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[FattusCattus]

Is Carbs any good against the quick, bouncy stuff?

I fancy him to be a back-up batsman who can bat middle order, but also open?

[Number4]

I agree - and Manor's point stands. Englands will have to change more of their XI to compete in Oz than you guys will.

I see Tremlett in for the Bres spot, only 1 spinner (root as backup), and I would find someone who can bat on fast bouncy wickets for the Bairstow position (although I would take him as reserve keeper).

I'm also confused about Stokes - seems he can bat at 6, bowl pretty brisk seam, but is well out of favour?

You pretty much have the core of the team who won the last ashes series in 2010/11 which was around the time England were climbing their way to the number 1 ranked team in test cricket... I don't see too many changes that need to be made.

[tim2000s]

Are we doing the typical English overanalysis here? Cook and Trott will spend tone in the nets broadening their scoring areas, we've already seen that root has his head screwed on okay, and the only real question relates to the number six position. On the bowling side it's simply a case of who do we take given injury recovery? Given what happened last time, they'll take a tall bouncy bowler, which in current form is likely to be tremlett in pole position, with Finn as back-up. I reckon bresnan is unlikely to be fit in time, and we've now seen woakes, and on faster, bouncier pitches , I think he'll be expensive.

[Number4]

Cook, Trott, Pietersen & Bell scored at will and Tremlett and Anderson took a bucket load of wickets here last time backed up by Bresnan..... I don't think too much needs changing

[ProCricketer1982]

Just bat all day, bell to ton up and prior and co just spend time at the wicket and care nothing for run rate. Make aus bowl all day as there is nothing to be gained here other than a live net session so don't give aus a bat.

[Number4]

And Haddin equals Rod Marsh's record of 28 catches in a series

[Vic Nicholas]

Cook, Trott, Pietersen & Bell scored at will and Tremlett and Anderson took a bucket load of wickets here last time backed up by Bresnan..... I don't think too much needs changing

Last time the pitches were roads...except for Perth which was its usual bouncy self.

Do not expect such generous batsman friendly wickets this time.

They will be hard, fast and bouncy - which means Swan and Lyon will both be reduced to be relief bowlers.

Australia will not make the mistake of bowling back of a length to Cook and Trott's hips/pads again.

Having said that, unless the Australian batsmen consistently cash in, it will matter for little.

[Number4]

The point was though Vic is that England don't have to really make any changes to their team as suggested

[smilley792]

So Watson opens with Warner and haddin Faulkner padded up?

I was expecting swashbuckling t20 cricket going on that. Yet nothing so far? Very random

[Vic Nicholas]

So Watson opens with Warner and haddin Faulkner padded up?

I was expecting swashbuckling t20 cricket going on that. Yet nothing so far? Very random

In T20 (unless you have never noticed) there are fielding restrictions whereby you have to have a certain amount of blokes inside the circles.

England have a lot of blokes on the boundary preventing a flurry of fours that would normally occur in any limited overs type of game.

[smilley792]

In T20 (unless you have never noticed) there are fielding restrictions whereby you have to have a certain amount of blokes inside the circles.

England have a lot of blokes on the boundary preventing a flurry of fours that would normally occur in any limited overs type of game.

Thanks for the patronising reply.


The first 5 overs were not attacking, since has been. Liking faulkners effort..... Well was.

[Vic Nicholas]

I really don't see the point in all this.

Aussie batsmen donating their wickets needlessly and cheaply giving guys like Anderson and Broad who hitherto had mediocre series averages in the low 30's down under the 30 mark. Ditto Swann who had an average over 28 and now it is 27 and looking better by the minute.

England are not going to reciprocate if Clarke sets them a target...they will play safe.

This is not attacking...just crazy.

[Vic Nicholas]

Thanks for the patronising reply.


The first 5 overs were not attacking, since has been. Liking faulkners effort..... Well was.

Not intended to be patronizing, just stating a fact/observation.

[smilley792]

The plan would have been smash to a 250 lead. Then try and bowl England out.

Tis not working though.


I'd like to think England would open with pieterson and attempt a win. But a very doubt that'll happen.
As you say England will play safe and just grind a draw out

[tim2000s]

As someone said earlier, the best alternative to a win in a test match is to stop the opposition from winning. Even with a lead of 250, England's first requirement will be to keep their wickets. Clarke would have to set some risky fields to encourage England to chase it.....