England v Australia, 3rd Test, Headingley, 6-10 July, 2023

Changes?

Murphy for Lyon, and perhaps Boland for Hazlewood.

England may ‘rest’ Anderson, Robinson and Pope. Who comes in?

Wood definitely, presumably Moeen returns. I think Lawrence is the backup batsman if needed, or Foakes comes in and takes the gloves from Bairstow (who actually kept well at Lord’s).

Tongue stays in.

Wood comes in for Robinson if he’s fit. Moeen for Pope?

lardbucket wrote:Wood comes in for Robinson if he’s fit. Moeen for Pope?

Moeen at 7 plus four specialist seamers plus Stokes? That feels a bit bowler-heavy…

If Pope misses out, I wonder if Moeen reclaims his old role as VC, or whether it falls back to Root? Can’t imagine Captain COARIAB trying to skipper Bazball…

Still a fair bit of chat about Dawson coming in for the Empah.

Maybe Neser for Hazlewood. I think whoever is bowling the best of Boland, Neser and Haze in the nets.

Murphy for Lyon is clear.

Seems only 2 days ago since we flipped these coins last.

Ingerlund:

My view (not the selectors'):

Crazyhorse* in for Jimmy
Rehan in for the most knackered other quick.
Foakes (at 7) in for Pope
Bairstow to 3 (and hovering at point) - for a Yorks 3, 4, 5 at Headingley.

If they look in Brook's eyes however and there is glass, Pope at 5 in his place.

Give Robbo a kick up the arse before he picks up the bat. Or bowls (in the nets) at 76-78 mph again. Show him Rehan in the nets.


Aus:

Not for me to say. So cock-a-hoop & morale soaring to sky-high levels, perhaps just a change of spinner.


*if Wood gets injured again, call up Tom Bailey and stick him straight in. The new Statham. Don't laugh. I did say it's just my view. But it's not just a silly whim. He wouldn't let England down. I've seen him. Check out his career.

Fatty Bairstow is useless with bat and an expensive comedy show with gloves on.

Foakes would be a massive upgrade.

Patty and Koo have to play. Maybe Haze will be rested for ScoBo.

Obviously Murph comes in.

As Peter alludes, not for me to nominate England improvements, but, as I've stated before, IMHO, Jonny is a liability to England with the gloves (and with the bat with his doziness), and they leave Foakes out to Aus's advantage.

skully wrote:Patty and Koo have to play. Maybe Haze will be rested for ScoBo.

Obviously Murph comes in.

As Peter alludes, not for me to nominate England improvements, but, as I've stated before, IMHO, Jonny is a liability to England with the gloves (and with the bat with his doziness), and they leave Foakes out to Aus's advantage.

He did pretty much nothing wrong with the gloves at Lord’s. I know, there was not much spin to keep to, which tends to be the difference…

I think if Foakes played in this side he would have to bat at 8 due to lack of ability to clear the ropes/score at a run a ball/change the momentum. Which means, ironically, leaving out the spinner…

Yeah beams, I don't expect England selectors to change Jonny's status in the team, it was just an unbiased opinion on what I believe would improve England as a side.

It will be very interesting to see what sort of wicket is served up at Leeds. Poor Jimmeh has been almost completely nullified by 2 dead wickets, which have allowed England to Bazball but Australia to outbat them.

in: green pitch, Murray mints, and 2 headed coin.
out: sportsmanship and spirit of cricket

Lol

Keep playing Fatty Bairsrr6

Yeah, I can see the Poms resorting to what they consider "dirty" tactics under the guise of "you guys started it".

Still, we are more than happy to get down and dirty (within reason).

I just hope the umpires police the short ball better than at Lords. 6 short balls an over was simply tedious.

Two days ago another talking point was the mattress around Stokes's knee. Which has to start mattering sometime.

skully wrote:Yeah, I can see the Poms resorting to what they consider "dirty" tactics under the guise of "you guys started it".

Still, we are more than happy to get down and dirty (within reason).

I just hope the umpires police the short ball better than at Lords. 6 short balls an over was simply tedious.

Yeah, I think the Aussie batsmen will need to be on their guard for Mankads, anyway.

The short stuff from both sides was tedious at times but it worked, batsmen got bored and holed out as there were no low-risk shots to keep the scoreboard moving. The rules perhaps need tightening up, either in terms of number of bouncers or no-ball/wide criteria, or even in terms of field settings.

Ahmed released from the squad (along with Potts) so Moeen and Wood appear to be fit to play. Woakes and Lawrence the other available reinforcements, with Pope set to have scans on his shoulder injury.

Lyon officially ruled out for the series, no replacement called up to the squad yet.

100 and out… Kraigggggggg takes over as the active Test appearance streak leader.

Reckon he enjoyed singing that song. Hope he can come back from the injury.

Elmer has said that he would never take a C or VC position because he cherishes his role with the team song too much.

Apparently* you can't sing the song if you are a C or VC, or not in the side.

Norfolk Ian Goode wrote:

skully wrote:Yeah, I can see the Poms resorting to what they consider "dirty" tactics under the guise of "you guys started it".

Still, we are more than happy to get down and dirty (within reason).

I just hope the umpires police the short ball better than at Lords. 6 short balls an over was simply tedious.

Yeah, I think the Aussie batsmen will need to be on their guard for Mankads, anyway.

The short stuff from both sides was tedious at times but it worked, batsmen got bored and holed out as there were no low-risk shots to keep the scoreboard moving. The rules perhaps need tightening up, either in terms of number of bouncers or no-ball/wide criteria, or even in terms of field settings.

England would be better advised concentrating on making more runs in their first inningses,
not dropping so many chances, cutting out the no balls, less attitude and more concentration.
but then if theyd done that at edge and lords, they might not be 0-2 down.

A well considered post, LW.

I hope Aus is very much on-guard to avoid the possibility of a Mankad. I reckon that would just make everything so much worse. I don't think there's ever been a Mankad in an Ashes series (could be wrong).

Having said that, it would be very interesting to see what Captain Stokes would do if a steamed up Broad did Mankad an Aussie (particularly without warning).

LW is 100% right. Cool heads need to prevail for England. Sure, use Lords to steel the side for a tighter more intense approach, but don't let steam and red mist detract from performance.

They need to find a way to get Khawaja out before the new ball has been seen off and the tone set. He’s been the key player for mine, in pole position for player of the series.

Looking ahead to the Edgbaston weather, could be another weather impacted match. https://www.bbc.com/weather/2650236