TOPIC:

Interesting to see the East Coast bias push for Neser to replace Hazlewood for the 2nd Test tomorrow.
All the more reason for Richardson to play as those numpties over there have literally no idea!

Either bowler will be a good in regardless who gets the final nod......just a pity one of them is going to miss out......whilst Starc has a great pink ball record, surely he is not the same bowler when he last played in one.....so who can be sure he is going to repeat those performances on current form......Hopefully Eng do pick both bowling pensioners, they will be short of a run, might bowl ok under lights, but whose to say after bowler 15 odd overs before hand and fielding in 35 degrees for a few sessions, they will have the energy to bowl well when the lights come on. As folk have said, Woakes, Wood and Robinson all had their moments, and on another day could of easily bowled Aust out for under 300......they will all be better for the run, plus the lights will help also.......who makes way for Broad and Anderson?......surely on pure wickets, Robinson keeps his spot......Eng batting gets weaker with Woakes out.....could be a long tail if Broad and Anderson are in......does Leach get dropped?.....or Bess comes in for him.....spinners are always handy in a test.....take the bowling load off the fast boys.....especially old ones like Broad and Anderson.....and how fit is Stokes.....might say he is ok.....but the Aussies said Hazlewood was ok in Eng 2nd innings.........perfect chance for the Aussies to go 2-0.....but knowing the Aussies they always leave a door or two open!!

As people have pointed out above, given the last test, England's priority should have been to fix the batting order:  
Habib
Malan
Crawley
Root
Livingstone
Bairstow
Stokes
Woakest
Robinson
Wood
Anderson/Leach

Stokes could bat with the lower order
Bairstow to keep
Livingstone can also bowl some leg-spin


 

Cummins is out of the 2nd Test.
Decided to go out the night before the Test and came into close contact with a covid positive case in Adelaide.
I thought they were supposed to be in a bubble?
Surely that must make the rest of the Australian side in doubt as well?

 

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Cummins is out of the 2nd Test.
Decided to go out the night before the Test and came into close contact with a covid positive case in Adelaide.
I thought they were supposed to be in a bubble?
Surely that must make the rest of the Australian side in doubt as well?

 

Yes what silly bollocks it all is. Cummins table just happens to be near the table of where someone is sitting when they casually find out they have Covid. Don't they tell you to isolate until you get a result when you are tested?

Lyon and Starc also went out to the same restaurant but luckily sat outside so they were only regarded as casual contacts. Massive Christmas present to England a week early and they will never have a better chance to get their first test win in Australia for 11 years. 
 

Can selectors be dropped like players?
Bailey's blind support of Harris although admirable is downright going to hurt Australia in this Ashes!

I reckon I could have at least nicked one through slips and made more runs than Harris. Right through his career he is either hundred or less than 10, and he makes more scores of less than 10.
No point going for Khawaja though, dont want a 35yo and a 36 yo opening, better off going Bryce Street or someone like that and getting the next generation playing with someone like Warner

Disappointed to hear the Captain is left out of the Adelaide test.After his great first test as captain.
CA could learn a lot from the Afl /Nrl/Nbl/A League.Who have managed seasons through the COVID pandemic.
Under South Australias COVID blueprint.Cummings will have to quarantine for 7 days, regardless of the test results.
THe Sydney test starts January 5th.Adding the COVID train wreck in Victoria.. Interesting couple of weeks coming up for this Ashes series.
Just listening to the 92.9 commentry..The commentary his highly critical of this first day drop in wicket.

love to see Josh Philippe selected to open with Warner - he's a real special talent that has to be selected soon
Harris is finished at test level now