TOPIC:

Pattinson is set to come back in according to Langer and reckon it will be Siddle who'll make way ...or should do anyway. It's also my understanding Jhye Richardson is now over there which could be useful a bit later in the series....I'm not sure if that's correct or if he's even a part of the touring party but did read he was travelling to England after playing in Darwin a couple of weeks ago in his comeback.

Smith has been ruled out for the 3rd Test at Headingly starting on Thursday.

A sensible decision. Not worth risking his long term future. He now has 2 weeks to recover before the 4th test. Time for the other batsmen to step up.

Australia lost the toss put into bat by the Poms.
2 changes from Lords In: Harris & Pattinson, Out: Bancroft & Siddle.
Australia 1/12 (Harris out to Archer for 8, Warner all at sea to Broad again) at lunch with rain only allowing 4 overs in the first session.
Is Joe Burns still around I wonder?

Burns was the amazing omission from the squad in the first place - has played what? 15-20 tests? and he averages above 40, on top of that had scored a century in the last test Australia played before the start of this series. And 4 test centuries to his credit,

Not only got dropped from the team but the squad (sure he dealt with health and injury issues - not the first person to do that).

Harris was already in the side - test average of 32 after about 6 tests and no test centuries
Bancroft - now isn't he a batting lulu, test average under 30 (breathing down the neck of 25) and also without a test century and after what nearly 10 tests?

No doubt both Harris and Bancroft have a lower Shield average than Burns too.

Burns still around? Certainly should be by the looks of the records of others.

8/43.....not going to win many matches me thinks.....great knock by the Smith sub....and Warner finally gets a knock under his belt....Head got a Broad beauty...can't expect the bowlers to continually bail out the top 6 batsmen with the bat...tough day for the bowlers tomorrow....fark all score to bowl with...no doubt the sun will be out in full force for day 2.....Eng whilst bowling well, are definitely getting kissed on the dick with the conditions......

Eng definitely ahead by more than a Bill Lawry nose....and probably by the length of the M1 by stumps on day 2...

Well if Paine had of batted first instead of bowling at Lords we would have had the conditions to bowl in the Poms had Freeze!
I had serious misgivings about our batting line up before the series even started with the likes of Khawaja, Wade, Paine and the second opener (Bancroft & Harris) and so far they have done nothing to change my opinion!

the whole business demonstrates the importance of England's batting collapse on the last day of the first test, one which could ultimately cost them the urn.

After Archer's destruction of our fragile batting, it would be drawing a long bow to suggest we're any chance of winning this game.

Beasley Hutton wrote: Well if Paine had of batted first instead of bowling at Lords we would have had the conditions to bowl in the Poms had Freeze!
I had serious misgivings about our batting line up before the series even started with the likes of Khawaja, Wade, Paine and the second opener (Bancroft & Harris) and so far they have done nothing to change my opinion!

You had better put Warner in that group.. FOUR innings @ 3 runs & now he is OK. Just a passing fad by him.. Paine should step down, he is a weak link.
Just watch the fast bowlers tonight just waste their time.. Archer has the idea. Fast, low & accurate.. Scares the crap out of the Aussies