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

(11-12-2013 15:53 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Ballance makes 89 for EPP in a 3 day match,nudging the selectors.

Yes he certainty seems in form at the moment and can't do much more. You would think he would get the nod if they do go for the 4 bowler option.

Maybe a small glimmer of hope with Ryan Harris struggling to be fit for the 3rd Test in Perth with an ongoing knee problem.

James Faulkner is out of the Austrailian team with a fractured thumb.

The Wacca is a pacey/ bouncy pitch, so why don't England stick the big boys in. Finn & Tremlett should be added to the bowling squad of Anderson & Broad. Drop both spinners. And you still have spin options in Pietersen & Root.

And bring in a specialist batsman in Ballance.

(12-12-2013 08:40 )Charlemagne Wrote:  The Wacca is a pacey/ bouncy pitch, so why don't England stick the big boys in. Finn & Tremlett should be added to the bowling squad of Anderson & Broad. Drop both spinners. And you still have spin options in Pietersen & Root.

And bring in a specialist batsman in Ballance.

I'm expecting Bresnan to play. He doesn't give many runs away and he strengthens the batting too. Probably none of the 3 tall fast bowlers - Rankin, Finn and Tremlett - will play on the pitch expected to suit them best. I suspect that Stokes may keep his place ahead of Ballance.

I don't think there's much chance of spin being left to Pietersen and Root. The weather forecast is blisteringly hot and the quicker bowlers would find it hugely difficult to bowl throughout, so England may need a great many overs from spinners - too much for Pietersen and Root to handle.

Not much between Monty & Swann,very different types of spinners,Swann has struggled with the bat of late but his slip fielding as Monty couldn't even catch a cold,Swann stays in the side just.

Why are England being bothered by Mitchell Johnson? Surely he's not as fast as Brett Lee? By the way, if there are 2 men out on the boundary for the hook shot, can the England batsmen realise that hooking might not be a good idea? It's not rocket science, as they say.

Teams announced. Just the one change for England, Tim Bresnan replacing Monty Panesar from the team in Adelaide. Australia are unchanged and have won the toss and chosen to bat. Cook calls heads every time and it's always tails, but losing the toss at Perth isn't always a bad thing.

Australia 107/3 at lunch. Only 24 overs have been bowled in the morning session but the temperature's touching 40C. It's looking like an excellent decision to play Swann, especially as he's taken Clarke's wicket this morning.

So none of the "hit the deck" bowlers or Balance at 6. Good to see Bresnan back though.