In this series ? Or in his career,?
Trott and cook have performed previously which gives them some rope, bairstow most certainly hasn't

I think we are better than the Aussies, but 3-0 flatters us, and I feel they are making progress to get the correct blend..... We are just sticking with the same tactics ? Why wait until we lose when improvements can easily be made ?
What would your combined 11 be?

Bairstow who he's scored the same amount of runs in the series as Watson!? You didn't even pick the only approaching consistent opener in the series in Rogers.

The best TEAM are 3-0 up. Combined elevens don't mean jot, the strongest team finds a way of getting over the line.

The worry for the Aussies is we're up 3-0 without being at our best, when our top three and Prior do find form they're totally screwed.

Concurring with Pj. Our batters still need a kicking. Though.

They aren't failing on purpose we just have two or three out of knick at the same time, a flat wicket for them to bat on at the Oval would be good.

Aye Thats what i have Been sayimg.

We need to help them out. Enough of These stupid pitches.

Just got back, absolutely brilliant 4 days. Atmosphere was superb throughout.

The tension though today was unbearable at times. I honestly thought they were nailed on to win. When bresnan came in people seemed in shock it was him but he was on the mark straight away and Warner was a huge wicket. Then broad was simply immense, his last spell had figures of 6/20 of 45 balls, ridiculously good. That big cloud took an age to go whlist root was bowling but it was blue skies after it so it was just a matter of time.

That last session though will go down in history 9 wickets when defeat looked certain is outstanding.

Absolutely brilliant stuff, can't believe I was screaming for England to finish them off even though I had a ticket for today! Luckily, I am in London for the Oval test....!

You didnt tell me that yesterday when I was doing that rain dance for you.

right using averages alone, and saying a minimum of 5 innings, with 6 batters 4 bowlers and a stumpy, you get this:

Root
Rogers
Clarke
Peiterson
Bell
Bairstow
Haddin
Broad
Swann
Harris
Siddle.

Cant argue with facts:

6 english, 5 aussies.

I would go with Cook ahead of Rogers and Anderson ahead of Siddle.

But the facts tell you that Bairstow would be in.

Can I just say that without a doubt this is one of the dumbest posts on here, and given the standard of the shite you've been spouting that is quite an achievement you dull 'lovely lovely person'.

Why do you always sit on the fence with your comments?

Sorry was I not quite direct enough with captain misery?

Maybe I should unlock his old username and start using it to abuse him.

Yesterdays cricket was superb, great first session and great ending. In close games the team that's used to winning normally comes through and what a spell from Broad.

The beer was also served quickly, the hog roast was superb but the noodles were cack.

Also anyone with 5thdar tickets can swap them for the t20 international later in the month apparently or get a refund.

Aussies replace Khawaja and Bird with Faulkener and Starc.

A bit strange to be going a batsmen light after how they've performed all series, massive reliance on the tailenders which suits us just fine.

Hopefully we can actually put a 400+ score together first up with runs from those out of nick

concurring.

Eeeeeehhhhh...we do get them.

Anyway, the Aussies I know over here are regretting their bets with me already.

Symptomatic of losing team making changes every game, think England in the 90's.

I think they've used every player in the squad over five tests now.

Thought bird bowled well. Can't understand that decision at all

Just Wade who hasn't been used

Did alright with the new ball but only took two wickets didn't he? Plus he can't bat at all

If it was a six match series I reckon they'd try alternating wicket keepers in between overs.

I don't know why they haven't considered moving Shane Watson in the batting order to desperately try to find a position where he doesn't play all round a straight ball hitting his pads in front of all three.

I love it

If it was a six match series I reckon they'd try alternating wicket keepers in between overs.

I don't know why they haven't considered moving Shane Watson in the batting order to desperately try to find a position where he doesn't play all round a straight ball hitting his pads in front of all three.

I love it [/quote]

He's had more positions than Ron Jeremy in an orgy is the quote I saw tonight!

