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[Number4]

I counter that with Panesar, Carberry and Swann

[ProCricketer1982]

Compton, ronson, root, chopra, balance, sibley, Davies, stokes, Finn, rankin, mills

[sfa82]

What happened to Stuart Meaker? He bowled quickly if I remember correctly.

[Buzz]

What happened to Stuart Meaker? He bowled quickly if I remember correctly.

Meaker is quick but leaks a load of runs.

the reality is that this team lacks an individual whose personality transends the team - in a way that Flintoff (when he was being a good boy, not on the smash...) did.

If we want to recover - we need to look at the personalities and find more leaders. Sacking half the players and bringing in kids is kneejerk bs.

I can't see us winning in perth, unless we bat first and cook and carberry go huge.

[awp]

Meaker is quick but leaks a load of runs.

the reality is that this team lacks an individual whose personality transends the team - in a way that Flintoff (when he was being a good boy, not on the smash...) did.

If we want to recover - we need to look at the personalities and find more leaders. Sacking half the players and bringing in kids is kneejerk bs.

I can't see us winning in perth, unless we bat first and cook and carberry go huge.

Who to bat at 6? Nothing wrong with eng bowlers. Cook looks clueless in the field.

[Pendles10]

England just really lacked batting depth, once they were 4 or 5 down, it felt as though the wickets would come way too easily.

[awp]

England just really lacked batting depth, once they were 4 or 5 down, it felt as though the wickets would come way too easily.

Its such small margins at elite level.  Eng havrnt had a cook/pietersen, cook/bell or pietersen/bell partnership so its kind of felt like 1 end is always very vulnerable.  The eng tail seriously does not want to be at the crease.

[Number4]

I like Cook as a player but he really has looked clueless as captain so far this series... Is it because this is the first time he has been under real pressure?

[Alvaro]

I worry England are mentally shot. Personnel is not the issue - there are no compelling cases for change, it would be for change's sake.

Bresnan for Anderson if he needs a rest.
Rankin for Panesar otherwise.

[uknsaunders]

Bowling wise Johnson is the difference between the teams. Don't think there is much between Harris/Siddle and Anderson/Broad apart from the match situation. Easy to look good with 570 on the board and the other guy bowling 90+ the other end.

Batting wise England have mostly got themselves out. Pressure/Pace yes, but mostly poor judgement. Reaction times and margins are fine but England just haven't looked ready for this series as a batting unit. It's almost like Pakistan in the UAE again, we just not at the races. Problem is you can't do much because the best players are playing. Don't see the point in wholesale changes unless somebody makes a real case for inclusion.

[uknsaunders]

Most frustrating thing is playing back to back series. All the effort of the summer was pointless when you give it away in the opening two tests. England and the ECB's fault for agreeing to it. I think it's devalued the ashes as effectively it's only this series that counts. Should not be allowed to happen again, even if Aus have to travel 3 months later to England to defend. Had it been another 2 years to the next ashes who knows who might be left playing?

[Buzz]

I like Cook as a player but he really has looked clueless as captain so far this series... Is it because this is the first time he has been under real pressure?

He has been under pressure before - but not like this with the team as a whole underperforming. There has usually been someone who has stood up - Compton and Prior in NZ. Himself and KP in India, In the summer it was the bowlers and Ian Bell. Here they lost an important toss in the first game, then dropped a load of catches and it went progressively wrong after this...

[El Nino]

England need to get on the front foot and attack in Perth, I'd play Finn and try and get him bowling as quick as possible, yes he might be expensive but hes a wicket taker and you have to take a gamble at this stage of the series

[Number4]

It will be interesting if the Aussies bring in Coulter-Nile... Will England handle 2 bowlers throwing 150+ thunderbolts?

[uknsaunders]

It will be interesting if the Aussies bring in Coulter-Nile... Will England handle 2 bowlers throwing 150+ thunderbolts?

What made the Windies so awesome in the 80s was accuracy. Johnson has it at the moment, who knows with Coulter-Nile? No point bowling quick if it isn't straight.