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

Henry wrote:

Groundsman thinks the day 1 pitch will play like a day 2 pitch

A recall for Monty on the cards?

The two spinners policy backfired badly at Cardiff, I can't see them considering using it again at home for a while, Monty's been in crap form all season so I really don't get why he's in the squad at all unless there's some sort of injury concern over Swann.

I missed the Kallis/Flintoff discussion, so I'd like to pick up where that left off (ignoring the somewhat surreal interruption).

Kallis is obviously not in Flintoff's class as a bowler, but his bowling is under-rated. It did go off the boil for a couple of years there, but he was back to his best in the tests against Australia a few months ago.

I'd never choose Kallis as my fourth bowler unless
a) the pitch was a bowler's paradise
b) the opposition was weak or
c) there weren't any other options - BUT...

He is great to have as a fifth bowler and would be an invaluable addition to either the England or Australian bowling attacks in this series.

Kallis is reliable and can pick up the odd wicket. He's not going to run through a side, but when one of your main strikers starts bowling tripe (see MG Johnson) or breaks down mid-match (see A Flintoff) he can come in and do a job.

If the pitch is flat and your main bowlers are getting tired you can always include Kallis in the rotation knowing that he isn't going to leak runs and is still a chance of taking a wicket.

With Kallis in the side as a batsman you are free to pick four specialist bowlers. It makes balancing the side very easy.

Good post Hass. Civil, courteous and intelligent.

Rob I wrote:Good post Hass. Civil, courteous and intelligent.

Yeah ...What the farque is it doing on Flaming Bails?

I want peterg back to assist Hass in spreading the good influence.

I mean what Hass said was good, but there were essences of sage in it.


You could insert a number of bowlers in the parts where you said Kallis.


If I wrote it, I wouldn't get a murmur. Typical.

Where's my violin?

Aye, where is it?

Back to the matter at hand.

Fark Midge off, get Gump in. I'd even consider jettisoning Haurie for the Ranga. Give Con one more chance but if he flops in T3, move Paris to opener and definitely put Ronnie in, or, dare I say it ... choke ... cough ... wheeze ... cough ... give .... cough .... Watson .... choke ... a go.

Fark Midge off, get Gump in

That's the change that needs to happen.

skully wrote:Back to the matter at hand.

Fark Midge off, get Gump in. I'd even consider jettisoning Haurie for the Ranga. Give Con one more chance but if he flops in T3, move Paris to opener and definitely put Ronnie in, or, dare I say it ... choke ... cough ... wheeze ... cough ... give .... cough .... Watson .... choke ... a go.

I'd keep Midge and Phews. Clark in for MILF unless Edgbaston is likely to swing.

I'd keep Midge

You like the thrill of the chase, don't you...

JGK wrote:
I'd keep Midge and Phews. Clark in for MILF unless Edgbaston is likely to swing.

You'd drop your best bowler in the hope that Clark might do the business ?!

Merlin wrote:

JGK wrote:
I'd keep Midge and Phews. Clark in for MILF unless Edgbaston is likely to swing.

You'd drop your best bowler in the hope that Clark might do the business ?!

MILF's done well in helpful conditions to date. He was quite average in Saf this year while Cot and Midge excelled.

I should have added, if it looks like swinging then Clark for Cot.

Midge is a busted arse. He is the 2009 version of the 2005 Dizzy.

The 3rd Test is no place to try to allow him to get his confidence back. Milf has been OK and light years ahead of Midge.

The best attack we can probably put on the park at the moment is Gump, Cot, Milf and Ranga.

What is so hard about getting video of Midge at his best and running it side by side with Midge now to pinpoint the problem???
Either way if Midge is in the XI for T3 the NSP need to be hung and then shot.

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:Back to the matter at hand.

Fark Midge off, get Gump in. I'd even consider jettisoning Haurie for the Ranga. Give Con one more chance but if he flops in T3, move Paris to opener and definitely put Ronnie in, or, dare I say it ... choke ... cough ... wheeze ... cough ... give .... cough .... Watson .... choke ... a go.

I'd keep Midge and Phews. Clark in for MILF unless Edgbaston is likely to swing.

I agree...depending on the conditions milf or cot to play...Ranga not to play in any circumstances...no to watto in any circumstances other than replacing fleas...otherwise watto in only if circumstances become circuses.

skully wrote:Back to the matter at hand.

Fark Midge off, get Gump in. I'd even consider jettisoning Haurie for the Ranga. Give Con one more chance but if he flops in T3, move Paris to opener and definitely put Ronnie in, or, dare I say it ... choke ... cough ... wheeze ... cough ... give .... cough .... Watson .... choke ... a go.

Nielsen saw only positives in the Northants gave and his backing Midge to return to form. It sounds like there's no chance he will banished to obscurity in the near future.

Red wrote:

skully wrote:Back to the matter at hand.

Fark Midge off, get Gump in. I'd even consider jettisoning Haurie for the Ranga. Give Con one more chance but if he flops in T3, move Paris to opener and definitely put Ronnie in, or, dare I say it ... choke ... cough ... wheeze ... cough ... give .... cough .... Watson .... choke ... a go.

Nielsen saw only positives in the Northants gave and his backing Midge to return to form. It sounds like there's no chance he will banished to obscurity in the near future.

You wouldn't presumably expect him to say "God, isn't he bowling crap? No-one but a lunatic would let him anywhere near a Test team. He'll get spanked all over Edgbaston"?

Shoeshine wrote:

Red wrote:

skully wrote:Back to the matter at hand.

Fark Midge off, get Gump in. I'd even consider jettisoning Haurie for the Ranga. Give Con one more chance but if he flops in T3, move Paris to opener and definitely put Ronnie in, or, dare I say it ... choke ... cough ... wheeze ... cough ... give .... cough .... Watson .... choke ... a go.

Nielsen saw only positives in the Northants gave and his backing Midge to return to form. It sounds like there's no chance he will banished to obscurity in the near future.

You wouldn't presumably expect him to say "God, isn't he bowling crap? No-one but a lunatic the NSP would let him anywhere near a Test team. He'll get spanked all over Edgbaston"?

Fixed.

Blackadder wrote:What is so hard about getting video of Midge at his best and running it side by side with Midge now to pinpoint the problem???

Nothing hard about that at all, BA, but the stoopid Banjo Wozzie is thick as pigsh!t so probably won't even know who's on the video.

Australia have to weigh up the psychological boost dropping Johnson would give England. IMO, them dropping Johnson would be a bigger boost to England than KP being out injured is to Aus.

Johnson was being talked up to the extreme before the start of the series.

What? FMD Trev, the English top 7 are clambering to get a swing at Midge's gash tosh.

Nice try.

Another thing-

If Aus play a 4 man attack, Johnson wont play, but if they go for 5 bowlers, Johnson will still be one of them. A few days ago I thought they'd drop Johnson, but after Northampton, I reckon they'll drop North and bring in Watson as the only change.

I can already see the Cricinfo update at 10.40 am GMT on Thurs...

"England win the toss and bat, Only one change in the line-ups from T2 - Bell for KP. Australia have decided to roll the dice once more with Mitchell Johnson."

We are so farkin screwed with this NSP in charge.