*Official* Third Test at Old Trafford

[Pizzorno]

Been awake since 4am watching Everton v Juventus in pre season, don't regret it one bit. Always so excited to watch an Old Trafford test although I think Australia will win this one, can see a bit of over confidence slipping into the England team throughout the 5 days. Either way, I have day 5 tickets so please...

 

[hendrix]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say that if the pitch is as dry as everyone (other than MacGill) is saying, I actually would pick Starc over Bird. It's still close but I think Starc's ability to get reverse swing and to take the pitch out of the equation would count for more on a dry pitch than the fact that Bird seems to be bowling a little better at the moment. Not too fussed either way though.

Does Harris get reverse?

Pattinson certainly got the old ball doing a bit.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

It's official. Warner and Lyon in, Hughes and Agar out. Still waiting on the pacemen.

 

[Burgey]

Starc or Bird to debut then

 

[morgieb]

Lyon for Agar makes sense. As does Warner for Hughes if Hughes isn't opening.

 

[the big bambino]

Tbf about the Laker performance there are many anecdotes that the pitches at Leeds and OT were made for he and Lock when pitches then were green and both places had recd their fair amount of rain.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Will be frothin' if the People's Champ has a lumbar failure this game.

 

[Maximas]

No but the point is that the weather means the pitches are naturally dry. So leaving them so by not excessively watering to compensate can hardly constitute 'doctoring' the pitches. There is also another theory that the modern drainage systems are sucking the moisture out of the squares so the character of pitches are changing.

Frankly the whole concept of the "traditional English seamer" is really a bit of a myth these days. We rarely see them for test matches these days. The weather obviously plays a part through offering swing, but most of the pitches themselves are flat.

I have no problem with doctored pitches for the record, your playing at home, you deserve the right to produce pitches however you want. Just saying that it's obvious that Swann is meant to benefit from the pitches, this isn't normal.

 

[hendrix]

It's official. Warner and Lyon in, Hughes and Agar out. Still waiting on the pacemen.

best outcome IMO.

Warner should be opening though, Khawaja 3, Watson 4

 

[Burgey]

Starc in apparently.

 

[Cabinet96]

Frankly the whole concept of the "traditional English seamer" is really a bit of a myth these days. We rarely see them for test matches these days. The weather obviously plays a part through offering swing, but most of the pitches themselves are flat.

Yeah this. People have been constantly talking about how Bird is suited to English conditions, but I don't buy it. He's predominantly a seam bowlers isn't he? So he'd actually prefer the faster wickets in Australia and certainly prefer Hobart to most English test grounds.

I'd be interested to hear Vic's thoughts, but in club cricket England has always been a place where spin is quite dominant. See far more slow, low turners than fast green tops.

 

[Spikey]

So Phil Hughes has been dropped after the 2nd test to accommodate Shane Watson eh

 

[Maximas]

So Phil Hughes has been dropped after the 2nd test to accommodate Shane Watson eh

You're not surprised are you? This was bound to happen knowing the NSP

 

[Riggins]

yea in my experience, at least in club cricket where the grounds aren't as well covered and don't drain as well, the pitches are a lot softer. As such they seam, but it's slow seam movement, and not a lot of bounce, so you have enough time to adjust. On the other hand bowling spin you can afford to bowl a lot fast and don't lose the grip off the wicket, so coupled with club batsmen usually being **** players of spin, decent spinners do bowl really well.

@cabby

 

[Riggins]

You're not surprised are you? This was bound to happen knowing the NSP

it was a reference to the same thing happening in the 09 series.

 

[ajdude]

if we get bowled out for 0 can england enforce the follow on?

 

[Spikey]

it was a reference to the same thing happening in the 09 series.

except this time we dont have mitchell johnson forcing us to pick a 5th bowling option

 

[LongHopCassidy]

if we get bowled out for 0 can england enforce the follow on?

Clarke to declare at 9 down so as to have a crack at them before lunch.

 

[Maximas]

it was a reference to the same thing happening in the 09 series.

aha, my post still doesn't look bad in that context though

 

[Maximas]

yea in my experience, at least in club cricket where the grounds aren't as well covered and don't drain as well, the pitches are a lot softer. As such they seam, but it's slow seam movement, and not a lot of bounce, so you have enough time to adjust. On the other hand bowling spin you can afford to bowl a lot fast and don't lose the grip off the wicket, so coupled with club batsmen usually being **** players of spin, decent spinners do bowl really well.

@cabby

Happens in NZ as well, Bruce Martin is someone who thrives on those pitches but looks crap elsewhere