Third Ashes Test banter!

[scaryjim]

Come on then guys, third Ashes test starts just down the road at Old Trafford today (no way I could afford tickets sadly, but I do have all 5 days off work and we might just have to see about Monday ). So, who's going to play, who do you wish was playing, and what's the outcome going to be?

Rumours are that KP's fine, so I expect we'll start with the same 11 as Lords, but I really wish we'd be brave and play 5 bowlers. Prior could bat at six*, with Bresnan 7, Broad 8 and Swann 9 that's still a pretty good lower order, and we could get Monty in at his happiest Test hunting ground. Time for Cook, Trott and KP to get some runs

EDIT: * or, to add a little controversy, drop Prior and give Bairstow the gloves...?

[kalniel]

Yeah largely agreed - KP needs to show he's worth the faith in him again, though I expect the Aussies to come at us hard in this one so good to have some spirit to fight back with.

I think they're going to be strong to start with, just a case of seeing if they can keep it up for long enough.

[kalniel]

You get the sense that Alastair Cook and Matt Prior are less inclined to review Stuart Broad appeals than those of other bowlers. It is yet another dimension of DRS: captain and wicketkeeper must take into account the different excitability levels of their bowlers...

lol.

[scaryjim]

Alas, for the need to do household tasks rather than sit and watch the cricket with a beer. Still, that will hopefully come later in the weekend! DRS is a talking point again already of course...

It really does feel like a hark back to the bad old days on the 90s, but in reverse - England with a stable settled team, the Aussies chopping and changing all the time: how many players have they used now, 15?

[ajones]

It really does feel like a hark back to the bad old days on the 90s, but in reverse - England with a stable settled team, the Aussies chopping and changing all the time: how many players have they used now, 15?

Not sure about the actual number, but given the score at the moment (England in, Day 5) I'm not sure Englands 11 players will be enough to last the day out

[scaryjim]

I'd jubilate more about the weather but I had to bike home through the heaviest of the afternoon rain

Still, Ashes retained, now we just need to win the series

Good to see Australia put up a decent showing though - just hope they've got a bit in the tank to make the remaining two matches interesting...