3rd Test: England v Australia

[The Coon Dog]

With the third test starting on Thursday, what changes are likely to be considered/made by the selectors in view of the 2nd Test & recent 3 dayer for Australia v Northants?

What role will the pitch play? Apparently Edgbasten turns more than Lords, so will spin play a part & if so to what degree?

England will be without Pietersen & will probably be replaced by Ian Bell. Will Flintoff come up? I reckon he'll be selected. Harmison to replace Onions? Possibly.Panesar to replace Broad? Maybe.

I can't see Australia changing things from a batting perspective, so it's the bowlers who will be closely scrutinised. Johnson hasn't done himself any favours, but I can't see him being replaced by Clark. Watson to replace North? Doubt it. No changes I reckon.

[ledge]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

Funny that the press etc mention Watson but McDonald did everything possible for selection before Watson.

[mighty_west]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

I would like to get both Watson & McDonald in, who for though?

When fit, Watson is a good all rounder, we currently have 3 all rounders in Watson, McDonald & Johnson.

I would drop Mitch, he failed again in the tour game, is clearly out of form with the ball, but given he is a Bowling all rounder, he has to go, bring in Watson for him and bat Shane at 6 or 7.

McDonald in, i am in two minds here, he could replace North, and bat at 8 as another all rounder and give us variation with the ball...OR, drop Hughes, is also struggling, open with North & Katich, North can bat anywhere and has done so for W.A, he is also in better form than Hughes, i would probably go that option.

I'd like to get Stuey Clark in as well, we need stability with the ball, but who does he come in for?, not a popular decision but Siddle hasn't really fired up, would be a tough call no doubt......tough one.

So for me:

IN: Watson, McDonald
OUT: Hughes, Johnson

[MrMahatma]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

Clark & McDonald bowled nice and tight in the tour match. Both got wickets too. That's what we need as much as anything - tight bowling. It'll build the pressure on the English batsmen - at Lords there was no pressure cause the runs just kept flowing.

Clark HAS to come in - and I'd like to see McDonald or Watson as well. Probably MJ & Hauritz to make way - Hauritz because of the pitch more than form.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

So for me:

IN: Watson, McDonald
OUT: Hughes, Johnson

Our batting was thin at Lords. I don't see them bringing in 2 allrounders for 1 batsman and an allrounder.

The selectors have painted themselves into a corner. Why they didn't stick with what worked is anyones guess.
Realistically McDonald should playing for Hauritz with North, Clarke, Katich spinning. North hasn't bowled enough so there is little chance and they played Hauritz into some sort of form.

I bet there is no change.

[GVGjr]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

So for me:

IN: Watson, McDonald
OUT: Hughes, Johnson

I think we would fail to be able to bowl England out twice with just Siddle and Hilfenhaus as our quick strike bowlers.

I think there is a few options we could consider

1) We roll the dice and move Haddin up the order and play McDonald instead of North
This gives us the 4th seamer.

2) Play Watson instead of North
Once again this gives us a 4 quick option

3) Drop Hughes and move North to the top of the order bringing in ether Watson or McDonald.

4) Drop Johnson and replace him with Clark.

We could use a couple of those options

[Pedro Sanchez]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

Out: Johnno and North

In: Watson and Clark

Hughes can count himself lucky and McDonald the opposite... I would be tempted to open with Watson but think Hughes should be given one more chance. Lets say he fails in this match a possible line up barring injuries for game 4 could be:

1 Kat
2 Watson
3 Ponting
4 Hussey
5 Clarke
6 North (comes back in for Hughes)
7 Haddin
8 Hauritz
9 Siddle
10 Clark
11 Hilfenhaus

[Mantis]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

In: Clark

Out: Johnson

I don't think our attack can afford to carry an out of form Johnson, pretty sad that our supposed 'strike bowler' is the first one dropped. Hughes & North get one more chance.

[mighty_west]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

I think we would fail to be able to bowl England out twice with just Siddle and Hilfenhaus as our quick strike bowlers.
I think there is a few options we could consider

1) We roll the dice and move Haddin up the order and play McDonald instead of North
This gives us the 4th seamer.

2) Play Watson instead of North
Once again this gives us a 4 quick option

3) Drop Hughes and move North to the top of the order bringing in ether Watson or McDonald.

4) Drop Johnson and replace him with Clark.

We could use a couple of those options

But we would bolster out attack, Johnson hasn't fired a shot, in fact, bowled very poorly, so replacing him with Watson would be a positive imo, he surely couldn't do any worse than Mitch so far, not just the first 2 tests but also tour matches, Watson is also quite sharp, one of those bowlers that actually quicker than what he seems, we also add McDonald to give us variation in our attack.

The other option is maybe Clark instead of McDonald, he would give stability to our attack.

Katich
North
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Watson
Hauritz
Siddle
Clark
Hilfenhaus

OR

Katich
North
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Watson
McDonald
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

[Missing Dog]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

But we would bolster out attack, Johnson hasn't fired a shot, in fact, bowled very poorly, so replacing him with Watson would be a positive imo, he surely couldn't do any worse than Mitch so far, not just the first 2 tests but also tour matches, Watson is also quite sharp, one of those bowlers that actually quicker than what he seems, we also add McDonald to give us variation in our attack.

The other option is maybe Clark instead of McDonald, he would give stability to our attack.

Katich
North
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Watson
Hauritz
Siddle
Clark
Hilfenhaus

OR

Katich
North
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Watson
McDonald
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

I like the 1st side the best, but I wouldn't open with North. Hussey or Watson to open.

[GVGjr]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

In: Clark

Out: Johnson

I don't think our attack can afford to carry an out of form Johnson, pretty sad that our supposed 'strike bowler' is the first one dropped. Hughes & North get one more chance.

What chance is there that with a damp track predicted that Hauritz makes way for Clark?

That pushes Johnson back to the 4th bowler.

[Mantis]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

What chance is there that with a damp track predicted that Hauritz makes way for Clark?

That pushes Johnson back to the 4th bowler.

That is a possibility.

I think the fact remains that Johnson is bowling rubbish and it doesn't really matter if he is our no.1 bowler or our no.4 bowler, he still isn't going to worry the opposition. I don't think you can afford to carry out of form players at test level, but I guess we have carried Hussey for 18 months which has set a precedent to be adhered to.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

Edgbaston's groundstaff were primed to work through the night tonight in a bid to remove the excess water off the field for tomorrow's third npower Ashes Test.

The high water table at the ground and persistent rain throughout the day left the outfield covered in huge puddles, and heavily threatened the match between England and Australia beginning on time.

The mop-up operation was set to continue around the clock, however, after Warwickshire hired an extra three super-soppers from the manufacturers.



Article in full

[GVGjr]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

On the radio this morning I heard them say that the only change will be Watson in for Hughes.

[Mantis]

Re: 3rd Test: England v Australia

On the radio this morning I heard them say that the only change will be Watson in for Hughes.

That is an absolute joke.

The decision not take any back up batsman looks to have backfired on the selectors.