If we bat first and actually get a decent score I think there's that much pressure on them they'll collapse like a pack of cards. Twice.

Yes we did, 1988 v the West Indies.

Mike Gatting - Sacked for shagging a barmaid
John Embury - sacked for being shite
Chris Cowdry - Got injured, but was getting sacked anyway
Graham Gooch.

You have a very good memory John.

I had to look it up.

woakes and Kerrigan in the team. Wonder who has been dropped?

It will be Woakes for Bresnan and Kerrigan for a rested Swann probably.

Or could be two spinners with Bairstow left out.

Looks like Bairstow out two spinners Woakes third seamer.

Not sure about Woakes as a test quality bowler, we'll see!

bollox. The aussies batting first.

Lets hope we skittle them.

Me neither but I trust Flower and given he could have quite easily put Tremlett in he must like Woakes. They really like bowlers who can swing a bat too, probably even more so with the top order under-performing.

At first it looked a much weaker side but given he'll probably score as many as Bairstow, another bowler will give Broad and Jimmy extra rest after a tough summer and we have another spinner it all seems to make sense. After the two changes the Aussies made I still feel confident.

I'm assuming tripledickheads absence is due to him wanking himself delirious over Bairstow's dropping whilst panting ' I told you so I told you so'

except that he wanted Bairstow out for Compton, not a bowler.

Woakes needs a wicket here he going for far too many runs.

looking like Australias morning unless we can get another wicket or two.

Way too many runs being scored at one end now.

It must be bad bowling if Watson is taking the piss like this.

just getting silly now. Appalling bowling.

Awful bowling from the two new lads and Watson will punish that.

Kerrigan gone for 28 in 2 overs.

Unless we get a wicket before lunch this is comfortably our worst performance of the summer.

Already over 100 scored at 4 an over, and thats with swann only going for 14 in 7.

Obviously delighted Bairstow is gone, hopefully the last we will see of him in an England shirt

Woakes and Kerrigan don't inspire me with confidence though, should have been Tremlett and Taylor in (or Compton)

Aus to win this one....strange selection that has handed the initiative back to them before winter.

Cook and Trott need to get runs !

the odd thing is, we play an extra bowler, and the Aussies batter them.

And if this continues (hopefully Anderson and Broad stop the rot) whats the odds that when we bat we make it look like a demon track, and have a batter short.

Woakes and Kerrigan utter shite.....what happened to a patient wait your turn selection philosophy, Tremlett must be furious

well Jonathon Agnew already hinting it may be test careers over for Woakes and Kerrrigan already.

So maybe Tremlett and Finn will just piss themselves laughing, as will Panesar.

interesting selection of 5 batsman and 3 bowlers from England!

Panesar will just be pissing himself!

Seriously could you see the Aussies selecting this sort of team if 3-0 up?

Q the expert PJ to tell us why these 2 lads are really demon bowlers if we only understood the game like him!

PJ knows more about cricket than me and you put together.

He agrees that this selection was wrong. You would know that if you had read his posts earlier.

in his own mind maybe...this I the guy who has been championing Bairstow, and Root at the top of the order....

Bairstow should be playing here.

Listen to Boycott, Vaughan, AGnew etc.

None of them can understand why we made so many changes. All we have done is give the aussies a chance.

It seems they are all wrong according to you.

I agree the changes are wrong.....Taylor for Bairstow an Tremlett for Bresnan would have made more sense

A number of people are now saying Root should be pushed down the order to develop....as I said from the start, does that mean no one is allowed a different opinion?

I admit I don't know as much about cricket as I do about football........but I know a lot about both !

right lets see how our bowlers react now.

get in swanny.

much better last 10 overs 18 for 1.

Broady all over Clarke, should be a good couple of hours and a couple of wickets will swing it our way

yep, agreed.

Broad loving it, and I bet he wishes he could be to Lehman.