England in Australia

[cricketmad09]

You probably, but still.

Economy in test cricket is overrated. Personally, I dont care if a bowler goes for 6 or 7 runs and over, if he is taking wickets.

 

[puddleduck]

Exactly, wickets win you test matches. You can't, except in rare circumstances, win a test match without taking 20 wickets.

However that said, if you are only going to take 1 wicket like Harmison so far, it would be best if you weren't going at 5 an over at the same time

Australian selectors must be loving the fact that Jaques, Katich and Clarke all look in good form.

To add to my comments earlier regarding Read and Monty.

Most articles are saying that it's likely to be Jones with Read not playing today. How can Fletcher justify that? In his only test series back he averaged over 40, hit the 3rd highest score in every innings, and also hit his first test 50. On top of that kept superbly, and made Monty look even more dangerous. Jones who was in appaling form has gone back to Kent and not hit any runs, played in the first warmup game and dropped a dolly, as well as failing to find the boundary in his 50 odd ball stay.

Faith... slowly.... dripping... away....

 

[aussie1st]

Exactly, wickets win you test matches. You can't, except in rare circumstances, win a test match without taking 20 wickets.

Australian selectors must be loving the fact that Jaques, Katich and Clarke all look in good form.

Which is probably why we should be going for Tait or Johnson instead of Clark.

There is quite a few guys in good form atm which is good. Clarke really is pushing his claim now. Katich would probably come in after 2 or more injuries.

 

[puddleduck]

And Monty does for Clarke

Important spell this for England. Not that the match really means too much, but I feel it's important that Hoggy gets a wicket or two with the new ball. He has looked fairly ineffective in his last few tests, and could do with some form before the serious stuff starts. At the moment I think he is the only bowler still to pick up a wicket on this tour.

 

[aussie1st]

Clarke really missed out there, should have cracked up a 100. Oh well now it's Henriques big chance to show what hes got.

 

[puddleduck]

Good on young Henriques, he's certainly taking it to England. Especially since he's having to deal with the new ball at the moment.

(hopes that Puddle has just instigated his legendary kiss of death and as a result bought Hoggy a wicket )

 

[aussie1st]

Only thing you've brought is Hoggy getting 2 fours smashed against him be Henriques

 

[CricketFan999]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6140748.stm

"Geraint Jones will be England's wicket-keeper in the first Ashes Test, coach Duncan Fletcher has confirmed."

Oh dear...

 

[puddleduck]

Fletcher has confirmed Jones will be first choice for the Ashes... unbelievable.. literally unbelievable

I take back everything I've said defending Fletcher against Sureshot, Andrew, and others I'm sure over the last few months. When he starts Giles ahead of Panesar and we fail to retain the Ashes I will finally join the chaps who have been saying his time is up for the last 6 months.

I guess it's nice for other chaps like Rob Key, Owais Shah and James Foster to know that if you want to win back your place in the England team, try scoring no runs in County Cricket and being dissapointing in your first game back for England. If possible try and get the person who has taken your spot to perform well in his only 2 test matches.

Using that policy, Panesar is also buggered and the only thing Gilo has done wrong is to have taken some wickets on his return, had he taken 0-120 off 10 overs he would be shoe-in!

Oh well, I will get behind the side, and I seriously hope this turns out to be a master-stroke from Fletcher, but somehow I feel it will cost us massively.. ie a dropped dolly early in a session off someone like Ponting or Gilly, and the match being all but over as the bowlers heads drop and the fielders follow the example set by the keeper. All so we may or may not get an extra few runs from someone who in the last few months has averaged far below the now former incumbent

 

[Ludicrous]

What a mess. Geraint Jones has proved consistently over the last couple of years that he's not a Test player, and Chris Read did fantastically against Pakistan.

 

[irottev]

Wow, Giles outbowling Panesar by the looks of it. Maybe England should use both.

 

[cricketmad09]

My theory is, NSW gave Giles those 2 wickets, so England would play him instead of Penisar.

 

[puddleduck]

Wow, Giles outbowling Panesar by the looks of it. Maybe England should use both.

I'm pretty sure Devon Malcolm once outbowled Allan Donald... must be a better bowler then? If he hadn't been outbowled by Panesar for the last 6 months of their respective international careers then you might have a point...

 

[aussie1st]

My theory is, NSW gave Giles those 2 wickets, so England would play him instead of Penisar.

They breed them smart over in NSW

Shocking call to play Jones but I'm not surprised, oh well is England lose the Ashes and it's due to Jones dropping it then the media will be calling for heads.

 

[barmyarmy]

I still have faith that Fletcher will play Panesar, either ahead of Giles or as one of two spinners.
Not quite sure why Read's chance is going to be limited to 1 test match in which he played well and one ODI tournament where the whole team were terrible.