5th Test - England v Australia

[The Coon Dog]

Looks like Australia will not make a change for the 5th Test starting tomorrow night at The Oval.

Source

England look as though they have dropped Bopara for Jonathan Trott & I guess Freddy Flintoff may return, but as who's expense?

[Mantis]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

England look as though they have dropped Bopara for Jonathan Trott & I guess Freddy Flintoff may return, but as who's expense?

Onions would be the probable exclusion. Broad certainly couldn't be dropped after his fine all round performance at Leeds.

[Bornadog]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

I thought I heard on the news this morning that Hauritz may come in for Clark.

Its been warm in London so the pitch is very dry.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

Onions would be the probable exclusion. Broad certainly couldn't be dropped after his fine all round performance at Leeds.

Was Broad's performance that good? 6 for 100? Prefer him to be playing rather than Onions.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

I thought I heard on the news this morning that Hauritz may come in for Clark.

Its been warm in London so the pitch is very dry.

Heard Nielsen this morning say they are expecting some rain.

[Mantis]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

Was Broad's performance that good? 6 for 100? Prefer him to be playing rather than Onions.

He bowled the best he has all series at Leeds.

Who do you think should make way for Flintoff then?

[LostDoggy]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

He bowled the best he has all series at Leeds.

Who do you think should make way for Flintoff then?

Don't care, just think Onions is more likely to roll through us than Broad.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

Terry Jenner was on SEN last night sticking the boots into both the selectors as well as Ponting saying that they had no idea about spin -- that they don't pick the right spinners, have the wrong philosophy about spinners (Hilditch doesn't believe in 'attacking spinners', and believe they're only there to shore up one end while the quicks take the wickets, thus their preference for Hauritz over anyone else -- has this guy heard of Shane Warne, Richie Benaud, Bill O' Reilly etc etc etc??), and have no idea how to captain spinners effectively.

This is no surprise really, when you consider that the selection committee (including Ponting) are made up of three batsmen (two openers) and one fast-medium boofhead. Who decided on the make-up of this panel? It's a joke.

TJ also pointed out, correctly, that Bryce McGain would be in the Ashes squad if Marcus North hadn't fallen sick on the morning of the fourth test in South Africa, which forced Bryce to play without notice, and he wouldn't have sucked so badly if he wasn't brought in at 1-200+ with two set batsmen at the crease, and TOLD how to bowl by Ponting, whose knowledge of how to captain spin wouldn't fill a thimble.

So these guys have collectively royally f***ed up the careers of several players, including a guy who is clearly among the two or three best spinners in the country and has waited 36 years to get a go. Their inconsistency, unprofessionalism and complete knuckle-headedness about Test cricket in general boggles the mind. The litany of errors just gets longer and longer.

Cox, Hilditch, Hughes and Ponting have to collectively be the worst bunch of selectors this county has ever seen, bar none, a sentiment shared by most of the respected judges and commentators of cricket (including notable Australians) around the world.

[The Pie Man]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

The spin criticism is spot on - I still find it strange that Krezja was dropped after getting 12 wickets in his first test (with some ripping deliveries, the one that bowled Dravid was a gem) for Watson in Brisbane, brought back in later on at Perth, and dropped again becasue he leaked some runs while trying to get some wickets.

I've heard it mentioned that the captaining of spin throughout the Sheffield Shield isn't where it needs to be, hence why some haven't come on.

[Mantis]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

Reports are that Aus will go in unchanged.

Eng probably Bopara & Onions out for Trott & Flintoff.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

Confirmed Teams

England as Mantis suggested.

Australia unchanged.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

The toss was won by Andrew Strauss. England are batting.

[GVGjr]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

The toss was won by Andrew Strauss. England are batting.

A few quick wickets will set them back a bit.

[Mantis]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

Nice bowling from Siddle to remove Cook.

Strauss looks to have set himself for a big one and looms as the crucial wicket.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 5th Test - England v Australia

Strauss looks to have set himself for a big one and looms as the crucial wicket.

You're right Mantis, Strauss does look set.

At lunch England are 1/108.