1st Test: England v Australia

[Skater]

Originally Posted by ZexyZahid

That's just great. That means no highlights for me.

Seriously, something must change within the government. I mean they can show horse racing on BBC, but they can't show cricket? Horse racing isn't that great 'crown jewel sport' then cricket.

Cricket rights go to the highest bidder. Five offered more than the Beeb for them.

[Leicester Fox]

Wednesday start is a crap idea.

[OnlyClarkey]

Originally Posted by King Pietersen

No. Samit Patel should have been picked ahead of both of them. He's twice the player and twice the man. Perfect.

I agree. He CAN bat better than Rashid when he wants too, and he is an outstanding fielder. His bowling is around the same level of Swanns, in the way I don't believe either of them do a massive amount to the ball.

Also, Brett Lee is undergoing a scan for a rib injury today, according to BBC Sport. Interesting..

[ajdude]

Lee in doubt for Cardiff with rib problem | Cricket News | The Ashes - England v Australia 2009 | Cricinfo.com

Apparently in doubt, it'll solve the spin dilemma I suppose; or will we see Ben Hilfenhaus/Andrew McDonald?

[Covvy]

We better see Hilfy.

[King Pietersen]

Originally Posted by OnlyClarkey

I agree. He CAN bat better than Rashid when he wants too, and he is an outstanding fielder. His bowling is around the same level of Swanns, in the way I don't believe either of them do a massive amount to the ball.

Swanny turns the ball more than Samit I think, gets more drift as well. He was really getting the ball to drift in the Windies. Samit should certainly be in the side I think, and will be in the side within the next 12 months I expect. Having Samit in the side could allow us to pick the best gloveman, Foster, which helps team balance. I'd love to see us going in with:

Strauss *
Cook
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood/Bell/Trott/another top County batsman
Patel
Flintoff
Foster +
Broad
Swann
Anderson

We'd then bat decently down to 10, still have 5 bowling options, and be all-round stronger I think. Just a matter of Samit getting fit.

[aussie1st]

Not again Hope Lee makes a quick recovery as we could use his speed and swing.
If he is out, I have no doubt we will go with Siddle, Clark, Johnson, Hauritz

[OnlyClarkey]

Originally Posted by King Pietersen

Swanny turns the ball more than Samit I think, gets more drift as well. He was really getting the ball to drift in the Windies. Samit should certainly be in the side I think, and will be in the side within the next 12 months I expect. Having Samit in the side could allow us to pick the best gloveman, Foster, which helps team balance. I'd love to see us going in with:

Strauss *
Cook
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood/Bell/Trott/another top County batsman
Patel
Flintoff
Foster +
Broad
Swann
Anderson

We'd then bat decently down to 10, still have 5 bowling options, and be all-round stronger I think. Just a matter of Samit getting fit.

Only problem with this is... I don't want to lose Samit to England, Notts are one of the worst effected teams from England.

[mattfb]

Originally Posted by Covvy

We better see Hilfy.

Nah mate, would rather have the spinning option of Hauritz.

Originally Posted by aussie1st

Not again Hope Lee makes a quick recovery as we could use his speed and swing.
If he is out, I have no doubt we will go with Siddle, Clark, Johnson, Hauritz

Agree with you there. Hopefully Johnson can find some swing and a bit of pace and Siddle bowls quick. I wish he played the tour match instead of Clark actually, I wanted to have a good look at him.

[Hooper]

If Lee is out, Hauritz is a shoo in.

Prepare for him to chuck a Warnie '93.

[aussie1st]

Johnson will have to fire up similar to what he did in SA or we could struggle to get 20 wickets without Lee. Can't see Hauritz making much of an impact. Siddle will have his burst to get us a few wickets, will need Clark to get back to his usual ways.

[mattfb]

Originally Posted by aussie1st

Johnson will have to fire up similar to what he did in SA or we could struggle to get 20 wickets without Lee. Can't see Hauritz making much of an impact. Siddle will have his burst to get us a few wickets, will need Clark to get back to his usual ways.

I think if we take 20 wickets it will look like this:

Johnson - 7
Clark - 5
Siddle - 5
North - 2
Hauritz - 1

[WelshWizzard]

COME ON England & Wales.

Show the Aussies how far they've fallen.

This time in 2 days I'll be watching something I never thought I'd see. An Ashes Test in Wales.

Excellent. Don't let us down now boys.

[Hooper]

Swap Clark with Johnson and you just about have it right Bluey.

[mattfb]

Johnson has a knack of getting wickets. No matter how crappy he bowls, he just finds them. I think 7 is fair, 3 in the first and 4 in the second.