4th Test: England v Australia at Chester-le-Street Aug 9-13, 2013

[barmyarmy]

England squad for fourth Test: Alastair Cook (Essex, captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Graeme Onions (Durham), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Matt Prior (Sussex, wk), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Chris Tremlett (Surrey), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire).

Onions back in on a horses for courses basis. I expect England to go in unchanged and, to be fair, Durham will suit Bres as well as Onions. No place for James Taylor so Bairstow will retain his spot at 6.

 

[Umair7]

Australia batting will remain same but in bowling Harris can be replaced by Bird

 

[Spickery]

It is definitely time for Jackson Bird to play a game. He showed when he made his debut to play for Australia that he can bowl a good line and length and take wickets. His swing bowling should also be suited to English conditions. I would be surprised if he wasn't called up for the next test.

Bird could come into the team for Mitchell Starc or Ryan Harris if he isn't fit. Australia playing a four bowler pace attack is also another option the selectors have.

Bird must be a good player as he is now my new avatar. Go Tasmania!

 

[Skater]

The reports say Bird is likely to play, not because Australia are particularly eager to get him in but because Harris isn't up to playing three consecutive Tests.

I expect England to be unchanged but it would be great if Onions was picked on his home ground. I expect the bowlers to be more competitive at Durham so I'm not thinking of another 500 for the Aussies.

 

[sifter132]

Bird could come into the team for Mitchell Starc or Ryan Harris if he isn't fit. Australia playing a four bowler pace attack is also another option the selectors have.

This was my first reaction too, Bird must come in for one of those guys. But unless Aussies play 4 quicks, I think I'd prefer Starc to get another run. Give the lad a decent crack at a spot, not a random Test here or there. Be a little harsh on the lad to get dropped again after Aussies were on top in the last Test. I'd bring Bird in for Harris, give him a break and see if we can't get a few Tests out of him for the last 6 Ashes Tests.

 

[Dutch]

Hope Cook gets some runs now that the Ashes pressure is off a little. It seems to get to everyone after a while, the captaincy role that is. Is it affecting his batting?

 

[midgetwars]

Hope Cook gets some runs now that the Ashes pressure is off a little. It seems to get to everyone after a while, the captaincy role that is. Is it affecting his batting?

Nah, Cook and Clarke have performed insanely as captain. Clarke much better though, it's just a form slump and good bowling by Australia.

On another note, FINALLY BIRD!

 

[Owzat]

We've retained the same top seven in the series, only Bell, Root and Pietersen have scored more than 200 runs, or indeed more than the 161 runs which is what Bairstow has to his name.

Cook and Trott between them are struggling, two fifties with a HS between them of 62, and 267 runs in 12 innings which is a shade over 22 average.

I hope England do change the bowling, otherwise my belief that there is a "club" within the fold will grow in strength, Broad has taken six wickets in three Tests @ 52.00 each and while his batting has been both handy and controversial, with a four man attack you need more than two wickets per Test from someone picked as a bowler.

At the moment you could argue Cook, Trott, Prior and Broad would be dropped if England weren't 2-0 up, Finn was quickly enough but he's not one of Cook, Bell, Trott, Pietersen, Prior, Broad, Swann and Anderson.

 

[Dutch]

I will be expecting Onions to get the nod. I think that the top order has been feeling so much pressure. It builds and builds. I wouldnt be surprised if they started really cashing in now. You have ro stick with players who have proven themselves time and time again. I do believe that swapping Root for Compton was a mistake and has unsettled Cook.

 

[aussie1st]

Bird should be in for Starc but can't see it happening given Starc batting and the selectors love for a left armer. Guess I'll have to settle for Bird over a rested Harris as we need to get a look at Bird against the English before our series.

 

[Spickery]

Jackson Bird comes into the Australian team for Mitchell Starc, announced by Michael Clarke. Very happy to see Bird get a chance to preform in the Ashes! Lets hope he picks up some wickets today. It is good news that Ryan Harris has managed to stay fit for this game as well.

 

[barmyarmy]

Not sure that's a good toss to win. Could be another 50/3 morning.
Also no Onions.

 

[angryangy]

Pfft, plate cracking in 20 degree, potentially rainy weather. I'd wager the moisture underneath is a bigger threat to batting.

 

[sifter132]

We'll take the toss if you guys don't want it Bloody hell, Australia has had a poor toss record in the Ashes of late.

1 toss win at Manchester 2013
1 toss win at Adelaide 2010/11 (and 1 at Sydney when Ashes were already gone)
1 toss win at Birmingham 2009
that's all for Australia in the last 3 series...

Good test for Harris this morning. Hopefully he's feeling good. Interesting to see how Bird goes too, I think he'll love these conditions. Thought Onions would as well, but England see it differently.

 

[MUFC1987]

Someone needs to tell Harris that there are three stumps at the other end for a reason....

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Onions should be playing too. Just goes to show that for all this talk of challenging for places, if your face fits (Broad) you're in and if it doesn't so much (Finn) you can be left out for similar results. Broad has been poor in this series, yet still can't get dropped for a form bowler, on his home ground.