Well well it looks the Aussies are going to go with an unchanged squad.
Reason ?
Either the pitch is more seamer friendly or because of the injury to Shane Watson, my guess is a bit of both. I do feel for Stu Macgill.
England, they will defo drop Anderson for either Mahmood or Panesar
Originally posted by ElleEffSeee
Anderson was only ever good as a OD player, wasn't he?
I think he started off OK, but then it all went wrong for some reason.
Just checked his figures. He played 7 tests in the summer of 2003, doing OK (while not spectacular), but has only played another 7 since then.
Originally posted by ElleEffSeeeFletcher picked the side according to conditions.
Anderson was only ever good as a OD player, wasn't he? Keep him for the ODs and use Mahmood in the tests (hopefully to replace with Stuart Broad next year).
1. Giles - finger spin at the Gabba is most likely not going to win a match here.
2. Anderson - They expected swing but there was none, except a little with the 2nd new ball.
For the Oval I am expecting both Giles and Panesar to player here.
If the pitch does not look like it is going to spin much then I would expect the only change to be Mahmood for Anderson. If it is going to spin then Panesar for Anderson.
In Adelaide winning the toss is paramount as it is a good batting wicket. Wont take much spin till late in the game (traditionally). Aostralia will take the same side into this game. The weak link in Australia at the moment is Brett Lee who is expensive and hasnt taken too many English wickets over his career.
Originally posted by dan182Probably not far off, except for the third one. Every recent ashes series I've heard "Giles is going to get slaughtered" from Australians beforehand. It's never happened. Panesar's a better bowler, and it probably won't happen to him either.
Bring on the 2nd test.
My predictions.
If England win the toss - a draw.
If Aus win the toss - an Aus victory.
Monty to get slaughtered.
Hayden to get a 100.
Harmison to find some form.
I hope you're right about Harmison though. And England really need to win the toss.
I woke this morning and was shocked to find Anderson had kept his place and Monty missed out.
I agreed with the team for the Gabba but not this time.
However a solid start and I hope Colly gets his ton. The downside for England is the run rate, they would like to have been about 320/360.
I am going to stick with a draw.
Originally posted by ElleEffSeeeI like the toss system
Bloody toss system, the umpires might as well say, 'It's heads. Right you've won the game, lets go home (to separate homes)'. We could have just one toss at the start of the series, then the choice of whether to bat/bowl first should be alternated between the teams for all the following tests.
Originally posted by dan182Shame the track is so dead.It is diffcult to see 19 wickets falling on that pitch so a draw looks probable.
I woke this morning and was shocked to find Anderson had kept his place and Monty missed out.
I agreed with the team for the Gabba but not this time.
However a solid start and I hope Colly gets his ton. The downside for England is the run rate, they would like to have been about 320/360.
I am going to stick with a draw.
Monty we need you now.
I agree with LFC about the toss system. I hear the Perth pitch is dead too. What happened to those lively bouncey Oval style Aussies wickets?