2015 Ashes

[The Bedge]

For me, I'm personally happy to see Australia blood some younger talent - even if that means we have inconsistent performances like the past couple of days.. soon enough these guys will find their feet, and if they don't well we can move them on.

What I don't want is to keep the side propped up with the ageing older blokes until the point comes where half the team retires and we find ourselves in a position ala the other year when we lost Hayden, Langer, McGrath, Warne, Martyn, Gillespie etc.

Plenty of young talent emerging, lets back them in.

[am Bays]

What does the Australian side look like in 3-5 years time? something like this?

Bancroft
Warner
Smith
Head
Kuhwaja/burns
M Marsh
Neville
Starc
Hazelwood
Pattinson
Lyon

Smith, Head?

Give me Maddinson, Carters, Stoinis, Lynn, Doolan, Silk, Handscomb in addition to Burns, Kuhwaja and Bancroft before those two.

[The Bedge]

Smith, Head?
Give me Maddinson, Carters, Stoinis, Lynn, Doolan, Silk, Handscomb in addition to Burns, Kuhwaja and Bancroft before those two.

You're not sold on Steve Smith?

[am Bays]

Smith, Head?
Give me Maddinson, Carters, Stoinis, Lynn, Doolan, Silk, Handscomb in addition to Burns, Kuhwaja and Bancroft before those two.

You're not sold on Steve Smith?

I didn't include Warner either, Smith and Warner are montys for the test team as batters for the next 5-10 years

I reckon Head and Smith will battle to make Australia A in the next 3-5 years.

Anyways I'd like to think Clarke can turn it around and score some runs in the next two tests so we can retain the ASHES with contributions from the other top six

I'd like to to see Clarke perform so he can retire after the Sydney test this up-coming season.

[Footy Smart]

What does the Australian side look like in 3-5 years time? something like this?

Bancroft
Warner
Smith
Head
Kuhwaja/burns
M Marsh
Neville
Starc
Hazelwood
Pattinson
Lyon

Smith, Head?

Give me Maddinson, Carters, Stoinis, Lynn, Doolan, Silk, Handscomb in addition to Burns, Kuhwaja and Bancroft before those two.

Steve Smith?

I rate Lynn(440 in 7 digs) but no way Maddinson, Carters, Doolan, Silk are ahead of Travis Head currently (as the selectors also see considering the Australia A selections)

Last year in the SS Trav 640 - Doolan 350, Maddinson 480, Silk 500, Carters 440 (all in 15-17 innings)

[bennymacca]

For me, I'm personally happy to see Australia blood some younger talent - even if that means we have inconsistent performances like the past couple of days.. soon enough these guys will find their feet, and if they don't well we can move them on.

What I don't want is to keep the side propped up with the ageing older blokes until the point comes where half the team retires and we find ourselves in a position ala the other year when we lost Hayden, Langer, McGrath, Warne, Martyn, Gillespie etc.

Plenty of young talent emerging, lets back them in.

I probably thought the same, but you cant argue with the selection of Rogers for instance - has been excellent.

[The Bedge]

I probably thought the same, but you cant argue with the selection of Rogers for instance - has been excellent.

I'm more referring to the panic station responses since the collapse of reinstating Haddin/Watson/S. Marsh etc.

Rogers has arguably been our most consistent performer over the past year and provides stability at the top of the innings.

[Aerie]

The good news is all Australia has to do is win one and not lose one to retain the Ashes with two Tests remaining.

Positives also are that the bowling has been good. The fast bowlers have been a little expensive, but still ok.

With the poor form of Clarke and Voges - Australia can't afford the luxury of Mitch Marsh at 6. He is not a good enough batsman at this stage to hold a top 6 position in Australia's Test team. His bowling has been impressive, but not good enough to take the place of Johnson, Starc or Hazlewood.

Shaun Marsh must come in for the 4th Test, simply because he has scored heavily in the practise games. He comes in as a straight swap for his brother for the next Test match and bats at 6.

Voges has to be given another go. There is no point in bringing back Watto. They just have to hope he scores. It is his last chance. Clarke as well is a huge concern - doesn't look like scoring.

I thought Haddin deserved to be dropped before I heard the news of why he missed the 2nd Test. Neville has done well and deserves his spot.

