***Official*** 3rd Test at the WACA

[PhoenixFire]

I do now. But I could have just said I wish it was like that now, but without the link.

[x_is_for_xray]

Hi everyone,

Im new to this site, i want to go to one of the test matches, probably Perth. Unfortunatley for me my friends are not cricket fans. Is the a website where fans can chat to arranged going in groups?

I can be contacted on: scott_holden@hotmail.com or just leave a post.

Cheers guys

[James90]

No chance of getting tickets now, mate.

[x_is_for_xray]

i have been onto the thomas cook websit and there are still packages available for the 3rd 4th and 5th test

[superkingdave]

I thought it was illegal for players to sell their comp tickets on? Maybe he doesn't know his dad is making a bit on the sly

[Hoggy31]

Should go off.

[FaaipDeOiad]

May as well take the selection discussion in here.

I think that, barring a great second innings knock, Martyn will be out the door come the WACA test. Assuming Watson is fit he's an automatic selection for the flexibility he adds and his recent form, and Martyn has pissed it away in both tests so far while Clarke has been responsible and handled the bowling well.

Picking Watson opens the door for MacGill, who is a pretty good selection atm as he's fit, has some Pura Cup wickets behind him and the attack struggled in Adelaide. The WACA will probably be a road anyway, in which case his ability to bowl long spells and gets some assistance from a dead surface will be helpful.

So who do Australia drop? Anyone think Martyn deserves another chance ahead of Clarke, or that Watson shouldn't be picked? I'm guessing five specialist bowlers might be a popular option, but I don't think they'll go that way. I'm thinking that, as harsh as it is, Lee is the one who will have to go to get MacGill in the team, and Martyn's test career is more or less over.

[pasag]

Yeah, sad but true.

[Johnners]

As you said, barring a great 2nd innings knock Martyn will be gone. Clarke has shown a lot better temperament and attitude to batting in the longer version of the game since being dropped, and it showed with his patient 50 in brisbane. I'm hoping he can continue on tomorow and make a well earned Century.

If Watson is indeed fit and plays, and Australia still holds a lead, whether it be 1-0 or 2-0, Lee deserves another crack IMO. It'd be a different story if Macgill was taking 10-fers for NSW but he's not, and for that reason i'd keep Lee for at least another match to see if he can get it right.

[aussie tragic]

A little radical, however my 3rd Test XI:

1. Hayden (Jaques breathing down his neck)
2. Langer
3. Ponting
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Gilchrist (after his ton in Adelaide )
7. Lee (his batting ave is 43.75 over last 5-tests)
8. Warne
9. Clark
10. MacGill
11. McGrath

It's supposed to be a road so why do you need more batting than the top 6 above. After all, Gilchrist, Lee & Warne at # 6-8 are better than Flintoff, Jones & Giles

[As I said a bit radical & I'm sure they'll go Watson at # 6, with Lee or MacGill to carry the drinks]

[PhoenixFire]

Any thoughts on what the WACA pitch is going to be like? I heard that when WA played there it was just a road, flat, slow and takes spin, nothing like the WACA of old.

[aussie tragic]

Any thoughts on what the WACA pitch is going to be like? I heard that when WA played there it was just a road, flat, slow and takes spin, nothing like the WACA of old.

Three FC scorecards from this year (tame draw to start, then a win by just 6 runs, followed by a huge Innings win)

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/aust...ch/251599.html
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/aust...ch/251601.html
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/aust...ch/251605.html

[PhoenixFire]

Damn, any pitch that lets Marcus North score such a big hundred must be mighty flat, unless he's improved since he played at Lancashire in 2005.

[aussie tragic]

Yeah, there were 7 FC 100's in the 3 games, 6 of them big ones:

Rojers - 279
North - 239*
Paine - 215
Langer - 188
Love - 186
Voges - 152*
North - 107

[PhoenixFire]

Great, another road, just what England need