*Official* Tour Matches

[Howe_zat]

This performance from the bowlers gives the selectors a potential headache. Say one of the other quickies goes down with an injury or performs badly, who comes in? All 3 have bowled beautifully, and all 3 have taken wickets. I'd like to see Tremlett play of the 3, but I could definitely see either Bresnan or Shahzad making the XI. Maybe we've got fairly decent fast bowling stocks after all.

Bresnan has been the least threatening, hasn't been as consistent as Shaz IMO, and given that Shazad isn't in the squad it'd likely be Tremlett.

Mostly, though, it'll depend on the bowler injured. Bresnan Shahzad stand a better chance of coming in if it's Anderson that's out.

[Noble One]

Not the best day for Australia. Watson and Katich out already for NSW, and our backup batsman not coping with a juicy Bellerive surface.

Tough being at work and not watching the game, a good chance for Smith to show some form with the bat (which has deserted him of late)

[Sylvester]

How come Shahzad is over here apart from playing this game if hes not in the squad?

[Spark]

Smart work from Paine. Singles are good.

[Top_Cat]

This performance from the bowlers gives the selectors a potential headache. Say one of the other quickies goes down with an injury or performs badly, who comes in? All 3 have bowled beautifully, and all 3 have taken wickets. I'd like to see Tremlett play of the 3, but I could definitely see either Bresnan or Shahzad making the XI. Maybe we've got fairly decent fast bowling stocks after all.

Definitely a problem you'd rather have than the one the Aussie selectors are having i.e. "So... who's fit?"

[BoyBrumby]

How come Shahzad is over here apart from playing this game if hes not in the squad?

Our performance squad is in Oz too, which he's a part of.

[Prince EWS]

How come Shahzad is over here apart from playing this game if hes not in the squad?

Touring with the performance squad. England have a whole secondary squad touring.

[Prince EWS]

Definitely a problem you'd rather have than the one the Aussie selectors are having i.e. "So... who's fit?"

You know the world's gone crazy when England have a much more settled eleven than Australia going into an Ashes series and one of the few answers to the above question is "Mark Cameron".

[BoyBrumby]

Colly bowling seam up. Rarity nowadays.

[BoyBrumby]

75/5 at lunch. Really can't fault it, can you?

Right, bed for me I reckon.

[Top_Cat]

You know the world's gone crazy when England have a much more settled eleven than Australia going into an Ashes series and one of the few answers to the above question is "Mark Cameron".

*subject to change without notice.

[Top_Cat]

heh, gone are the days of 'Aus's second XI would beat most Test sides.' Not that I thought it was terribly true anyway but this side is struggling to compete against England's second string.

[Prince EWS]

*subject to change without notice.

Quite. It looks like he'll probably get a bowl today so I've probably put the mocker on him.

[King Pietersen]

Rob Key doesn't quite have the face for Television, but I do enjoy his punditry a lot. Generally speaks a lot of sense, has a great cricket brain and I could defintely see him move into a regular commentary position when his career comes to an end. I'd rather listen to him ahead of Botham or Knight anyway.

[robelinda]

Really like Paine's batting, not a world beater but his technique is solid. Would bat all day for 10 if needed, not sure some of the other batsmen could leave their egos at the gate. Would be very brave to play Paine as a batsman, but his front foot play is miles better than White's for example.