So Brett Lee is out... seems the UK press see that as a good thing, but I'm not so sure. Yes he can reverse it, but he's not been much of a bowler for 2 years now and the average Aussie on the straight won't be disappointed he misses out. not sure what it means for their line up now as it extends some of the question marks for their selection:
Do they play 4 quicks and use North/Clarke/Katich as the spinner so hauritz misses out.
That'd mean Siddle, Johnson, Hilf and Clark. One of Siddle, Clark or Hilf would therefore need to bat at 9, which is high.
Will they spring a surprise and pick Ronald Macdonald? Quite possibly. He's the man no-one has been talking about but he is the man in possession and without the Lee batting he comes back in to consideration at 8.
What price Shane Watson? A long shot I know but he can do a job as the 4th seamer and bat anywhere in the top 6. Unlikely, but he is one of Australia's favourite men.
England's selection really rides on the wicket, do we play 2 spinners or not? I doubt we will but the UK gang might have a view on this? if we play Fred in a 3 man pace attack that is quite a bit of work for him and I'm not sure we want to risk that this early in the series? if he breaks down, that'd be awful news.
I'll leave you with a video, to get the fires burning.
It's a shame Lee isn't playing because he does make a test match more enjoyable (anyone bowling at 95 clicks does). I think we've got lucky there. Could it open the door for Hilf? McDonald is generally guff so, all-rounder or not, I don't think he'll get the nod.
ReplyDeleteThey might play Hauritz - they won't want to put pressure on Clarke's back so early in the Tour and Katich's occasional Mun Weys won't be enough of a support to North, surely. Who knows? I'm reading that actually spinners haven't performed THAT well there. Monty returned 2 for 150-odd the last time he played there, which might rule him out too.
I'd play Onions ahead of Monty. We haven't got a consistent length bowler and I reckon Punter is super dodgy fishing out there at the moment.
We do need to remember that we're not that good a team really. We beat the Windies here but they beat us over there. Australia beat the Saffas on their turf - rather more braggable than ours.
Predictions: they'll play Hauritz. They'll play Onions.
Eng 1st Inn: 478 Strauss 114, Pieterson 75, Broad 42*; Siddle 3/96, Johnson 3/104
Aus 1st Inn: 327 Hussey 88, Johnson 65*; Anderson 4/72; Swann 3/98
Eng 2nd Inn: 194/6 Bopara 77*; Johnson 3/61
Aus 2nd Inn: 244 Ponting 76, Haddin 38*; Swann 5/72; Broad 2/66
England win by 101 runs and go 1-0 up.
Wow, imagine that was EXACTLY what happened.
We've missed a trick by not having Harmison.
ReplyDeleteSpoken to people who've seen him a lot this year (well 2 people) and they say he's bowling accurately and with hostility. And he sh1ts the Aussies up-he's got a psychological edge over Ponting and Hughes after last week.
Obviously if we played him, he'd bowl a huge wide first ball and the series would be lost.
Monty has done nothing for ages now.
Hilarious results prediction from you Voges, ha. Particularly love the actual bowling figures and the not outs.
ReplyDeleteI totally can't concentrate today.
Wish 8:00pm would hurry the fuck up.
ReplyDelete