3rd ASHES TEST: England v Australia at Birmingham, July 30 - Aug 3, 2009

[TheParraboy]

Here we are, all on again in a few days time

Somehow Im not expecting Australia to make any changes

Lee is still out injured, Clark must be a chance but I doubt they will drop Johnson. Maybe Siddle to go? Though I wonder if Punter will keep the same attack and bring out his broken record talk about how they did the job in SA?

No Pieterson, which is a plus.

Poms win this game, and the ashes are good as gone in my opinion

Dont forget your trades in the urn cup guys

 

[Twizzle]

Fox are saying Neilson seems to be favouring the ranga

If he replaces North, that will do me

 

[lockyno1]

Twiz, McDonald would come in for Hauritz if they did that, not Marcus North.

 

[nathanbrown'sghost]

Somehow Im not expecting Australia to make any changes

Lee is still out injured, Clark must be a chance but I doubt they will drop Johnson. Maybe Siddle to go?

We have to be strong and drop Johnson so that Clark can come in. Johnson is suffering bad, he has lost his action and we can't afford to wait around for him to come good. His arm is so low in the delivery, he can't get his fingers anywhere near correct. Clark bowled well in the 3 day game and so did Siddle.

 

[TheParraboy]

yeah macca would have to come in for darts hauritz, though we do need to take 20 wickets

id be more inclined to bring in watson/clark for darts/siddle

that strengthens the batting and the bowling considerably

 

[Twizzle]

the pitch is very underprepared according to Fox, and they are expecting a few more days of rain before it starts

so Hauri :arrow:

 

[Collingwood Storm]

I got a feeling the XI will be...

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Watson/North
Haddin
Johnson/Siddle
Hauritz/McDonald
Clark
Hilfenhaus

Watson's bowling gets him the spot over North if Johnson is retained over Siddle. If Siddle plays ahead of Johnson then North would probably stay in.

If the pitch is seamer friendly and they have had as much rain as they are saying then McDonald could be very, very handy as Hauritz wouldn't get much of a bowl.

 

[aussies1st]

Pretty much sums up the side. I reckon McDonald will get the nod if Johnson isn't kept to keep a handy number 8 batter.

 

[eddiesmith]

Clark and McDonald for Johnson and Hauritz would be the best move they could make

Would be too dangerous to bring in Watson for Hauritz given his injury past and North deserves another shot, got a century in the 1st test and if they left out Hauritz he would probably survive as the spinning option

 

[lockyno1]

Eddie, I recon I could have got a century in the 1st test..it was that easy!

 

[Bazal]

I think we'll probably see (not necessarily in this order, that's the order I'd put them in)...

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Watson
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson (can't see Punter dropping him, as much as he deserves it)
Clark
Hilfy
Siddle

 

[eddiesmith]

Eddie, I recon I could have got a century in the 1st test..it was that easy!

But Watson wouldnt have, probably pull a hammy running his first run :lol:

However if it was so easy, then perhaps they should just drop Hughes instead as he couldnt cash in with such easy conditions, plus we all know how successful Watto has been as an opener

 

[andrew057]

Drop Hussey for Watson.

 

[hineyrulz]

Johnson 1 for 107 of 18 overs against an average County side, he has to be given the punt. As much as Ponting has serious Manlub for him.

 

[Bigfella]

I reckon if Watson plays it'll be for Hughes.

If McDonald plays it'll be for Hauritz.

If Clark plays it'll be for Johnson.

Maybe just McDonald for Hauritz would be my guess as to what they do.

 

[Twizzle]

I cant see Watson playing.

He'll break a nail just getting changed and he has only has one game of any significance recently, not really enough game time under his belt.

 

[hineyrulz]

I doubt Hauri will play, the groundsmen said he hasn't had the covers off for days and the pitch will be under prepared.

 

[Twizzle]

gee, Notch might even get a wicket

as much as I hate it say it, may very suit the ranga

 

[lockyno1]

Watson for North
McDonald for Hauritz (if it is a greentop)

They will be the changes

 

[Twizzle]

just about everyone but the bootsatrapper have been interviewed this week and thrown their support behind Notch saying he'll come good if they persevere with him

no point in supporting him till his technique has been sorted and he gets his bowling arm and wrist action right

they are saying its mental when it appears to me that its a technique problem