*Official* Second Test at Lords

[Furball]

It's bizarre, I've generally ranted and ranted against Harmison having anything to do with England ever again, but I'm actually starting to think that replacing Broad with Harmison at Lord's might not actually be the worst call in history.

[GIMH]

Sometimes aussie I think you live in a parallel universe to the rest of us, a universe where Steve Harmison and Michael Owen are still the best in the country at what they do

[Jamee999]

Harmison and Onions in for Panesar and Broad, me thinks. No changes for Australia (allthough Clark for Hauritz still wouldn't be bad).

[GIMH]

I'd line up like this

Strauss
Cook
Anderson
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Swann
Broad
Onions

[aussie]

Sometimes aussie I think you live in a parallel universe to the rest of us, a universe where Steve Harmison and Michael Owen are still the best in the country at what they do

Haa, where did i ever suggest any of this?

All im saying is that Harmo based on how he bowled in the warm-up game, if Lord's isn't flat, should play ahead of Onions.

Onions is the bowling equivalent to Bopara, ENG dont need to pick another player HOPING he doesn't get exposed. The role Onions would play in the 5-man attack as the stock bowler - Broad could do. Harmo potentially can be another series wicket-taking option, thus hopefully allowing Freddie to be more of an attacking bowler for the rest of the series.

On Owen all i ever said is that he was not a washed up old man, contratry to public opinion & to date the most successful coach in English football shares that view as well. So i like this universe ATM..

[Furball]

I'd line up like this

Strauss
Cook
Anderson
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Swann
Broad
Onions

Drop Cook for Panesar imo. Panesar can stonewall at the top of the innings, plus has some handy part-time spin to fall back on as well.

[zaremba]

12 man: Billy Shafayat

[Matt79]

Sometimes aussie I think you live in a parallel universe to the rest of us, a universe where Steve Harmison and Michael Owen are still the best in the country at what they do

Stick him on ignore. I've used ignore properly for the first time this series and blocked out half a dozen of the predictably annoying posters and it's great. Makes hanging here so much better.

[marc71178]

Not just because Onions has had a decent start vs WI means he MUST replace Monty. Based on how he & Harmo bowled in the warm-up before the 1st test, he should play in 2nd test. Plus IMO Sidebottom also does offer a more likely wicket-taking option (presuming the bowling conditions for the series improves) than Onions.

Based on what exactly? Can't be his form of the last 12 months (and more importantly this season)

Onions should still be ahead of Harmison for me as he's been outbowling him all season, but both are so far ahead of Sidebottom that if he gets in there needs to be a serious injury crisis IMO.

[Richard]

I seriously, seriously hope I'm wrong in having a nagging inkling that we'll get the "we've got to stick with the same team after that superb last-ditch performance, because it really built team character", or similar.

Either way, the great escape should avoid any knee-jerk reactions. If there's any change, I can't conceive it being anything other than Onions in, MSP out, to make the side that (still) should have played at Sophia Gardens.

[Samuel_Vimes]

England to take three wickets. Katich run out, Hughes laughed out and Ponting retired amused.

[pskov]

England to take three wickets. Katich run out, Hughes laughed out and Ponting retired amused.

Only for England to win the final three tests to take the urn back with a 3-1 victory, Punter then realising that retiring in the middle of an Ashes series probably wasn't the brightest idea.

[pasag]

Harmison and Onions in for Panesar and Broad, me thinks. No changes for Australia (allthough Clark for Hauritz still wouldn't be bad).

Yeah, Aus won't make any changes. Hauritz is a dead cert for Lord's.

[Burgey]

Yeah, Aus won't make any changes. Hauritz is a dead cert for Lord's.

Think that's right, barring one of the quicks not pulling up ok.

[Son Of Coco]

England to take three wickets. Katich run out, Hughes laughed out and Ponting retired amused.

Monty and Anderson to be given MBE's along with the 12th man and physio (who has barely left the room before he eats his).