? Should be the right season, right?

But will he be there?

After all those lonely days when he COULD NOT find a friend.

Boof must be devastated when he remembers that in his own playing career, he had to wait many years for a game because there were plenty of top class batsmen vying for a test spot. Now, the cast of the Muppets are wearing the baggy green.

Nath wrote:Lehmann considering playing Wade as a specialist batsman.  oh great!

Boof, the new Mickey Arthur?

Cookie Monster - Watson
Grover - Cowan
Kermit - Hughes
Fozzie Bear - Siddle
Gonzo The Great - Haddin
Statler and Waldorf - both Clarke
Oscar The Grouch - Warner

"Our major concern right now is the performance of the top six. I could honestly say the nine, 10 and jack looked more competent than our one, two and three," Border wrote for Cricket Australia.

Just when you thought that you couldn't love AB any more than you already do...

I'd love him more if he could coach...

Patto is out for the rest of the tour according to Sky

Who to replace him in the squad then? Sure a Mitchell Johnson appearance would please the Barmy Army...

A blow for the Aussies to lose their top averaging batsman though!

beamer wrote:Who to replace him in the squad then? Sure a Mitchell Johnson appearance would please the Barmy Army...

A blow for the Aussies to lose their top averaging batsman though!

Will they bother though? Including the game against Sussex, they only have another four games to play

beamer wrote:Who to replace him in the squad then? Sure a Mitchell Johnson appearance would please the Barmy Army...

A blow for the Aussies to lose their top averaging batsman though!

 expecting them to do something dumb like play Cummins

You couldn't make it up. Should bring in the even more dangerous Bird.

Considering the conditions they are facing, I reckon they'll replace Pattinson with Fawad Ahmed.

Bird is a bit of an unknown quantity, you can't read too much into a couple of Tests against Sri Lanka who hate bouncy wickets.

I think Lords would have suited him more than Old Trafford. OT is actually where Pattinson would have been suited, for this reason they might have to pick Starc as the next quickest bowler, as quick bowlers and spinners usually do the best at OT.

Wow, just when things are at there lowest, our quickest bowler and decent lower order player breaks down.

So looks like Tweet will get a go.

It might be a blessing in disguise.

Patto batted well, but was struggling in his primary function.

So Patto to be replaced by Wacko Jacko? Bowling alongside Twatto?

You make it sound like a menagerie, a freakshow.

This is the bowling we're talking about, remember, not the top order.

Katich in for Patto?

Hoping to see Pattinson bowling at his peak was probably the only reason left to bother watching any of this series.

PeterCS wrote:It might be a blessing in disguise.

Patto batted well, but was struggling in his primary function.

his injury may have had something to do with that