Harmison for Broad.

You can't afford to carry bowlers against these and I think we are with Broad who isn't getting any real movement and allows batsmen to play themselves in with his expensive run rate. I don't really think we have anything to lose by playing Harmy, he's got the experience and form that Broad doesn't have. If you asked the Aussie top order who'd they'd rather play against it'd be Broad everytime.

Will the England selectors change a winning team though?

I reckon that Sidebottom offers more than Onions, but Harmison has to play instead of Onions or Broad.

Our third and fourth seamers at Lord's didn't really offer much of a threat and were more about killing time while Flintoff and Anderson had a breather.

I wouldn't bring Sidebottom in, I don't think he'd offer much of an improvement over what we've already got.

Onions stats from this test were helped massively by getting their number 9 and 10 out, overall he did fine but did he do enough to keep Harmison out? I'm not sure. He's struggling with his Achilles too, would it be sensible to go into a test with two of your four pace bowlers carrying injuries?

Harmison has to come in for one of them and like I said before it'd be Broad for me as I don't think he has what it takes against the Aussies yet.

He offers variety by being a left armer that's all, but when your 3rd and 4th seamers are not the best then a bit of variety can make a big difference.

Never been a fan of Sidebottom.

If all are fit they may stick with the same XI. Harmy may come in for Fred if he's injured. KP may miss out too so I would expect Bell to come in for him.

Pietersen said it mainly affects him when he's running, can't they just get a runner for him? A 3 and 4 of Bell and Bopara doesn't give much confidence.

Lee has apparently been on Australian radio saying he's out next week, why aren't they using Stuart Clark? I've always rated him highly when I've seen him previously. They're carrying Johnson at the moment much like they carried Gillespie for much of last time round. I'd rather have our bowling problems than theirs any day.

You are only allowed a runner if the injury occurred during the course of the match.

There is a true story of a woman's game in Denmark where a pregnant woman was refused a runner when she came out to bat as her incapacity had not happened during the match.

I thought that was the case. Can't he just get injured after the first ball?!

commentators said clark was gash in the warm up matches struggling to reach 80mph.


think harmy inf or broad would be best at the moment, broad can bowl well but is stil ery inconsistant a good long run in county cricket would probably do him alot of good for the rest of the year, hes still only 22 i think? so theres plenty of tiem ahead of him for international cricket.
i thnik that sidebottom would get hammered all over by the aussies he doesnt really have enough pace for international cricket and if its not swinging he looks clueless.

Sidebottom won't be playing, not even worth entertaining the idea.

Pietersen is out for the rest of the series. looks like Bell will get his chance now

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8162048.stm

For fcks sake.

If KP was fit, I'd have picked Bell instead of Bopara anyway.

69, 8, 32, 44.

Only an average of 38.25, we won't miss him.

we'll still beat the Aussies bastads((c)adg)

learn from the west indies and get some concrete ordered now

Edgbaston's pitch is not far off that now.

If I were to replace Broad, Sidebottom would be the replacement.
Harmison shouldn't play for England again, he's lost it at international level and is still living on that West Indies series about 5 years ago.
Time to move on.
Me personally, I'd keep Broad in the side.

Harmison is better than Sidebottom.

What are you basing that on?
Harmison hasn't been international quality for a long time. His bowling average is worse than Sidebottom's and Sidey has taken only 3 less 5-fers in a third of the matches.

Hughes out for just 10 against Northampton. I can see him being dropped next week for Shane Watson.

According to the Mirror, Harmison will retire from international cricket at the end of the Summer.

Incidentally I don't suppose anyone has a spare ticket for Edgbaston? I'd happily pay face value and contribute towards petrol costs.

I'll be there but no spares I'm afraid and going on the train. Looking forward to it

I know you can get tickets for the Monday for 15 quid. Non-refundable.

Could be a belter of a price...

I'd be surprised if they dropped Johnson especially given that he can swing a bat too. I don't think he'll play like he did in the first two Tests either and will cause us some problems as soon as things start to click again. Going wicktless at 6 an over against Northants won't be helping his confidence mind.

Watson for Hughes seems like a no brainer to me.

The Aussie selectors are notoriously stubborn, I can't see them dropping Hughes after two quiet tests. They've backed this lad to do well in this series and will stick with him.

Johnson on the other hand quite simply can't be picked (I hope they do !!) he has lost his action and his confidence is at rock bottom. He'll go for Stuart Clark, I reckon the two sides won't be far off this;

Strauss
Cook
Bopara
Bell
Colly
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Onions

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
M Clark
Hussey
North
Haddin
Hauritz
Siddle
S Clark
Hilfenhaus

Because he's first choice if Freddie doesn't make it?

On the brightside though Durham will be hosting one of the Ashes Tests in 4 years time.

About time too. We should have had one instead of Cardiff this year.

If you want anymore inside info on the Aussie XI then just give me a shout

I'm amazed they've done that.

Watson has never batted above six in a test match match and averages less than 20, unbelievable that they'd drop Hughes who everyone was raving about a couple of tests ago*

I'm delighted they've kept Johnson in, he'll piss runs at Edgbaston which is normally a quick scoring ground without bowling four half trackers an over Good toss to lose as well lovely little session to have a bowl.

*even though before the Ashes (check back in the thread) I predicted he'd struggle!

It's more to do with their piss weak bowling attack than Watson being a better player than Hughes, they probably don't think there is anything to lose by having Watson open as Hughes isn't getting runs anyway.

You're right but it's just such an un-Aussie thing to do, I mean Shane Watson is hardly someone who we should fear with the ball. I also agree with what Hussein has just said on Sky, Flintoff gets left handers out they had two opening batting and the other opening option in Hussey. That is another reason why Watson could be playing, again a very defensive un-Aussie thing to do to worry about the opposition.

It's probably so un-Aussie (is that a word btw?) because the team they have is so un-Aussie. I'll be very pissed off if we done get the Ashes back at the end of this because I really do think the Aussies are so weak at the moment. When you compare the teams at the moment the only area I would say they are stronger is at 3, 4 and 5. Everything else; openers, depth of batting, quality of fast bowlers, quality of spinners and I think we're comfortably ahead.

Just realised Haddin isn't playing, was this a late change? Another blow for them as he's batted well so far.

Just read on cricinfo, broken finger during the warm up. Out for the series?

Watson first right handed opener the Aussies have had in 93 tests.