4th Ashes Test Aust V Eng @ Headingly, Leeds

[MightyEagles]

To state the obvious we really need to win either this or the after, preferably both, to retain the Ashes.

Starts Friday I believe.

[Bulldogs007]

To win this match we really need to bat first and make over 500. and take early wickets in the Poms innings. Johnson to take a big bag this match

[blink]

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To win this match we really need to bat first and make over 500. and take early wickets in the Poms innings. Johnson to take a big bag this match

Making over 500 would help, but to win this Test match (and the next) we need to take 20 wickets, which we currently haven't looked like doing at all.

Katich
Watson
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
North
Haddin (Manou, if Haddin not fit)
Johnson
Lee
Clark
Hilfenhaus

I think Siddle needs to be dropped for Lee - if he is bowling as well as everyone around the Aussie camp said he is, then he need to be included. For the record, I rate Siddle and would rather see him play than Johnson right now, but MJ adds to the team balance with his batting.

Hauritz out too. On a spinning wicket, he is useful to Australia, but on a wicket that is seaming, we need Clark playing. Clarke, North & Katich between them, can provide the overs that Hauritz would have bowled. We have five frontline seamers (if Watson can be called that) if this is the team that is picked and I think it will give us our best chance of taking 20 wickets.

For the record, England have brought Ryan Sidebottom into their squad, which highlights the fact that they think the seaming ball is the best way for them to reclaim the Ashes. Either that or he is cover for Flintoff.

[the joker]

Brad Haddin got the keeping gloves on for the first time since injuring his finger yesterday, but he is still strugling to hold a bat, so i would expect Manou to play in the 4th test

and also Micheal Clarke is strugling with a Abdominal strain he picked up while batting on the last day.

[Lightning McQueen]

To win this match we really need to bat first and make over 500. and take early wickets in the Poms innings. Johnson to take a big bag this match

I think if we score more runs than them and bowl them out twice, we'll win.

[blink]

Brad Haddin got the keeping gloves on for the first time since injuring his finger yesterday, but he is still strugling to hold a bat, so i would expect Manou to play in the 4th test

and also Micheal Clarke is strugling with a Abdominal strain he picked up while batting on the last day.

All signs point to Clarke being fit for this Test, but lets say for arguments sake that he isn't, what would the selectors do then??

I think their only option would be to recall Hughes and play Watson at 5?

[Lightning McQueen]

Brad Haddin got the keeping gloves on for the first time since injuring his finger yesterday, but he is still strugling to hold a bat, so i would expect Manou to play in the 4th test

and also Micheal Clarke is strugling with a Abdominal strain he picked up while batting on the last day.

Surely he could manage that, well I hope so, we need him, he'll just have to take his pull shot out of his game and concentrate on his driving, it wouldn't hurt, he's one of the best in the business at it and pulling can get him out at times.

[Lightning McQueen]

Brad Haddin got the keeping gloves on for the first time since injuring his finger yesterday, but he is still strugling to hold a bat, so i would expect Manou to play in the 4th test

and also Micheal Clarke is strugling with a Abdominal strain he picked up while batting on the last day.

All signs point to Clarke being fit for this Test, but lets say for arguments sake that he isn't, what would the selectors do then??

I think their only option would be to recall Hughes and play Watson at 5?

I wouldn't be moving Watson anywhere atm, 2 good knocks as an opener, his confidence would be booming.

[mal]

I will preview the 4th Test later
Today is the sad anniversary of the death of Marliyn Monroe in August 1962

[Lightning McQueen]

For the record, England have brought Ryan Sidebottom into their squad, which highlights the fact that they think the seaming ball is the best way for them to reclaim the Ashes. Either that or he is cover for Flintoff.

Flintoff was moving around like a ninety year old after his bowling stint on day 5, I'm certain they'll rest him given such a small break betwen tests, surely playing them with no Pietersen or Flintoff we'd have to give them a fair flogging.

[blink]

I will preview the 4th Test later
Today is the sad anniversary of the death of Marliyn Monroe in August 1962

Who is he?

[the joker]

this is quite funny, i cant imagine James Sutherland asking the Australian public to stop booing a cricketer from another country

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricke ... -fans.html

[rod_rooster]

this is quite funny, i cant imagine James Sutherland asking the Australian public to stop booing a cricketer from another country

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricke ... -fans.html

LMAO It seems the Poms actually think they get to him. As if the crowd booing Ponting affects his performance Seriously he has copped much worse from media in his own country than any opposition supporters could dish out yet he still performs.

[JK]

For the record, England have brought Ryan Sidebottom into their squad, which highlights the fact that they think the seaming ball is the best way for them to reclaim the Ashes. Either that or he is cover for Flintoff.

Flintoff was moving around like a ninety year old after his bowling stint on day 5, I'm certain they'll rest him given such a small break betwen tests, surely playing them with no Pietersen or Flintoff we'd have to give them a fair flogging.

Dean Jones (yes I know) was on with Rowey and Cornesy just prior to the final days play, and he sounded very genuine with his doubts of Freddy being able to butter up for this test.

[spell_check]

I will preview the 4th Test later
Today is the sad anniversary of the death of Marliyn Monroe in August 1962

Who is he?

West Indian fast bowler; mentor to the likes of Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith.

[haloman]

So then to our bowling..................how the hell do we get 20 wickets in a test that looks like it might be rain effected again. Lee and S.Clarke MUST come in surely. Hauritz unlucky but must go out. Siddle to have the game off too. Can anyone tell me why the Kat hasn't bowled more in this series? He'd probably go for 6 an over but he might just pick up the odd wicket or two along the way. Surely he's a better option with the ball than North.........IMHO

[cyclops]

So then to our bowling..................how the hell do we get 20 wickets in a test that looks like it might be rain effected again. Lee and S.Clarke MUST come in surely. Hauritz unlucky but must go out. Siddle to have the game off too. Can anyone tell me why the Kat hasn't bowled more in this series? He'd probably go for 6 an over but he might just pick up the odd wicket or two along the way. Surely he's a better option with the ball than North.........IMHO

agree with everything u have mentioned,this lak of bowling for katich has been going on for probably a year or so now and nothing ever gets said by ponting,i can only assume maybe he has a problem,but who knows.

[NFC]

Scary to think that if we lose one of the next two matches we lose the Ashes.

Clark for Siddle
Haddin for Manou (did well tho)

[cyclops]

i really have a feeling that lee will play in the 4th test.

[CoverKing]

i really have a feeling that lee will play in the 4th test.

so do i cyclops. I think watson's comments were pretty well made up before his interview. Giving them no idea if brett lee is playing or not. He stated he needs a match under his belt before being ready for selection. I think Lee will play.
There is also whispers Johnson will be dropped but i find this highly unlikely. For me, it will be clark and lee in for siddle and hauritz (very unlucky, horses for courses tho).
If clarke doesnt play, will they go hughes and play watson in the middle order, or will they go manou and haddin, with haddin just batting at 6 and north moving to 4?