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

Rankin has been off the field after breaking down,bowled one more ball in the last season after receiving treatment & broke down again.Cook is now forced into playing Borthwick who Australia have targeted & attacked despite him picking up the wicket of Johnson.This is why Root should have played as another bowling option..

6 wickets for Ben Stokes. Oz all out for 326.

(03-01-2014 05:59 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  This is why Root should have played as another bowling option..

The selectors have made a major mistake in dropping Joe Root.
He's the guy who England need to bring on. Carberry is at the end of his career, he was always brought into the team as a stop gap.
Carberry lasted 8 balls and was out twice (he got an outside edge but the Australians didn't challenge)

Employing Anderson as Nightwatchman instead of Bell at 3 sends out the wrong message,Jimmy was lucky last until the close.
I wasn't at all surprised that Australia didn't challenge the faint edge,as Carberry looked like he could go any ball & they knew it.

No problem wtih the principle of the nightwatchman and Anderson is probably the best person for it.

Always think the nightwatchman is a bit of a strange concept, throwing a wicket away for me. Tomorrow morning Anderson is going to be targeted like crazy, needed a fully fledged batsman.

Don't have a problem with utilising night watchmen tactic so long as it is just for the last 2/3 overs (and not last half an hour as sometimes happens). Sooner our 2nd wicket down before close was Anderson than Bell or Cook. They can also be annoying for the opponents as well if they make a few runs the next morning. Not I am suggesting it is very likely in this case.

Better get it mixed up ready

So 5 Tests in & our bowlers are still not pitching the ball up enough,slow learners,or what ?

If you think the bowlers are bad I am dreading what on earth the batsmen might do on day two.
I might need to hide behind the sofa .
I am fearing an epic collapse .

Come on England put my fears to rest..........please.........pretty please.