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My second favourite day of the year after Boxing Day is nearly here. England will go in deservedly heavy favourites but all the talk coming out of the Aussie camp has been about renewed confidence and a more relaxed atmosphere under Boof...its time to see if the bite is as good as the bark.
The elevens are pretty much settled, Australia recalling the wayward though sometimes deadly Mitch Johnson and capping the experienced George Bailey, Lyon looks like he wins out over Faulkner for the last spot.
Aus- 1 Chris Rogers, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steven Smith, 6 George Bailey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Nathan Lyon.
England surprisingly come in with a few more clouds, Bresnan is out with fractures and it looks like Tremlett will get the nod for the third seamers spot, the Aussies will come at him with reports being he is down a yard after his last tour and struggled during the past county year. Carberry plays his second test and is a prospect the Aussie pacemen should be licking their lips at, had a good OD season but struggled in the four day games, get it bouncing around off and he looks like the sort who should feed gully. Root is shielded down at 6 and Prior is still touch and go with his calf, will be a big loss if Bairstow comes in, he struggled with the bat in the UK and his keeping is dicey at best.
Eng- 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Michael Carberry, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Joe Root, 7 Matt Prior / Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Chris Tremlett, 11 James Anderson.
Should be a traditional Gabba, fast and moving early before flattening out on days 2 and 3, will give the spinners something come third and fourth innings. It really is the best pitch going around in Australia at the moment.
Fine and sunny day one, afternoon storms for the last four
The elevens are pretty much settled, Australia recalling the wayward though sometimes deadly Mitch Johnson and capping the experienced George Bailey, Lyon looks like he wins out over Faulkner for the last spot.
Aus- 1 Chris Rogers, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steven Smith, 6 George Bailey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Nathan Lyon.
England surprisingly come in with a few more clouds, Bresnan is out with fractures and it looks like Tremlett will get the nod for the third seamers spot, the Aussies will come at him with reports being he is down a yard after his last tour and struggled during the past county year. Carberry plays his second test and is a prospect the Aussie pacemen should be licking their lips at, had a good OD season but struggled in the four day games, get it bouncing around off and he looks like the sort who should feed gully. Root is shielded down at 6 and Prior is still touch and go with his calf, will be a big loss if Bairstow comes in, he struggled with the bat in the UK and his keeping is dicey at best.
Eng- 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Michael Carberry, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Joe Root, 7 Matt Prior / Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Chris Tremlett, 11 James Anderson.
Should be a traditional Gabba, fast and moving early before flattening out on days 2 and 3, will give the spinners something come third and fourth innings. It really is the best pitch going around in Australia at the moment.
Fine and sunny day one, afternoon storms for the last four
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