TOPIC:

DD wrote: Archie if all that fails we could throw Wade the gloves and the skipper could roll his arm over. Have we ever played two wicketkeepers in the same side before? Adam Gilchrist was so good with the bat maybe he played as a batsman before Healy handed him the gloves?

Indeed, DD, I believe Adam Gilchrist would've finished with a Test average of 50-plus if he batted in the top six and didn't keep.
I'm sure we've played two wicketkeepers in the same team at some stage, but I can't think when.
Of course, England has David Bairstow and Jos Buttler as regular keepers, while the centurion Rory Burns (and a fine innings he's played) occasionally keeps for Surrey.
One of the more bizarre stories about wicketkeepers surrounds Tasmanian Kenny Burn, who was selected to tour England as a wicketkeeper in 1890.
Only when Burn was on the boat to England did he reveal that he'd never kept wicket before.
Just a shame the Aussies didn't review the rejected LBW appeal on Burns off Lyon when the opener was on 71.
We have a lot of work to do on Day 3 - will need to dismiss England by lunch if possible.

Totally agree Archie....early wickets on day 3 with the new ball will be the key.......Eng on paper bat deep.....can see Bairstow teeing off against a tiring attack......Aust top order needs to find a way to grind out some overs v the Anderson less Eng attack.....as much as Aust bowlers bodies may be sore at the end of this test, can see this rotation policy taking effect for the Lord's test.....Starc and Hazlewood will come in regardless.....as long as Aust batsmen can go long v Eng.....regardless of the result.....Aust has a good opportunity to turn things around at Lord's.....this test ain't done yet....but definitely Aust are definitely vulnerable for a decent Eng lead.....

It would've been good if we played the First Test at Lord's, Freez, but if that occurred the To and Froms might insist on starting future Down Under Ashes series at the SCG and not the Gabba.
The absence of a left-arm quick (Mitch Starc), genuine swing bowler (Josh Hazlewood) and all-rounder (Michael Neser or Mitch Marsh) make it difficult for us to run thru' opposition teams unless there's a fair bit in the deck.
As you say, I reckon there will be a couple of rotations/changes for the Lord's Test.
Regards the current match, I'd never wish an opposition player ill, but I hope Jimmy Anderson's calf doesn't heal until this coming Tuesday.
Our batsmen will need to show some Rory Burns'-style grit and not let Steve Smith do all the work if we are to escape here.

Whilst frustrating, can't really complain about that Woakes and Broad partnership....Will definitely be the deciding factor here in this test....a 20 run lead into a 90 run lead is huge.....Uzzie hits a 40....looks good than out when needed to go big....sums up his career.....obviously Smith is the key here....back to back 100s will definitely increase his test legend status....Head needs to turn that 30 odd into a 100 to......Wade important to.....if any of his run making over the last 12 months means anything for Wade's test career resurrection, tomorrow's innings will tell all.

Somehow a 250 lead must be contrived from Aust remaining batsmen for any chance of an overdue Aust win at Edgbaston......bat deep into day 4 and Aust has a chance....could easily be over by tea if the batting crumbles tho....beauty of test cricket I guess....

Rain will stop the match. Wrapped in the two openers this test.. Playing like wet kleenex tissues. Dump both & find another Smith.
Paine & Wade will be playing for their futures if the game continues.. Paine poor so far behind the stumps & DRS.
Looks like Siddle ( who has been good) will be dumped for Starc.

These Langer selections just continue to come up short.
Piddle has to be dropped for Starc or Hazlewood.
Bancroft may get 1 more chance at Lords but he has failed miserably needed him to play a Burns type boring hang in there type innings but wasnt up to the challenge.
Khawaja is just bloody frustrating only really scores big when the heat is off need to move him on after this series.
If Smith and Head dont go on with this partnership then I can see the Aussie batting line up falling apart like a Chinese motorbike as Wade, Paine and the bowlers wont score many if any unlike Woakes and Broad who made a mockery of our bowling when a small deficit looked likely.

Beasley Hutton wrote: These Langer selections just continue to come up short.
Piddle has to be dropped for Starc or Hazlewood.
Bancroft may get 1 more chance at Lords but he has failed miserably needed him to play a Burns type boring hang in there type innings but wasnt up to the challenge.
Khawaja is just bloody frustrating only really scores big when the heat is off need to move him on after this series.
If Smith and Head dont go on with this partnership then I can see the Aussie batting line up falling apart like a Chinese motorbike as Wade, Paine and the bowlers wont score many if any unlike Woakes and Broad who made a mockery of our bowling when a small deficit looked likely.

Should of bounced the ship out Woakes and Broad from the moment they stepped to the crease. Hopefully Smith and Head can pick up where they left off and we can build a decent lead, Brummy rain stays away and our bowlers do the rest.

Starc is always good v the tail.....so in hindsight overlooking him has been shown to be costly.....can't see Siddle playing another test in this series TBH....surely Starc or Hazelwood would be better suited to Lords than Siddle.....also be interesting how Cummins or Pattinson pull up too.....nice to have options even if we do go down in this test....sadly batting not so fortunate....Bancroft and Warner will open in Lord's....if they fail again....then Harris surely comes in.....sadly if Wade fails not so sure what JL will do.....Marsh at 6 no doubt.....wish he was half as talented as Stokes.....or should I say mentally strong as Stokes.....

Unless Starc is a bit proppy with his knee, I can't believe he wasn't chosen in the first place as Cummins, Pattinson and Siddle don't present enough variety whereas Starc being a leftie bowls down different lines.

Ti Em wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote: These Langer selections just continue to come up short.
Piddle has to be dropped for Starc or Hazlewood.
Bancroft may get 1 more chance at Lords but he has failed miserably needed him to play a Burns type boring hang in there type innings but wasnt up to the challenge.
Khawaja is just bloody frustrating only really scores big when the heat is off need to move him on after this series.
If Smith and Head dont go on with this partnership then I can see the Aussie batting line up falling apart like a Chinese motorbike as Wade, Paine and the bowlers wont score many if any unlike Woakes and Broad who made a mockery of our bowling when a small deficit looked likely.

Should of bounced the ship out Woakes and Broad from the moment they stepped to the crease. Hopefully Smith and Head can pick up where they left off and we can build a decent lead, Brummy rain stays away and our bowlers do the rest.

Spot on Ti em. They certainly missed a trick. As soon as Cummins started giving Broad a bit of chin music he suddenly lost his desire to bat. That 70 run partnership could be the difference between a win and a loss. Bancroft has never convinced me as a test batsman even before the sandpaper issue. If they wanted a right hander Joe Burns would have been a better option IMO. Warner is not playing his natural game, trying to be a defensive opener and getting himself into trouble.