England's Tour of Australia - Ashes, ODIs and T20s 13/14

Teams for Eng v Aus A, starting 5th Nov warm up game.

England: Cook (capt), Carberry, Trott, Pietersen, Root, Ballance, Prior (wk), Broad, Swann, Tremlett, Anderson.

Australia A: Henriques (capt), Maxwell, Copeland, Cutting, Doolan, Ferguson, Holland, Khawaja, Klinger, Marsh, Paine (wk).

Having won the toss and elected to bat England finished on 318 without loss. Cook 154* and Carberry 153*. Tim Copeland who did so well for Northants this season kept it tight 0-68 in 25 as did fellow opener Cutting 0-56 off 21 but according to the commentators the Aussies never really looked like taking a wicket.

Keeper dropped Carberry with a sharp chance off one of the spinners during one of the spells I watched .He'd passed 100 by then .
Pair of them ought to retire and let rest have a bat .
So far it's been nothing but a glorified net practice with third rate bowling !

Has Carberry done enough to get a test opening position?

It would mean Joe Root moving down to no 6

(06-11-2013 07:47 )Charlemagne Wrote:  Has Carberry done enough to get a test opening position?

It would mean Joe Root moving down to no 6

I normally tend to think if I guy has not made it by his age ...... but well what more could he do following an excellent season for Hants, so IMHO yes and don't have an issue with Joe Root dropping down to 6 for the time being.

I'm not against Carberry as an opener.Root will eventually make the job his own.Root didn't play enough shots for me as an opener Carberry will compliment Cook with a more attacking game.

No play due to rain on day 2.

I would prefer to see Root in the middle order for now, he has plenty of time to move back up to open. Carberry has had a good county season of course and I'm glad he has took his chance in these two games. Looks like Ballance will be playing for a spot if it were to come available through someone's unfortunate of picking up an injury.

Pity, there was no play overnight. Just got to let Pietersen get a bit of time in the middle and then see how Tremlett fares with the ball.

With day 2 & 3 completely washed out,England have lost some valuable match practice.Lets hope the weather allows some play on the final day.

On a rain shortened day,England progressed to 430-7 dec.With both openers retiring out to give the others much needed time at the crease.The ball move around a bit with the pitch being covered before a delayed start,which lasted 11 minutes before rain took them of again.KP got one that kept low which he could do little about.Root played in a positive manner making 58 not out & Prior at least had some time in the middle.

Australia A made 119-3 (31 overs)

England's 4 man attack all had a spell with Anderson being the most successful with 2-20