3RD ASHES TEST EG V AU EDGBASTON 2009

[topsywaldron]

No matter who replaces Hughes, Australia will not have two recognised opening batsmen facing one of world cricket's form pace bowlers in Flintoff. Given their poor starts this series I would have thought stability at the top of the order might have been paramount but god only knows how Merv's brain works.

A courageous call IMHO.

[the joker]

apparently Phil Hughes wrote on his Twitter yesterday that he had been dropped

he did put it on twitter
http://twitter.com/PH408

[JAS]

apparently Phil Hughes wrote on his Twitter yesterday that he had been dropped

he did put it on twitter
http://twitter.com/PH408

Thought you boys might be interested in this comment that has just appeared on the TMS live text page...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 175213.stm

This from Australian legend Dean Jones on TMS: "Phil Hughes announcing he's been dropped on Twitter is just wrong, he needs a good foot up the backside for that. He's broken a team rule and he's let the opposition know what's happened before the game's started.

Btw feel free to join in the current 'rain stops play' topics of discussion...the attributes of Caroline of Brunswick and assorted ladies of the royal court throughout history

Regards
JAS

[Adelaide Hawk]

apparently Phil Hughes wrote on his Twitter yesterday that he had been dropped

If that's true, no wonder they call it "Twit" ter

[rod_rooster]

apparently Phil Hughes wrote on his Twitter yesterday that he had been dropped

he did put it on twitter
http://twitter.com/PH408

Thought you boys might be interested in this comment that has just appeared on the TMS live text page...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 175213.stm

This from Australian legend Dean Jones on TMS: "Phil Hughes announcing he's been dropped on Twitter is just wrong, he needs a good foot up the backside for that. He's broken a team rule and he's let the opposition know what's happened before the game's started.

Btw feel free to join in the current 'rain stops play' topics of discussion...the attributes of Caroline of Brunswick and assorted ladies of the royal court throughout history

Regards
JAS

Dean Jones making comments regarding how players react to being dropped, oh the irony

[JAS]

...and they've just posted the Umps comments on the conditions...btw it's currently 1412 for those wanting to work out the timings...

1405: This from Umpire Rudi K, mid-inspection: "We're not happy about the situation as it is at the moment. If I roll the ball across the turf, it's very wet. It's not fair to ask a team to field in conditions like this. We have to be fair to both teams. We'll have another look at 1530, and we'll take it from there. We can start at any time up till 1800, and we can make up an hour on each subsequent day."

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

For anyone actually waiting up to see if there's any play here's the latest from TMS live...

1540: Hmmm. Punter and Strauss have now jogged off, leaving the umpires out there. Not a squeak from anyone about what might be likely to occur.

1537: Re the photo - I joke, of course. Decent breeze at Edgbaston now, which should speed up the drying, and we might yet get some play. There's cricket in them there blades...

1535: They're rolling the ball around the outfield and through the bowlers' run-ups. Looks pretty ropey from here - here's a photo of Ponting out in the middle a few moments ago.

1530: Hello again - all well? The umpires are out in the middle again - and there's Skippers Strauss and Ponting too. All manner of stamping and prodding going on...

Regards
JAS

[JAS]

...latest Umps decision...

1543: Here we go - next inspection will be at 1615, with a view to a start at 1700. If the weather holds - which it might do, if the latest forecast is to be believed. Whoo-hoo, woo-hah, huzzah etc.

Regards
JAS

[mal]

This has been Australias most successful day one in this Test series ....

[rod_rooster]

Not yet Mal. If we end up batting we could lose both a player and a wicket pretty quicky as Watto tears his hamstring playing a forward defence and getting a nick to the keeper.

[dedja]

Watto doesn't have to be on the ground to tear a hammy ...

[JAS]

Game on in about 20 minutes from now...

1636: Ian Bell in for the injured Kevin Pietersen is England's only change from Lord's, with Graham Onions keeping his place in the attack at the expense of Steve Harmison.

England captain Andrew Strauss: "It's not really a problem, it'll be quite a nice little session to bowl actually. The outfield's got a lot better over the past hour or so, there's no water on it now. We have to hit them hard over the first 10 overs or so."

1633: Ricky Ponting confirms that Phil 'twitter' Hughes drops out of the team and Shane Watson, who has never batted higher than six in a Test match for Australia, will open with Simon Katich.

AUSTRALIA WIN THE TOSS AND BAT FIRST

1629: Doesn't look like Ricky Ponting is too happy with something, but he dashes back into the dressing-room - hopefully to get changed - and we're set for the toss very, very shortly.

Regards
JAS

[rod_rooster]

Play to start at 5pm (1:30am Adelaide time). Ponting won the toss and Australia will bat. Confirmed that the only change for Australia is Watson to replace Hughes and Watto will open. Just the one change for the Poms as well with Bell replacing Pietersen at 4. Surely Harmison should have come in. IMHO both sides have made bad selection decisions here but Australia dropping Hughes for Watson far outweighs anything the Poms could do. I hope he proves me wrong but i doubt poor old Watto will. The last 6 innings that he has opened in first class cricket have produced the following - 0,0,0,15,13 and 0. Hardly inspiring stuff there.

[NFC]

We're batting.

Watto opening, gosh...Cmon Swatto!!

[rod_rooster]

We're batting.

Watto opening, gosh...Cmon Swatto!!

As big a fan of Watto as you are would you pick him to open ahead of Hughes? If it was you choice surely you'd have him bat in the middle order wouldn't you? I hope he does well but i doubt he will.

[Gozu]

Not happy with this Watto opening business.

[NFC]

We're batting.

Watto opening, gosh...Cmon Swatto!!

As big a fan of Watto as you are would you pick him to open ahead of Hughes? If it was you choice surely you'd have him bat in the middle order wouldn't you? I hope he does well but i doubt he will.

I wanted Watto in, obviously, but not at the expense of Hughes opening.

My ideal team was Watto to come in at 6 for North and Clark in for Siddle.

[rod_rooster]

We're batting.

Watto opening, gosh...Cmon Swatto!!

As big a fan of Watto as you are would you pick him to open ahead of Hughes? If it was you choice surely you'd have him bat in the middle order wouldn't you? I hope he does well but i doubt he will.

I wanted Watto in, obviously, but not at the expense of Hughes opening.

My ideal team was Watto to come in at 6 for North and Clark in for Siddle.

Fair enough. My biggest issue is that there was a tour game last week and Watto batted at 3. Surely is he was being considered to open in a Test match he could have batted there in the tour game.

[CoverKing]

MANOU DEBUTING YEWWW

[Gozu]

Manou in!