Ashes: Fifth Test

BlackForestReds

No Tim Bresnan - he has a stress fracture in his back and he's out for the rest of the season.

The squad: Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Simon Kerrigan, Steven Finn, Chris Woakes.

Friend Or Defoe

Many addicks going? I'm going on Wednesday.

killerandflash

A 14 man squad? It seems a bit excessive, but I guess it's a way of checking the progress of Finn and Tremlett in advance of the Ashes Down Under

Riviera

Kerrigan has been selected to allow him to mix with the side I expect. After recent events Monty won't be going on tour with England anymore; so it's a chance to integrate a new slow left armer.

Mike

I'm there on the weds too

McBobbin

Gonna be a straight swap for bresnan, no other changes. Did onions get injured? Anyway I think it will be Finn that gets in, but I'd quite like to see Tremlett. Woakes is a better bat, so fulfills the bresnan bowling all rounder role, but doubt he'll get picked

Covered End

I'm going Thursday & Sunday. Not that I expect to see much cricket on Sunday.

delroofer

Onions has a broken finger.

McBobbin

delroofer said:

Onions has a broken finger.

Cheers. Luck not quite on his side

killerandflash

McBobbin said:

Gonna be a straight swap for bresnan, no other changes. Did onions get injured? Anyway I think it will be Finn that gets in, but I'd quite like to see Tremlett. Woakes is a better bat, so fulfills the bresnan bowling all rounder role, but doubt he'll get picked

If you're only picking 4 bowlers, then bowling ability is surely more important than being able to score runs, and down under Tremlett (or Finn) would be far more of a threat with the ball than Woakes. Alternatively, the way Bairstow has batted, you could almost play Woakes at 6 instead, as he'd probably score nearly as many runs and be a 5th bowler..

Riviera

Or play him instead of Root or Trott or Cook. It's not just Bairstow who has struggled this series. Take out Roots century and see what he's left with. Bairstow also has a better average than the other two I mentioned in this post for the series. His last innings at Durham was rather good.

North Lower Neil

Think Tremlett will play - hope so too.

McBobbin

Riviera said:

Or play him instead of Root or Trott or Cook. It's not just Bairstow who has struggled this series. Take out Roots century and see what he's left with. Bairstow also has a better average than the other two I mentioned in this post for the series. His last innings at Durham was rather good.

This team is set in stone though, just the way Flower likes it. Can't complain with the results, but a wee bit of experimentation would be interesting

killerandflash

Riviera said:

Or play him instead of Root or Trott or Cook. It's not just Bairstow who has struggled this series. Take out Roots century and see what he's left with. Bairstow also has a better average than the other two I mentioned in this post for the series. His last innings at Durham was rather good.

I guess the difference is that Root and Cook are proven run scorers, Root has that ton which will keep him his place, and he's seen as the next big thing. Bairstow's best chance might be as a future wicket keeper, rather than a specialist batsman, as he hasn't shown so far in his England career that he's good enough to be picked on his batting alone.

Riviera

killerandflash said:

Riviera said:

Or play him instead of Root or Trott or Cook. It's not just Bairstow who has struggled this series. Take out Roots century and see what he's left with. Bairstow also has a better average than the other two I mentioned in this post for the series. His last innings at Durham was rather good.

I guess the difference is that Root and Cook are proven run scorers, Root has that ton which will keep him his place, and he's seen as the next big thing. Bairstow's best chance might be as a future wicket keeper, rather than a specialist batsman, as he hasn't shown so far in his England career that he's good enough to be picked on his batting alone.

Compton was also a proven run scorer for England, very recently too, didn't do him much good. Root is suffering from too much expectation heaped upon him. He should have remained learning his international trade at 6 instead of being thrust up to open. I keep hearing about his wonderful temperament, to be honest I'd rather see some more ability. Even when he made his 180 at Lords, and he should have been out for 6, he still missed making the most of a succession of full-tosses and half volleys. Our top six as a whole has been very, very disappointing this series. Thank goodness for Ian Bell.
I expect Bairstow to take over from Prior, maybe sooner rather than later. At the moment though, everyone keeps their place if they're not injured. Tremlett will replace Bresnan. The two new boys are just there to experience the build up.

Ormiston_Addick

Apparently Tremlett was poor in the T20 at the weekend and his bowling average this season is 39 in FCC - with 19 wickets in 7 matches, so he may not play if that is the case.

The management are huge fans of the pace and bounce of Finn, he might well get his place back.

