The Ashes & Hampshire Cricket Summer Thread

Warner, Lyon and Starc in for the Aussies.

 

England unchanged.

 

England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Joe Root, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 James Anderson

Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steven Smith, 6 David Warner, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Nathan Lyon

 

Any reason for Agar being left out for the Aussies?

 

Yeah - his bowling figures.

 

Quite harsh on the lad though?

 

Australia win the toss... and bat. As has been said, a good toss to lose. If Anderson and Broad can get the ball swinging early, there caould be carnage.

 

Not really, his main job is to take wickets and he simply hasn't taken enough.

 

He's not ready for International Test Cricket as a spinner yet....His action was analysed and dissected by the pundits and they concluded that it has many flaws. It must be remembered that he is only 19 and was plucked from relative obscurity.

 

Shows that the Aussies are either desperate or they simply don't rate Agar at the moment, if they really thought they'd seen from him that he could be their future spinner with this track giving him the best chance to succeed they'd have stuck with him, so they either don't think he is good enough or they are just desperate to reclaim something from this series rather than just looking to the future. Think it's probably a combination of both, personally think he's technically sound as a batsman but miles off in terms of his bowling.

I think England probably did the right thing sticking with the same team, I really like Tremlett but stability is always good especially with the contrasting chaotic approach the Aussies are taking, and two spinners would have muddled with the balance of our side too much.

Hoping for early inroads this morning!

 

What odds on Watson making a breezy 30 odd and then getting out?

 

Thought Agar did very well in first test especially but the facts are he has scored the second most runs out of all the Australians so far in the series. His bowling figures haven't been that attrocious.

 

But he's not in the side as a batsman. If he was he'd be in the side. They need a spinner who will be dangerous and he is not.

 

Fair enough I suppose. Can't help but feel sorry for the guy and feel that the Aussies won't have much of a tail now.

 

Watson goes. Not lbw(!) A much needed wicket for England. The Aussies were rattling along there.

 

Hooray a wicket. Watson out for 19. Aussies 76/1. Rodgers has 57 off 52 balls!

 

Australia would be a lot more difficult to beat if one of their openers and supposedly second best batsman wasn't a walking wicket. They are not overflowing with options but I've long thought he should've been out on his ear, can be a fearsome opponent in the one day formats, but a Test batsman he is not. Not to mention his supposed disruptive influence within the team. His bowling has kept him clinging on by the skin of his teeth but for me at the very least he shouldn't be opening.

Rogers going well, want England to skittle 'em but would be nice to see Rogers get a hundred, think he deserves it. If he could knock another quick 50 and then get out prompting a collapse for less than 200 that would be just swell!

 

Great to get the wicket but it's Rogers we need to get next, if he carries on at this rate they'll have 400 up before close of play tonight!

 

This is just getting baffling now.

 

Umm.....another dreadful, dreadful decision by the third umpire. Dear oh dear.....