2nd Test: England v Australia at Lords Jul 18-22, 2013

[barmyarmy]

Wait. Agar's a spinner?

 

[Ahmad94]

Wait. Agar's a spinner?

Yeah. An pretty average one at that. But to be fair to him, he is playing his first test, against a quality side. I still think he needs a couple of years in the domestic circuit before you bring a youngster like him, in to the international test scene

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Agar is proving to be a very ordinary spinner,but again he is just a test old.But i would bring in Lyon in Lords but he cant bat.So MJC needs to take some tough calls.

 

[midgetwars]

Mickey Arthur leaving with a bang. Interesting. Watson and Clarke. Allegations of racial discrimination against him.

 

[fade0508]

Mickey Arthur leaving with a bang. Interesting. Watson and Clarke. Allegations of racial discrimination against him.

'Michael Clarke described teammate Shane Watson as a "cancer"'

This series has everything! All we now need is an on-field brawl between Warner, Root and Broad and the movie deal is a cert......

 

[barmyarmy]

I can't believe someone leaked them during the Ashes. Hard to see how Clarke can look Watson in the eye now.

 

[midgetwars]

Actually the articles says

"According to Channel Seven?s report, Arthur allegedly described the role of Watson's faction in the Test team as a cancer.
Arthur claimed that Clarke embraced the need for discipline, while Watson did not.
Arthur also revealed Watson was the player who tipped him off about Dave Warner's rowdy night out where the Australian opener punched Root at a bar."

So Clarke did nothing wrong, nor did Watson.

 

[barmyarmy]

Let's see if Shane Watson sees it that way.

 

[Haarithan]

Brad Haddin admits he edged last ball of first Ashes Test, defends Stuart Broad for not walking | Fox Sports

"That was pretty obvious that I hit it. I didn't see the replay. I hit it, so I knew I was gone.

The umpire didn't give me out so I wasn't walking. It's a personal choice. I see nothing wrong with what Stuart did."

 

[barmyarmy]

I'm sure Midgetwars disagrees with Haddin and says he didn't hit it.

 

[Umair7]

Tbh I agree with Haddin its a personal choice.Why should the player just walk away its the umpire fault not his.

 

[puddleduck]

If Agar keeps this up then we have the option to go with 2 genuine spinners when needed.

Don't you have to find a first spinner before you can play two?

 

[War]

Don't you have to find a first spinner before you can play two?

After 2 years of learning on the job, Lyon is at the position where he can be termed good 1st spinner. His 7 wickets in last test AUS played b4 the Ashes in India, went a long way in proving this.

 

[midgetwars]

I'm sure Midgetwars disagrees with Haddin and says he didn't hit it.

Not really. I'm just annoyed at the technology. It was very very pixelated the hot spot and the replay was just weird.

Not sure if they do it differently, but back in Australia last summer when Clarke supposedly edged something they zoomed in right onto the ball, put on the sound and moved frame to frame to see properly.

 

[Spickery]

Some people are reporting that Ed Cowan and Mitchell Starc have been dropped and Usman Khawaja and Ryan Harris come into the Australian team for the second test.

Ed Cowan was the most likely player to be dropped after his poor performances with the bat. Usman Khawaja has the potential to be a solid batsman for Australia so hopefully he can make some big scores with the bat, if he does play for Australia. Dropping Mitchell Starc is a big call. He has won test matches for Australia in the past and could he have improved his bowling performance at Lords. When Ryan Harris is fit he would be one of the best bowlers in Australia, so he is a handy bowler to have in the team.

The Australian players should be looking to preform at Lord's or risk being dropped. If these changes are true, I think it shows the selectors will not put up with poor performances and will pick the players they think can help Australia win the Ashes.