*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

[HeathDavisSpeed]

give Taylor a run out.

Planning to bat him alongside Watson?

[Pothas]

Not sure I would make any changes at this stage. I really want to see Tremlett back and I would take him to Australia but would like him in county cricket untill the end of the season see if he can take wickets on a more regular basis, Bresnan has been very solid since he came back anyway. Bairstow is obviously an issue and there is the Root opening question, I was in favour at the start of the series but it is clearly something they need to think about. Would see how they go in this last test and review it at the end of the series.

[Cooky Monster]

Worry about the Root issue when the series is over, said all along that Compton should never of been dropped and it should of stayed as it is, pretty sure we wouldn't of been 3 wickets down early in nearly every innings if Compo was there, wanna see Taylor get a shot also so that would mean Root staying up top for this test.

It really was awful management by Flower and co not to say to Compton after the NZ series that he was starting the Ashes, truly dreadful, he had done everything asked of him and up until that point, we would of seen a different Compton in those home tests v NZ for sure.

[Pothas]

Well they probably got it wrong but I think Compton would have had a very tough time against this attack, obviously we will never know.

[91Jmay]

Compton wouldn't have lasted long against Harris/Siddle IMO. His technique looked shot against NZ.

[Cooky Monster]

Thats it though ain't it, we will never know.

Minus the 180 Root has 80 runs in 7 innings and looks out of his depth overall, wonder what the 1st wicket partnership average is for Cook/Root this series?, Compton in his short career along with Cook had been good at building a platform and seeing off the new ball, he would of went allright i reckon, he done allright in those 2 warm up matches against the Aussies remember.

His mind was shot in that home NZ series, thats what really failed him, not his technique, thats how Flower and co let him down in a bad way not freeing up his mind by giving him a boost by telling him he was playing v Oz, really woeful man management.

KP in that Flintoff interview not long ago said it how it is by saying more than once how confidence is the number 1 most important thing for a cricketer/sportsman, its huge, Comptons good enough but he wasn't backed up and was put under unessacary pressure which he crumbled under.

[hendrix]

Compton looked less competent against the moving ball than Root has IMO.

Still, with England's emphasis on consistent selection it was a surprising move.

[Spikey]

would rest siddle and harris but that would mean playing faulkner so siddle has to play

[Top_Cat]

Bowl Harris until he's dead. He himself has said the reason he's been relatively resilient this series is because he had plenty of lead-up bowling. Rest him at The Oval and you increase the chance he'll be crocked for the return series.

[Riggins]

backing bell to make runs this test. now that the series is over and there's no pressure the game's right in his wheelhouse.

[Top_Cat]

haha yes! Three live series Ashes tons and if he scores a 4th at The Oval, we can still have a go at him for being a downhill skier. Just crazy enough to work...

[Riggins]

good tweet

"congratulations to england for winning the NAB cup, see you in december for the real thing. #ashes"

[dermo]

i just hope we don't try anything funky, like faulkner at 7

[Maximas]

i just hope we don't try anything funky, like faulkner at 7

We've already had the Agar debut, wouldn't put it past them

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Siddle to bat ahead of Faulkner.