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

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

Well, that's to England's disadvantage with us 2-0 up.

skully wrote:

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

Well, that's to England's disadvantage with us 2-0 up.

Lucky for us it’s at Headingley then

Forecast marginally better for the north… though these days it takes total washout days to take material time out of the game, and that looks unlikely.

Ah, good spot, beams.

But looks very similar for Leeds. Birmingham weather

Sat and Sun look vin ordinaire.

That link is still Birmingham…

Ugh, LOL.

Try again

Looks like Sat, Sun & Mon could get interruptions.

Norfolk Ian Goode wrote:

skully wrote:

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

Well, that's to England's disadvantage with us 2-0 up.

Lucky for us it’s at Headingley then

Forecast marginally better for the north… though these days it takes total washout days to take material time out of the game, and that looks unlikely.

Looks like the Birmingham weather could put the kybosh on any England hooes of a comeback at Leeds.

long-range forecast for weather at Edgbaston

Lord's not looking great either. ...

It’ll be fine. I’m not flying in ...

Latest forecast for Leeds showing Sunday only as cloudy now, no precipitation expected.

Pope needs surgery and ruled out for the series.

No replacement batsman called up at the moment, so either Lawrence comes in as a direct replacement, or they move everyone up a slot and bolster the all-rounder department with Moeen and Woakes. Vice-captain needed as well, presumably Root or Moeen unless there’s a wildcard candidate among the younger players?

Beams!! Welcome back!!

Another series ending injury from an innocuous incident. Just doing his job in the gully and landed awkwardly on the shoulder. Bad luck for him just as he had entrenched himself in the Eng XI.

Does he have a history of "poppy" shoulders?

skully wrote:Beams!! Welcome back!!

Another series ending injury from an innocuous incident. Just doing his job in the gully and landed awkwardly on the shoulder. Bad luck for him just as he had entrenched himself in the Eng XI.

Does he have a history of "poppy" shoulders?

He does but seemingly with the other one…

Hadn’t been in great form so far (though got a couple of pretty much unplayable deliveries) but doesn’t help matters as it brings into question the difficult number 3 slot, the balance of the side and the vice-captaincy all at once. Lawrence hasn’t played a Test for some time and would feel like a sacrificial lamb at 3. Stokes or Bairstow stepping up might be more of a brave call.

In fact any of Lawrence, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Brook or Moeen could be asked to bat there.

Lawrence's Test record is not great, although fairly early days. An average of 29 needs some work.

What's his form been like in County Cricket?

beamer wrote:In fact any of Lawrence, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Brook or Moeen could be asked to bat there.

Root seems to be the logical option given he has some history there, but he does seem to prefer the no. 4 spot.

Lawrence in 2022 19-0-420-120-22.10
in 2023 11-0-492-152-44.63

he just made the 150 in his last match i think.
but if they put jonny at 3 [haha] they could select
foakes at 7 and still have 4 bowlers.

Foakes isn’t in the squad, so that option isn’t on the table for Headingley at least.

Sounds like Broad is the likely VC, so could see some fireworks there…

England are apparently the first team ever to lose the first two Tests of a series, but have a better overall batting average than their opponents (thanks to Stokes’s suicidal declaration at Edgbaston as well as a load of extras conceded!)

Looks like Days 3 & 5 maybe shortened by rain. The other days look great with Friday threatening to be sunny!

Enjoyed Beams note on averages. Chubby Bairstow’s generous propensity to concede heaps of byes has been crucial in both Tests.

Don’t think his colander gloves were directly responsible for missed chances in T2. However Root who was credited for a drop at first slip was entitled to ask Chubby why he didn’t dive to his left to take the chance.

Lost Wombat wrote:Lawrence in 2022  19-0-420-120-22.10
             in 2023   11-0-492-152-44.63

he just made the 150 in his last match i think.
but if they put jonny at 3 [haha] they could select
foakes at 7 and still have 4 bowlers.

Thanks LW

What a time for Murphy to play his first Ashes Test.

horace wrote:Looks like Days 3 & 5 maybe shortened by rain. The other days look great with Friday threatening to be sunny!

Enjoyed Beams note on averages. Chubby Bairstow’s generous propensity to concede heaps of byes has been crucial in both Tests.

Don’t think his colander gloves were directly responsible for missed chances in T2. However Root who was credited for a drop at first slip was entitled to ask Chubby why he didn’t dive to his left to take the chance.

No-balls are actually the biggest difference between the sides over the two matches, though there may be some “no-ball byes” among them. Have cost us wickets as well.

A mere 24 hours now until Ball 1.

So Brook to be shoved up the order to accommodate the extra bowler.

You never know, but .... to take someone struggling with form at his normal #5 spot since the IPL dip, and bung him into the hotspot of first wicket down - where I'm not sure he's batted before - seems a bit idiosyncratic to me.

"Put airs on tha chest, lad! Character buildin!"

SO with Tongue also rested before he's established, a lower order of Jonny at 6, Mo, Woakes, Broad, Robbo, Wood?

Stokes presumably focusing on batting and captaincy only, unless four frontline quicks/quickishs are not enough.

Will be judged on results, as all selection decisions are. But frankly, I'm stumped.