TOPIC:

I will be supportting England, Australia will win the series.

Certainly is a situation where the “mates” sway the selectors. In realty, the “no show” can’t be trusted in a one day match, least of all if he has to battle it out in a test. As Wayne Clark said, he is not up to test standard and should never be selected in a test side.

Freezin wrote: Only way Eng will win 3-1 is if Cook and Root have standout series....Stokes is good, but is he that good?....

Yes he is that good!

Broad, Anderson and a possible Stokes won't worry our batsmen, Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins will worry theirs. Poms won't win a test.

Stokes scored a hundred and took a 6 for on his last Ashes tour out here in 2013/14 which was also his debut Test series.
Anyone who saw his 258 against (the side that demolished us at home last summer) South Africa in Cape Town last year would not be saying he is just a player, he is the best all rounder in world cricket currently and by some way!

No denying Stokes is the best all rounder going around BH.....though not sure who else there is to via for that title....so one will assume when he comes back for the Perth test he will turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory for the Poms.....big ask....but hey rather beat the Poms with their best side than not their best side...

The wicket is slow and green.Brisbane climate has been cool the last month.The pitch might not dry out and harden till day3-4.So Crash Craddock thinks.Makes this test a 50-50 result.

Anch: Did any of the Englishmen bat well? I describbed Vince as the worst Englad number three to visit the country, so it is only fair I acknowledge his good batting today. Well done. His ridiculous run out has got Australia back in the game if they can take early wickets tomorrow in banana land.

England's strategy is clear from day 1. They want to keep Australia out in the field for as long as possible to wear out the likes of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood. Given their record in Brisbane, England would be delighted with a draw. I reckon they would have targeted Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney as places where they would be in with a good chance of winning. So they have taken a long term view. The first session tomorrow shapes as crucial. The Aussie's have the new ball and if they can get quick wickets and bowl England out for less than 300, then they are in the drivers seat. However if England kick on to 400, the odds of a draw firm considerably

At this rate it'll be all over inside 3 days.