4th Ashes Test : MCG

[mal]

Series now 1-1 all, who wrote the script ?
The deck will be the most singular over-riding factor in this Test match in my opinion

ENGLANDS BATTING
This is the 5 England batting performances
260 Gabba where there was good bowling conditions
1/517 2nd innings on a then flat deck, 2nd dig Gabba
5/620 on the King William Road, Adelaide
187 on a lively Perth deck
123 still very much a bowler friendly Perth deck

Simple equation, if the Aussies get favourable bowling conditions, they have dominated England
When England got 2 flat decks they massacred the Australian attack

THE DECK
What can we expect in Melbourne
Australin curators are known not to doctor decks, but will the Melbourne curator doctor this next deck ?
Australia used to be so doominant at home there was never any need to doctor the decks, but now ...

COME IN SPINNER
Australian will have to play a spinner this time
That will help England who have a world class spinner
They prob gotta play Beer, cant pick him in a 12 and then get rid of him
I would give THE NATH a spot, bowling ok for NS, and has made back to back tons
His batting would be important
A couple of tests between these 2 teams in recent times , have been highly influenced becoz of the batting of the lower order batters

PONTING
If unavailable then Khawaja should be selected, or will NORTH get repicked ?

MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND
Once again Collingwood is playing at the MCG ....

[Rik E Boy]

Their team

WATSON
HUGHES
PONTING
CLARKE
HUSSEY
SMITH
HADDIN
JOHNSON
HARRIS
SIDDLE
BEER

12th HILF

My team

WATSON
HUGHES
PONTING
CLARKE
HUSSEY
WHITE
HADDIN
JOHNSON
HAURITZ
HARRIS
SIDDLE

12th HILF

I can't believe we aren't picking White when the middle order is wobbly and Captain and VC is also struggling for form.

regards,

REB

[pmackk]

I would say leave the team the same after the triumphant in perth.

[Jimmy]

I think they wont change it but if they do, either SIDS or hilfenhaus out for a spinner, beer most likely.

I don't rate smith or hughges to be in the side at this moment so I'd find a replacement for either of these. Maybe hughes to six and bring in an opener fro the Sheffield shield. But who?

Hmmm, they might just go in unchanged.

[Baron Greenback]

Their team

WATSON
HUGHES
PONTING
CLARKE
HUSSEY
SMITH
HADDIN
JOHNSON
HARRIS
SIDDLE
BEER

12th HILF

My team

WATSON
HUGHES
PONTING
CLARKE
HUSSEY
WHITE
HADDIN
JOHNSON
HAURITZ
HARRIS
SIDDLE

12th HILF

I can't believe we aren't picking White when the middle order is wobbly and Captain and VC is also struggling for form.

regards,

REB

White is rubbish. There is no way he should be picked.
Having said that, Smith ain't much chop either.

[Rik E Boy]

No doubt about it they will go in unchanged as the selectors will be trying to inject some stability and to build on the confidence gained in Perth. I could understand why they would go in unchanged but this means Beer gets a test he hardly deserves because Smith is no strike bowler at least not yet.

What worries me is that we tried this shit at the Oval in 2009. Stuart Clark bowled well in Leeds but was retained for the Oval test and proved to be very ineffective (even though it was an S Broad inspired batting collapse that ultimately cost us). Recent history shows that dominance is not being held over long periods. Is our confidence enough or will history repeat itself?

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

White is rubbish. There is no way he should be picked.
Having said that, Smith ain't much chop either.

He has already scored one century against England this year down in Hobart. He is a solid batsman who is a good captain. He should be in the side.

Starting to sound like Cadet now.

regards,

REB

[Baron Greenback]

White is rubbish. There is no way he should be picked.
Having said that, Smith ain't much chop either.

He has already scored one century against England this year down in Hobart. He is a solid batsman who is a good captain. He should be in the side.

Starting to sound like Cadet now.

regards,

REB

He's an average batsman and a good captain.
I say leave the side as is, with the exception of Siddle to be dropped for Hauritz or Doherty. Not Beer.
I don't agree with Hughes being in the side, but might as well give him another chance on a flatter deck.

[FlyingHigh]

Agree that the batting is still looking a little wobbly.
Hughes needs one more chance even though I would have gone with Marsh last test.

My team:
Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Khawja
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Harris
Hilf

Smith looked "interesting" to say the least.
Hussey must stay at 5 ala Steven Waugh. But we are not getting enough out of Clarke who should be a world class no. 4 by now. Give Khawja a go there, take a bit of pressure off Clarke, wouldn't be losing anything given what we've got out of no 4 and 6 so far this series.
Hauritz to be our spinner, replacing the unfortunate Siddle.
Harris a reasonable no 10.

[mal]

I would like to play Doug Bollinger, but that means dropping both HILF and SIDDLE
The selectors would be reluctant to change a winning team
I still believe at Test Level that Douggie is a better bowler than Hilf and Sidds

[Lightning McQueen]

It was announced this morning that they are going to Melbourne with the same 12.

[stampy]

agree that we need white in their somewhere

[Pidge]

White is not good enough to play tests.
You can say he's an average batter, but has good captaincy skills.
Marcus North fits under the same bracket.. They didn't keep him in the side just because he's got good captaincy skills. You have to perform.
Khawaja is the next in line. NOT White.

[Rik E Boy]

Has North, Smith or Khajawa made a ton against England this year?

regards,

REB

[Pidge]

Has North, Smith or Khajawa made a ton against England this year?

regards,

REB

Has White?

You'll say YES, but it was a second string bowling attack and in the second innings of the game.

[Bald Eagle]

enter Mark Cosgrove

[Pat Malone]

I think the calls on Smith are a bit harsh, he did his role very well in this test in my opinion. His 7 in the first innins was in a partnership of 33 and he put on 75 with Hussey in the second innings. I feel the thing we have been missing with North has been his ability to stick around and support the other batsmen, who more times than not is reasonably set when you are coming in at 6.

[FlyingHigh]

Disagree Pat, don't think he LOOKED like giving us any more than North was, and was perhaps a bit lucky to last as long as he did in the second innings. North was involved in a similar partnership with Hussey in the first innings at Adelaide

[FlyingHigh]

I would like to play Doug Bollinger, but that means dropping both HILF and SIDDLE
The selectors would be reluctant to change a winning team
I still believe at Test Level that Douggie is a better bowler than Hilf and Sidds

You might be right mal. I am a huge fan of Hilfenhaus, but probably hasn't quite delivrered on that at Test level.

[smithy]

The sad thing about this is that they will probably select Beer to play.