ashes

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Well, it looks like my favourite cricketer has replaced Phillip Hughes

Seriously, dropping a bloke with a Test average of over 50 and a FC average of over 60 for a bloke with a Test average of under 20 and never batted above 5 or 6 in a Test match. Yes, that is an inspired choice

So Hughes is dropped after 2 below par matches (on the back of however many county centuries and a fantastic tour of South Africa) while Hussey has had about 12 months worth of opportunities... not that I think Hussey should have been dropped, he's a class act when in form. I just don't think Hughes should have been dropped.

At this rate we won't get any play today... so we'll have a 4 day match. Who will that benefit, Australia or England? (Edit: looks like we might get an hour in. Given Ponting's luck with the toss it will be the Aussies that will have to pad up for that final hour...)

[CrimsonAvenger]

Well, I am not a big fan of Watson either,(In fact, he is my version of Australian Dabengwa, in terms of preferences ) but he did well yesterday, and might continue and get a big one today. I literally lost it when Aussie media started projecting him as the "future Steve Waugh" just before 2003 CWC . But Langer became a modern day great, after Waugh asked him to open. So you never know...

By the way, in-form Haddin is injured and Manou makes debut.

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Bad luck about Haddin
Well, I'm glad I was wrong on both counts last night. I thought Watson would be out for a duck and the Aussies would be about 3/60 by stumps

[maehara]

77/7 from this morning's session. What they hell happened to the Aussies?

Not that I'm complaining. The Ashes is about the only occasion when I support England in anything...

[Detective RDS]

Well, the 3rd test ended in a drawn after a century by Micheal Clarke and a close to a century innings by Marcus North.

Scorecard: http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/engin ... 45972.html

Micheal Hussey scored 64 in the 2nd innings. Sounds like he is coming back to form.

But I'm a fan of Shane Watson. He isn't that a bad played. Scored 2 fifties back to back in the both innings (62 & 53 respectively). I always prefer him as the ODI opener having got an ODI average of 39 and also gives the extra bowling pace option. FC ave 45 and LA ave 37. He is also a good T20 player, was very successful for the Rajasthan Royals campaign and was the IPL player of the year in the 1st season and that changed his career also, re-opened the door of his international career.

But I also don't like the idea of dropping Hughes. But I think English bowlers especially Andrew Flintoff was targetting him.

Heard that Brett Lee will be available for the 4th test. So, who will be dropped ? I guess, Siddle. Though Siddle took 3 wickets in the 3rd test. Or Mitchell Johnson. Or Australia would like to consider a 4 man pace attack if the Headingly pitch gives something to the seamers.

Stuart Broad will be dropped, that's a good decision I think. Will be replaced by Harmison/Sidebottom. I will go for Harmison. Harmison deserves another chance with the new ball as he is in form in the county cricket for Durham. Just to see what he can do against Australia and if unsuccessful, he can think about retirement following Flintoff.

[Detective RDS]

After reading this (www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/content/story/418207.html) I guess, Australia will employ all seam attack in Headingly. The pitch will favour the pacers more and Hauritz took only 1 English wicket in the seaming friendly Edgbaston pitch.

So, I think the likely XI of Australia will be:

1. Simon Katich
2. Shane Watson
3. Ricky Ponting (C)
4. Micheal Hussey
5. Micheal Clarke
6. Marcus North
7. Brad Haddin (WK)
8. Brett Lee
9. Stuart Clark
10. Peter Siddle
11. Ben Hilfenhaus
Mitchell Johnson (12th men)

Dropped Johnson because he was expensive throughout the series, gave runs over 4/over. Would be better to stick with Siddle, he took 3 wickets in the only inn of Eng in the 3rd test.

Likely XI of England I think...

1. Andrew Strauss (C)
2. Alistair Cook
3. Ravi Bopara
4. Ian Bell
5. Paul Collingwood
6. Andrew Flintoff/Jonathan Trott (Injury concerns of Freedy)
7. Matt Prior (WK)
8. Graeme Swann
9. James Anderson
10. *Steve Harmison/Ryan Sidebottom
11. Graham Onions

I think, Stuart Broad will be dropped, he is out of form. There will be a choice between Harmison and Sidebottom. I will choose Harmison but I think Sidebottom will play anyway...

[Boundary]

92 for 7, England are collapsing!

[brmtaylor.com admin]

8/100

Bringing Stuart Clark back is paying dividends! Hauritz unlucky to miss out though, he's been good all series.

[Detective RDS]

End of Day 1 of 4th test

Eng 102 all out
Aus 196/4 (Clarke 34*, North 7*)

England has played one batsman short as Harmison replaced injured Flintoff. I would have taken Jonathan Trott, a specialist batsman dropping any of the bowler. He is averaging 99+ in FC cricket this season. England would have got some runs added to their miserable total.

Stuart Clark has done the trick for the Aussies. I said before he is needed in the side. Marcus North is averaging 50+ in test cricket right now. Hoping to see a big innings from him.

[Sir Mupariwa]

Current partnership 123 runs, 33.3 overs, RR: 3.67 (North 34, Clarke 81)

Good batting by Clarke they should be able to win this by an inning quite easily with the lead approaching 200, Aussie will be looking to increase it to over 300 and put it well beyond reach. I just love Marcus North, he just looks so solid at the crease- he reminds me of MEK Hussey when he was in top form.