England v Australia, 3rd Test, Edgbaston, Jul 30 - Aug 3

So...we now are basically in a 3 Test series, needing to win to retain the Ashes...

Johnson has to go...straight swap for Clark. Lee is apparently not going to play in the tour match, so can't possibly be considered for Test selection.

With any luck KP and the FLF won't be seen in the remaining Tests...

Keep Magic as a specialist batsman at 6?

oops!
Wrong thread!

Flintoff will play in the next test.

I suspect Flintoff is telling all and sundry to just pile on the painkillers and worry about the damage at the end of the series.

Let's leave Zim to ponder the next test on this thread, whilst the English supporters celebrate on the other thread.

Shoeshine wrote:I suspect Flintoff is telling all and sundry to just pile on the painkillers and worry about the damage at the end of the series.

Yes, I think Fred will pump himself full of whatever to play & KP will keep going and miss the SA tour to get it right. At least, whilst we still have a chance to regain them.

Anybody recall what clowns we have to umpire this test?

Think Billy comes in for this and Dar????

I have a bad feeling it's Rudi again. He'll be out to even things up.

JKLever wrote:Anybody recall what clowns we have to umpire this test?

Anyone know why we don't have the refer system in this series?

JKLever wrote:I have a bad feeling it's Rudi again. He'll be out to even things up.

Karma

taipan wrote:

JKLever wrote:Anybody recall what clowns we have to umpire this test?

Anyone know why we don't have the refer system in this series?

It wasn't arranged in time after the shambles of the West Indies series caused a review of the review system.

It won't solve the main problems though, and will create all the same ones we had when it was used last time. Except that every single low catch from now to the next millennium will now be given not out.

I feel comfortable with England playing at Edgbaston. I just hope Fred and KP can hobble their way through the entire series, and that England don't try and play for their 1-0 lead. We need to keep attacking, keep trying to win all the time.

The WI/ Bangles series is using it.

It was reported in our papers that England didn't agree to it. It will be in permanently from October but until then teams were given the option of using it. England also didn't approve it for their series against SA last northern summer but the visitors were happy to agree to it.

Clark in for Hauritz.

And the make-up of our team should all be down to the match against Northants. While BJ thinks we should go to Edgbaston with the same team, there should be some changes. With some toying with the idea of opening Watson, moving Haddin up the order or playing either Watson or McDonald as an allrounder, Katich will be rested and Clark and the aforementioned will be given a full workout. Lee is unlikely to be available until the fifth test.

Who is toying with the idea of opening with Watson - Andy Flower?

I think Aus should drop Hughes, move Hussey up to open, bat Haddin at six and Johnson at seven, and play 5 bowlers.

Hussey
Katich
Ponting(c)
Clarke
North
Haddin+
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

Red wrote:It was reported in our papers that England didn't agree to it. It will be in permanently from October but until then teams were given the option of using it. England also didn't approve it for their series against SA last northern summer but the visitors were happy to agree to it.

Really?

OK.

I know that England don't like the system that's been proposed, and were supposedly extremely vocal in their opposition to it in the West Indies. That stems from the rather different experiences the two sides had - it seemed to work OK in South Africa, but it was a nightmare in the West Indies, a true shambles.

Personally, I loathe it for what it's worth.

Henry wrote:I feel comfortable with England playing at Edgbaston. I just hope Fred and KP can hobble their way through the entire series, and that England don't try and play for their 1-0 lead. We need to keep attacking, keep trying to win all the time.

Off to top of my head, I think Edgbaston has been a seamer's graveyard all season. F to the L to the mother lovin' AT.

Would another batting pitch suit England?

JGK wrote:Clark in for Hauritz.

Surely we can't persist with Johnson unless he shows some improvement in the tour match...

Red wrote:Lee is unlikely to be available until the fifth test.

Hope we are 2 up before then...

JGK wrote:Who is toying with the idea of opening with Watson - Andy Flower?

snigger

Clark for Lee if the overrated one isn't fit.

I think England will try their hardest to be unchanged, although Harmison for Broad is still tempting. Onions should have another crack. Strauss hardly bowled him in this test, and he wasn't complete wank when he did bowl.