*Official* Third Test at Old Trafford

[Howe_zat]

So are all the England fans having that creeping feeling that everything's about to go horribly wrong, probably as a direct consequence of all the gloating? I'm desperate for the test to start just so as the creeping goes away.

 

[grecian]

So are all the England fans having that creeping feeling that everything's about to go horribly wrong, probably as a direct consequence of all the gloating? I'm desperate for the test to start just so as the creeping goes away.

Nah, unless you mean 'orrible Madchester rain. That's about the only way we don't go 3-0 up after this match.

 

[Burgey]

Bird must have filled in a selector's daughter.

 

[Burgey]

Lol Warner on the radio just now:

"Dave, have you settled back into English conditions?"

"Yeah mate, I let the first two balls go in the nets the other day and got bowled so its all good".

 

[theegyptian]

lol that is pretty funny.

 

[Adders]

Is that your excuse for the last 6 months?

Yep, that and excessive alcohol consumption.

 

[hazsa19]

So are all the England fans having that creeping feeling that everything's about to go horribly wrong, probably as a direct consequence of all the gloating? I'm desperate for the test to start just so as the creeping goes away.

It says something about the English cricket fans state of mind that i'm hoping for a rain induced draw. 2-0 up with 2 to go and i'll start celebrating.

 

[Maximas]

wow, some nervous England fans, you guys are destroying us and we have almost no way back, give yourselves a break

 

[Adders]

It says something about the English cricket fans state of mind that i'm hoping for a rain induced draw. 2-0 up with 2 to go and i'll start celebrating.

Good grief man that is terrible!!!

Pull yer head in........if you can't have faith in the ability of England, then at least have faith in the awfulness of this Australian side!!!

Edit:

I would be absolutely devastated to have rain rob us of the chance to go 3 zip here.

 

[hazsa19]

Good grief man that is terrible!!!

Pull yer head in........if you can't have faith in the ability of England, then at least have faith in the awfulness of this Australian side!!!

Edit:

I would be absolutely devastated to have rain rob us of the chance to go 3 zip here.

As long as it's dry tomorrow as I have tickets

 

[LongHopCassidy]

On second thoughts, let's not recall Boof:

The evidence that Khawaja is enjoying his cricket was plain to see at Hove last week. Bowling in the nets, he dismissed the new coach, Darren Lehmann, from three consecutive deliveries with his offbreaks, celebrating as joyously as if he'd just scored the Ashes-winning runs.

 

[hendrix]

Usman Khawaja:

"Darren Lehmann was a big reason I moved up," he said. "I'd worked with him a few times. He had come to the academy a few times. He was always awesome, every time I had talked to him he was really good ... He doesn't play any favourites with anyone [as Australia coach], especially me."

 

[Cabinet96]

Haha, that's brilliant. @LHC

Tbf Twatto often whacks him for a few fours in the opening overs and it doesn't bother him but I suppose he knows it's only a matter of time before that massive pad presents itself for an LBW shout.

Jimmy doesn't have the greatest record against Watson though tbh. One of the reasons he gets so many stars against England is that he's always been pretty comfortable with Anderson.

 

[ajdude]

ughhhh piss off starc

 

[Top_Cat]

Seriously, as I said before the series started, everyone will have to get used to lots moar Starc from now on. He's the pick right behind Pattinson and Siddle for now (when Harris isn't fit/they're playing more than one Test in a row). He might not be the finished article with the ball but he can bat so he's going to be in the frame whilst the Aussie top-order is so ****.

 

[Son Of Coco]

LOL.....que the CW nerds to come in and explain the laws of probability to us again.

Que?

Edit: Bugger, Bambino got there first!

 

[Son Of Coco]

geez bird not getting picked is rough

Now why would we go and pick a bloke who seems to be able to bowl consistently well and nip it around a bit? That would be insanity on the part of the selectors.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

It's rubbish Bird didn't get picked. However the bowling side hasn't been the big down point. So even if he had a blinder it doesn't guarantee a win. If Australia can not cop any dodgydecisions, and then also not get themselves out in seriously bad ways then hopefully some kind of total can be built, and maybe just maybe a decent match will follow.

 

[hendrix]

Seriously, as I said before the series started, everyone will have to get used to lots moar Starc from now on. He's the pick right behind Pattinson and Siddle for now (when Harris isn't fit/they're playing more than one Test in a row). He might not be the finished article with the ball but he can bat so he's going to be in the frame whilst the Aussie top-order is so ****.

Yeah see I don't have a problem with selecting Starc in that he's the incumbent and offers a little bit of variety, but then why did they drop him for the second test? It's just inconsistent and impossible to follow the reasoning.

The way I see it there's two selection policies that you can go for:

1. Pick your best 4 bowlers individually (rated by performance and consistency). In which case the first test should have been Pattinson, Siddle, Harris.

2. Pick your best combination of bowlers - India clearly opt for this policy, which is why Jadeja plays so often. I thought they were doing this when they selected Pattinson, Starc, Siddle (Agar) for the first test: a right arm outswing, a left arm inswing, and a seamer. But if you're following this selection policy, Bird and Siddle should never play together, and Harris and Pattinson shouldn't either.

Picking Harris and Pattinson in the same team for the second test was at odds with what seemed to be their first test selection policy.

 

[NUFAN]

If Starc bowls around the wicket before lunch on the first day I am going to rage.

Actually, I hope we bat first, in which case change lunch to the drinks break before close of play.