Third Test: Australia v England at Edgbaston

[aussie1st]

They won't drop Hussey mid series, too much of a chance especially one of the established batters. Plus don't trust in our backups but would be good to have them perform in the tour match so that we know they are coming in with runs under their belt.

 

[hedger_14]

Yeah, they should keep Hussey in the side. The hard question is which bowlers play.

 

[mattfb]

If Hauritz is injured I'd send Krejza over as cover. I wouldn't say Siddle is a lock in atm, hes averaging more than Johnson this series and only slightly less expensive. Of course I wouldn't trust the averages too much as Flintoff is averaging way more than both Johnson and Siddle!

Still I could see the selectors going for more experience and going with Lee, Clark, Hilfenhaus, Hauritz. Someone said Lee doesn't want to play in the warm up to keep himself in cotton wool. If he does that then I wouldn't be picking him. He needs to prove his fitness and if he still has his form.

Aye, Krejza has been doing the job for Australia A so he definetly should be over here in case the wicket will spin.

There is no way in hell I would drop Siddle. He has easily been our most passionate bowler and if we drop him we lose 10% of the teams passion. The averages are nothing to go by, I'm sure the selectors have been watching the matches and not looking at the averages so they will know how Siddle has bowled better then Johnson.

Agreed on the Lee part. It's simple for him really. Play the tour match and prove yourself and you might get a go. If you don't play it, then tough luck. That's what it should be - but it won't be like that.

 

[Jakester1288]

If Hauritz is injured I'd send Krejza over as cover. I wouldn't say Siddle is a lock in atm, hes averaging more than Johnson this series and only slightly less expensive. Of course I wouldn't trust the averages too much as Flintoff is averaging way more than both Johnson and Siddle!

Still I could see the selectors going for more experience and going with Lee, Clark, Hilfenhaus, Hauritz. Someone said Lee doesn't want to play in the warm up to keep himself in cotton wool. If he does that then I wouldn't be picking him. He needs to prove his fitness and if he still has his form.

Aye, Krejza has been doing the job for Australia A so he definetly should be over here in case the wicket will spin.

There is no way in hell I would drop Siddle. He has easily been our most passionate bowler and if we drop him we lose 10% of the teams passion. The averages are nothing to go by, I'm sure the selectors have been watching the matches and not looking at the averages so they will know how Siddle has bowled better then Johnson.

Agreed on the Lee part. It's simple for him really. Play the tour match and prove yourself and you might get a go. If you don't play it, then tough luck. That's what it should be - but it won't be like that.

Agree with Matt.

Siddle has had a few drops and been unlucky, Johnson might as well be bowling right handed, Hilfenhaus is bowling really, really well, and Hauritz is holding up and end and doing well. Johnson is the weak link in our bowling attack at the moment, if he does come good in the tour match and/or third Test, he has to go. You pick you team mostly likely to win a test match, and your best team, and if Johnson is bowling tripe, he isn't a part of it.

 

[aussie1st]

There is no way in hell I would drop Siddle. He has easily been our most passionate bowler and if we drop him we lose 10% of the teams passion. The averages are nothing to go by, I'm sure the selectors have been watching the matches and not looking at the averages so they will know how Siddle has bowled better then Johnson.

Passion alone should never be enough. Fact of the matter is Siddle has an economy of 3.88 for this series only 0.12 less than Johnson who is at rock bottom. Johnson we know of, but Siddle has no excuse what so ever to be going for so many runs. Its not like his action is broken or his wrist position is stuffed. Heck he isn't even bowling 150km/h so really to be going at 3.88 so far is poor.

 

[sifter132]

^Yes agree. If Mitch hadn't been bowling this way, Siddle would be the one getting heat for his loose bowling. It's only Mitch's struggles that are keeping him out of the spotlight. Sure Siddle is looking dangerous in patches, but he can't seem to sustain any pressure.

