4th Test: England v Australia at Leeds

[King Pietersen]

No he didn't. He got Hussey out long before the match was over, the wicket of Hussey brought North to the crease and gave England abit of hope that they could force a result. His 2nd wicket was abit of a gift, but I felt he deserved it given the way he bowled early in the day, looked far better. Possibly still not good enough to retain his place though unfortunately, I'm very torn between him and Harmy.

 

[Aditya]

My australian team for ashes4th test.
Shane watson
Simon Katich
Ricky Ponting
Michael clarke
Mike hussey
Brad haddin(if he get fit.)
Brett Lee
Nathan Hauritz
Stuart clark
Ben Hilfenaus
Peter Siddle.
Graham manou(12th man.)

England team for 4th ashes test.
Alastair cook
Andrew Strauss
Ravi Bopara
Ian bell
Paul collingwood
Andrew Flintoff
Matt prior
Graeme swann
Stuart broad
Graham onions
James anderson
Steve harminson(12th man.)

 

[King Pietersen]

Australia won't drop Johnson or Hauritz. I see them going in with:

Watson (Was very impressive, proved me right for defending him =])
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
North
Manou/Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz
Hilfenhaus

 

[Hooper]

No he didn't. He got Hussey out long before the match was over, the wicket of Hussey brought North to the crease and gave England abit of hope that they could force a result. His 2nd wicket was abit of a gift, but I felt he deserved it given the way he bowled early in the day, looked far better. Possibly still not good enough to retain his place though unfortunately, I'm very torn between him and Harmy.

Hussey is easy to get out, North's was a gift. Broad is shite.

Sorry to diss your homeboy but he is a girl so I must take the piss out of him.

I'd have Harmy in my side any day over Broad - Harmy looks more dangerous with the new ball then anyone of your fast bowlers (except for Swingy Anderson).

 

[Inbox24]

Still reckon North is a flat track bully. The only time he's scored runs at test level (beside his debut match) in favourable bowling conditions is that first test against SA in SA, since then, all have been on dead tracks with no swing or seam. Obviously this won't happen, but I'd say drop him and put Watson at 6 (ideally we'd have Hussey or Hodge there but that's not gonna ever happen) and let Hughes open again.

In regards to bowling, Clark must play. He and Hilfenhaus are the only two certainties (although Hauritz comes close - never imagined myself saying this). That means Johnson, Siddle and Lee will be competing for one bowling spot.

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Watson
Manou
Johnson/Siddle/Lee
Hauritz
Clark
Hilfenhaus

Not too excited about Manou though, he's a pure wicketkeeper, not batting to speak of. Would rather we look at someone with more potential, maybe Paine or Wade? If only Ronchi hadn't fallen from grace he'd be able to come in and score freely in a Haddin/Gilchrist-esque manner.

 

[barmyarmy]

I'm actually tempted to drop Swann for Headingly and play Sidebottom. Recall Swann for the Oval.
My team:

Strauss
Cook
Ramprakash
Trott
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Sidebottom
Anderson
Harmison
Onions

Clearly England will name an unchanged side.

 

[King Pietersen]

Still reckon North is a flat track bully. The only time he's scored runs at test level (beside his debut match) in favourable bowling conditions is that first test against SA in SA, since then, all have been on dead tracks with no swing or seam. Obviously this won't happen, but I'd say drop him and put Watson at 6 (ideally we'd have Hussey or Hodge there but that's not gonna ever happen) and let Hughes open again.

Totally agree. North's hundred in this series was on a complete road and by the time he had come in England had all but given up the ghost, same with Haddin really. I do not see Marcus North having a long term Test career, Hodge should clearly be in the side ahead of him.

 

[aussie1st]

His 96 yesterday was under a pressure situation, we needed someone to knuckle down and he played that role. All our batters have struggled when it swings, it is the reason we lost the 05 Ashes and it is the reason we are 1-0 down. North is fall from alone in terms of struggling against swing.

 

[Hooper]

Totally agree. North's hundred in this series was on a complete road and by the time he had come in England had all but given up the ghost, same with Haddin really. I do not see Marcus North having a long term Test career, Hodge should clearly be in the side ahead of him.

God, when you hate someone, you really hate someone!

North has played wonderful this series! How can you say these things about him 2 hundreds (4 short counts) and your saying he is useless pretty much!

I think you need to have a look at your centurians this series mate...

Oh yeah, you've only got one of them...

 

[King Pietersen]

I hate Marcus North? That's news to me. I just don't particularly rate him. I enjoyed his 96 yesterday, that was a good innings under pressure, but the pitch was flat and England couldn't get it swinging. It's no co-incidence that when the pitch/ball is talking, North has failed in this series. Clarke on the other hand is just pure class.

As for centurians in this series, meh, we're winning 1-0, that's all that counts. We've scored runs when they've been needed, not on a flat, lifeless Cardiff deck in a drawn Test.

 

[Gilly Fan]

They should go:

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
North
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Clark
Hilfenhaus

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Strauss
Cook
Ramps
Bell
Collyflower
Prior
Freddie
Swann
Jimmy
Harmy
Onions

 

[evertonfan]

Oh yeah, you've only got one of them...

That's precisely one more than the amount of victories you've got so far in this series.

As long as the crims keep leaving out Stuart Clark we have a chance to win, but as soon as they pick him the Ashes are as good as gone.

 

[Skater]

BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Sidebottom set for England recall

 

[Bumble is God]

1. Andrew Strauss (c)
2. Stephen Moore
3. Joe Denly
4. Ian Bell
5. Paul Collingwood
6. Matt Prior (wk)
7. Andrew Flintoff
8. Graeme Swann
9. James Anderson
10. Stephen Harmison
11. Graham Onions

^

Best team ever.