My Test XI for Trent Bridge

Rogers - has been fantastic all tour
Warner - just a pass mark
Smith - match winner in 2nd Test, way too much reliance on him
Clarke - very poor
Voges - very poor
S.Marsh - needs to be given a chance
P.Nevill - has been tidy with the gloves and solid with the bat
Johnson - performed well
Starc - a bit wayward, but ok
Hazlewood - performed well
Lyon - performed very well, better than expected

Dropped
Watson - finished
Haddin - finished
M.Marsh - don't have luxury of him at 6 with way middle order is batting. His bowling has been good.

Untried
Fawad Ahmed - not needed.
Siddle - next in line
Cummins - Not needed

[MJ_23]

Why wouldn't Marsh replace Voges?

We need Mitch for his bowling at the moment

[MJ_23]

Anderson out of the rest of the test and the 4th test with a side strain.

Huge blow for England

[bennymacca]

Anderson out of the rest of the test and the 4th test with a side strain.

Huge blow for England

Wow. That could turn this series as I would expect we go in big favourites for the 4th test now.

[locky801]

Fingers crossed tonight that the tail wags and we can score another 120-130. If so, the way this pitch has played could well be game on.

As I said though, fingers crossed

[batmanbegins]

Anderson out of the rest of the test and the 4th test with a side strain.

Huge blow for England

Wow. That could turn this series as I would expect we go in big favourites for the 4th test now.

Crap that's not good at all for us, at least Finn looks back in form. Warner will be happy as the person that looks like getting him out is Anderson. Aussies favourites from here in, this test ain't over either your tail is talented enough to get a half decent lead and then you never know.

[The Dark Knight]

Fingers crossed tonight that the tail wags and we can score another 120-130. If so, the way this pitch has played could well be game on.

As I said though, fingers crossed

We can only hope Locky!!

[Jim05]

Anderson out of the rest of the test and the 4th test with a side strain.

Huge blow for England

Fantastic news for us

[The Dark Knight]

The good news is all Australia has to do is win one and not lose one to retain the Ashes with two Tests remaining.

Positives also are that the bowling has been good. The fast bowlers have been a little expensive, but still ok.

With the poor form of Clarke and Voges - Australia can't afford the luxury of Mitch Marsh at 6. He is not a good enough batsman at this stage to hold a top 6 position in Australia's Test team. His bowling has been impressive, but not good enough to take the place of Johnson, Starc or Hazlewood.

Shaun Marsh must come in for the 4th Test, simply because he has scored heavily in the practise games. He comes in as a straight swap for his brother for the next Test match and bats at 6.

Voges has to be given another go. There is no point in bringing back Watto. They just have to hope he scores. It is his last chance. Clarke as well is a huge concern - doesn't look like scoring.

I thought Haddin deserved to be dropped before I heard the news of why he missed the 2nd Test. Neville has done well and deserves his spot.

My Test XI for Trent Bridge

Rogers - has been fantastic all tour
Warner - just a pass mark
Smith - match winner in 2nd Test, way too much reliance on him
Clarke - very poor
Voges - very poor
S.Marsh - needs to be given a chance
P.Nevill - has been tidy with the gloves and solid with the bat
Johnson - performed well
Starc - a bit wayward, but ok
Hazlewood - performed well
Lyon - performed very well, better than expected

Dropped
Watson - finished
Haddin - finished
M.Marsh - don't have luxury of him at 6 with way middle order is batting. His bowling has been good.

Untried
Fawad Ahmed - not needed.
Siddle - next in line
Cummins - Not needed

Great summary Aerie, agree with your chain of thought

[Jim05]

50 to Nevill

[The Dark Knight]

Why wouldn't Marsh replace Voges?

We need Mitch for his bowling at the moment

I like Mitch Marsh and I want him to be our number 6 but I also think the selectors might look at the safe option of playing another batsman, Shaun Marsh at number six. Bowling wise our four bowlers have been doing a good job so they could definitely take 20 wickets without the help of a fifth bowler.

[whufc]

50 to Nevill

Love the pressure that has come under!!

[The Dark Knight]

Nevil 53 not out, good work so far