For me it all depends how Mitch bowls in the next tour match. Surely he has to play in that and if there is no improvement shown his spot must be in doubt given the backups we have. Lee is ahead of Stuart Clark for me but the balance is probably not ideal. The selectors may want a guy for the holding role. In that case McDonald comes into play because a Hauritz,Siddle,Clark,Hilfy tail isn't very good.

The other option is finding a spot for Shane Watson. At times in this match a 4th seam bowler would have been very handy and given Mitch's struggles he has a good chance at being picked I think. So assuming Ponting wants to keep Mitch, I'd think Watson might come in for North. Tough for North, but the extra seam bowler would be very useful and Hussey has looked decent in this match. His seniority would let him keep a spot ahead of North. Left field option is to keep North despite Watson's inclusion but open with Hussey/Watson and drop Hughes.

 

[OffCutters]

I say we put Clark in replacing Mitch Johnson( if he continues to bowl badly), and maybe McDonald as well but not sure whether theres anyone to replace.

 

[aussie1st]

I would be tempted to go with Clark, Hilfy, Lee and Hauirtz. Lee tour form brought a whole new Lee to the plate, his ability to reverse swing at pace makes him an ideal choice to back up Hilfy's swing. Clark is there for the accuracy and he doesn't average 20 in Test cricket by not taking wickets. Siddle has potential but his accuracy is a worry, you could give him another go but I feel Hilfy needs a guy that can keep it tight. It looks like we will have another bowling shoot out though with Clark, Siddle, Lee and Johnson fighting for 2 spots.

Hussey looks alright but as has been the problem all summer, he gets a start then is unable to keep out a good ball. North seems to have a gap between his bat and pad which has lead to him being bowled quite a bit in his short Test career.

 

[mattfb]

Passion alone should never be enough. Fact of the matter is Siddle has an economy of 3.88 for this series only 0.12 less than Johnson who is at rock bottom. Johnson we know of, but Siddle has no excuse what so ever to be going for so many runs. Its not like his action is broken or his wrist position is stuffed. Heck he isn't even bowling 150km/h so really to be going at 3.88 so far is poor.

It is imo. This is the Ashes - the amount of belief, aggression and passion he brings to the team is immense. You can see that just from watching. If you bring Clark in for Siddle our attack will lack any energy, aggression and passion. Siddle bowls his heart out and he has bowled so well - managing to get swing and seam whilst bowling at around 145k's. Johnson has to go - Hauritz, Siddle and Hilfy would have every right to feel hard done by if they get dropped now.

 

[aussie1st]

It is imo. This is the Ashes - the amount of belief, aggression and passion he brings to the team is immense. You can see that just from watching. If you bring Clark in for Siddle our attack will lack any energy, aggression and passion. Siddle bowls his heart out and he has bowled so well - managing to get swing and seam whilst bowling at around 145k's. Johnson has to go - Hauritz, Siddle and Hilfy would have every right to feel hard done by if they get dropped now.

If Siddle is bowling well now then our standards are seriously dropping. We can't pick a guy just cause of his passion if hes going at almost 4 an over. You can't just drop one guy for being expensive and not drop the other guy that is almost equally expensive just cause he has more passion. Plus Lee brings passion, aggression, consistently in the 150s and reverse swing.

 

[age of the fall]

If Siddle is bowling well now then our standards are seriously dropping. We can't pick a guy just cause of his passion if hes going at almost 4 an over. You can't just drop one guy for being expensive and not drop the other guy that is almost equally expensive just cause he has more passion. Plus Lee brings passion, aggression, consistently in the 150s and reverse swing.

Add experience to that list.

 

[Howsie]

Add experience to that list.

And he doesn't look like a bulldog either

 

[Jakester1288]

I say we put Clark in replacing Mitch Johnson( if he continues to bowl badly), and maybe McDonald as well but not sure whether theres anyone to replace.

Fair enough if you want to bring in Clark to replace Johnson, but next in your list to bring in is McDonald? What about Lee?

 

[Mercules]

You could go in with 5 bowlers and drop North/Hussey.

 

[Howsie]

Australia probably wish they brought over another batsmen right about now. I know the bowling has been pretty bad but what happens if Hughes doesn't get going.