I agree on Root, he has failed 7 out of 8 innings - a poor series and Bairstow has arguably been a touch more consistent - although Root has picked up a couple of key wickets too.

They have both played all series, might as well play them in the last Test.

Riviera

I'm sorry but T20 bowling cannot be compared to Test Match bowling. I expect both Tremlett and Finn to go to Oz so as the series is won, may as well give Tremlett a go seeing as Finn had an earlier Test.

Ormiston_Addick

Riviera said:

I'm sorry but T20 bowling cannot be compared to Test Match bowling.

Of course, but the view from some was that he still looks some way from his best in terms of his rhythm and pace - a FCC bowling average of nearly 40 for the season (against career average of 28) suggests that this is the case.

A very good bowler at his best, but the question is whether he is back at the level he bowled at in the 2010/11 Ashes down here.

LenGlover

Woakes has been playing for England Lions since God was a boy.

If the role of England Lions is to develop test players of the future then now, with the series won, is probably as good a time as any to give Woakes an outing in the senior side.

Lincsaddick

Tremlett is a spent force.

Young Topley from Essex for example would have been a good choice. The current talent pool in England is not so deep that there is not room for experimentation and to give a youngster or two a chance, especially as this series is won and the next is just around the corner. We will go into that series with bowlers that are getting neither fitter nor younger. Woakes does not convince me as 'the answer' to the strike bowler question.

I agree with those who 'criticise' the batsmen. Young Root would be better at 5 or 6. His big ton this year came after being dropped at (score) 8 off a dolly. He does not convince me as an opener. Bairstow? .. I don't think so. Cook, Trott and Prior have been so bad, they just must come good out in Oz. Thank the Lord for Bell. Without him we would have lost this series

McBobbin

Topley is good, tall and left handed. Mills is a southpaw too, and can bowl 94mph, and had England in some trouble. He's still pretty raw but has the tools.

kentaddick

Keep root where he is, think we're going to get another big score from him this match. Remember Atherton? Would get out on a crap score most games but when shit hit the fan he would dig in and play a godly innings. Root is a similar player I think. Would also like to keep Bairstow where he is, top top fielder although he needs to start producing some runs and I'm sure he knows that.

Bedsaddick

The Aussies are so demoralised there can only be one result at The Oval and the weather won't help them. Predicted to be 28c come Friday .

I feel a little bit sorry for Clarke because he's not your typical arrogant Aussie but we have to make them leave the UK shores thinking they can't win in Australia .

soapy_jones

Although feeling sympathy for an Aussie goes against the grain I agree Beds. He seems a jolly decent cove. I understand that he is descended from one of the prison guards we sent with the first lot of convicts, so it makes sense I suppose... That apart, we do need to crush that shower of shite and send them packing wondering what to do later in the year.

Riviera

Bedsaddick said:

The Aussies are so demoralised there can only be one result at The Oval and the weather won't help them. Predicted to be 28c come Friday .

I feel a little bit sorry for Clarke because he's not your typical arrogant Aussie but we have to make them leave the UK shores thinking they can't win in Australia .

I like Clarke. Maybe because he refused to be a typical Aussie. He's a good captain, certainly better than his predecessor and maybe got the job too late. He's obviously no "yes man". But his singlemindedness probably was the reason for Hussey retiring and certainly the reason Katich doesn't play anymore.
I think Australia will return home like an inured animal, lick third wounds and be up for the winter big time. They really do need to do something about their quickes fragility though.

DamoNorthStand

Just got my invite through from the Sky Sports commercial team for Thursday play. Straight into work diary and insert "Sky TV Meeting. Venue: The Oval. Time: All Day.

Miserableoldgit

DamoNorthStand said:

Just got my invite through from the Sky Sports commercial team for Thursday play. Straight into work diary and insert "Sky TV Meeting. Venue: The Oval. Time: All Day.

Need anyone to take notes at your "Sky TV Meeting" ?

BlackForestReds

Australia have named their side: Rogers, Warner, Watson, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Faulkner, Siddle, Starc, Harris, Lyon.

Faulkner makes his Test debut.

Khawaja and Jackson Bird dropped, 17 different players used by them in the series as well as a number of different batting positions in the top six - Watson if he bats at three will be batting in this third different position in five Tests.

Lincsaddick

Oz has done the right thing .. the series is lost, give everyone a game .. blood them for the next, very imminent series

EpsomAddick

Seems a bit harsh to drop Bird - his lbw dismissal of Cook at Durham was superb

Addick Addict

Going too - courtesy of a Christmas present from my eldest son.