TOPIC:

England went Woakes , Wood & Ali - surprise dropping of Tongue

Must admit I was surprised at Tongue being left out as he seemed to be the most penetrative English bowler at Lords, unless he had a niggle. 

3 Yorkies in the English team Brook, Root and Bairstow batting at 3, 4 and 5.

Interesting that they name the XI the day before the test which gives Australia a chance to look at how to respond with their selection, a bit of an advantage for us I would think.

Tonguer got the arse?

The poms are all over the shop. Mentally shot. Still looking back, not forwards. Fk I hope they play Mohen Ali. 

He is in the XI Dazzler

looking like 2 changes for Australia - Marsh & Murphy for Green & Lyon]
Green has somehow injured himself 

General soreness they are saying for Green because he bowled a bit more at Lords due to Lyons absence. He sent down 9 overs in the first innings and 13 in the 2nd. Doesnt seem like a huge workload but obviously more than he has done in the past. They are going to make a final decision just before the toss. Boland will probably come in for Hazlewood and Murphy is a confirmed starter. A real challenge for him in front of a hostile crowd.

yes mate and the call on Hazelwwod / Boland is being made at the last minute possible
Leeds always delivers rain on at least one day and it influences results there

Boland for me over Hazelwood, an absolute certainty. Let's see what's he's learnt from the 1st Test. 

Big chance for Marsh. 

And let's see how the Milky Bar Kid/Eggs Ackerly goes. 

Can't wait for this one to start. What a series so far. 

Milky bar kid!!!! haha love it
It has been fascinating to compare the approaches of the two teams in the series
Even before the Bairstow incident , England players and coach have been all over the press telling them that they are on top of Australia, that they sense that the opposition are scared of their approach, feels like they are winning the tests etc etc. Mccullum has been shooting his mouth off as if he is trying to convince his team that they are good whereas the reality is that they have made so many errors in the two games so far.
By contrast, the Australian team has been content to let their cricket do the talking, only commenting in response to questions. McDonald has been happy to be in the background and not made any inflammatory statements. Cummins has been measured but assertive in his press conferences.
Given the score is 2-0, you would have to say that the Aussie approach is working better at the moment, time for that to change of course but if the Australians can come away with a victory at Headingly, the press will very quickly turn their attention away from outrage towards the Aussies and put the blow torch on their own team.

Must bowl first in this game - with 4 seamers and the slow bowler (I wont call him a spinner) the poms will want to bowl, get us out cheaply and then bat in the best conditions - especially if there is rain later in the test.

If we get a chance to bowl when the wicket is best for bowling it puts more pressure on the poms to try to score quickly (which they will try to do) to get a decent enough score to have time to bowl us out twice. 

They like to chase runs so get them out of their comfort zone and heap the pressure on them.

Remember they need a win to keep the series alive - anything else and this will be 4 series in a row they have lost the ashes.

4 hours to start time