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First, Michael Clarke should be coming in no LOWER than 4 and Shane Watson should be coming in no HIGHER than 4. I think both Khawaja and Steve Smith are talents and worth persevering with. I'd put those two and Watson at numbers 4, 5 and 6 for the time being with Clarke at 3. That leaves Chris Rogers and Phil Hughes as the openers.

An experienced head like Katich, Jacques, or maybe David Hussey, wouldn't go amiss, but simply putting the 6 batsmen they picked in the last test in a better order could make a positive impact.

I would expect agar will make way for Lyon as the spinner for the test at old Trafford.

Pretty well spot on there Joan with that line up. If no newbies are gonna come in then Hughes needs to swap with Watson due to their inability to handle spin or swing. Not that I think either deserves another go, just a case of what other option does Lehmann have. Cowan isnt gonna do any better, so like Joan I would open with Rogers and Hughes, Khwaja, Clarke, Watson and then Smith(3 lefties/3 righties), Haddin or Wade (not fussed on either) then Siddle, Harris, Bird and then one out of Starc/Agar/Lyon depending on conditions.

Be really interested to see what sort of team Lehmann goes for later this year in oz, a team that has his stamp on not Arthur's. Can't see the boys getting any closer but a bit of high order guts and determination wouldn't go astray.

anchorman wrote: Leave Warner where he is right now,away from the teamin general.He like Watson is not a team player.
I see where Pattinson has broken down again with stress fractures of the lower back.This will mean that Star will play.Bird has to make an appearance for us at some time,not sure it will be this test though.
I would persevere with Smith and Khwaja.Smith was good in India and it was a surprise to me that he wasn't selected in the original team to tour England.
Not sure about Huhes,but I guess seeing as there is no one better in the squad then he has to stay.
Clarke,MUST bat higher up the list.He is wasted coming in at three fa every time.
Haddin will maintain his spot but maybe Wade as was mooted in the press,comes in as a batsman.
But gee we are sure in trouble.It was interesting to read the article by Graham Wood about the Shield, and the lack of money pumped into it, and how it has lost its gloss due to not having the test players return.He is like most of the opinion that the 20/20 and ODIs have bitten in hard at the base of cricket here in Australia.Justin Langer said the same things in the press over the weekend as well.

A/man one can hardly argue about the fact that the current Sheffield Shield competition is a poor relation to its proud history. We havce the farcical situation where matches are played in September and October and hardly played at all during the peak summer months. It is played midweek which precludes most working from attending any games. How many shield matches did Ponting play for Tasmania when he was playing for Australia? So you don't have the best batsmen or bowlers playing in the competition. As a result the younger players are not tested by the best and their development is stunted as a consequence.

I was just looking over the Australian side to play Sussex in the 3 day tour match tomorrow & I was trying to work out why Watson & Rogers were being rested. It seems to be a very strange decision to me.

Hell yeah. Wouldnt you think they would be champing at the bit to get out in the middle and face some balls in match conditions????

Fark me dead. Can anybody believe the bullshit effort by the third umpire to not overturn the umpire's decision to give Khawaja out? There was nothing wrong with the technology which showed clear daylight between the bat & the ball. Hot spot & snicko showed no edge & the audio did not reveal any sound.

Despite that misfortune Australia have done very well in the morning session, only losing 2 wickets. Rogers looked very good, but Clarke looked very streaky & the lunch break came at a good time for him. Rogers needs to go on & score a big hundred to keep the pressure on England.

whatever luck Khawaja didn't get, Smith got in buckets......just goes to show the umps have been very ordinary in this series......good to see some runs on the board....however whatever our batsmen can do I dread to think what the poms will do.....really got to grind them into the dirt and make 500 from here.....getting all out for less than 400 will be a travesty I reckon.

Be interested to see what Lehmann does if Watson gets another 15 - 30 in the second innings...........no doubt Warner and Watson will swap places for the next test, if Watto fails again.....

After watching the hammering we copped in the second, I certainly appreciated the huge improvement by Australia's batsmen in this test. 500+ against a quality attack is no easy feat. Rogers set up the initial platform with an aggressive but sensible knock. Clarke came back very well from a very streaky start to ensure, with Smith that Roger's knock was not wasted. Australia finally enjoyed some luck with Smith using up most of his nine lives. Starc & Haddin put some cream on a very healthy cake. Some of the drives Starc played would make a top order batsman proud.

Lyon bowled very well & I am happy to eat humble pie on that issue. He was very unlucky not to get a couple of wickets yesterday & looks a legitimate threat to England on that wicket.

Australia will struggle to dismiss England quickly on that wicket. Realistically they will aim to dismiss England late tomorrow or very early on day 4 & hopefully have a lead of 150+. They can then bat for most of the 4th day & declare late in the day to set England 350+ to force a result.

Agree with your comments Puppy. Starc is a potential all rounder who could easily bat 7. I think we all got caught up in the Agar wave ( and he is a great prospect) but forgot that Lyon is actually a pretty good bowler and he showed it last night.

Early wickets on Day 3 are vital if Australia want to win this game. At the crease currently are Messers Cook and Trott who we have seen plenty of over the past few ashes series. If we can get rid of them and Bell before they play themselves in, we may have a chance of keeping them to a reasonable total.

Apparently the weather forecast is looking a bit dicey for the last couple of days as well so England may be able to escape, but hey look at the bright side, at least we won't be whitewashed now

It was a very good day of Test cricket yesterday. I think Australia would have aimed to have England 8 or 9 down by stumps yesterday. England have avoided the follow on this morning but Australia have take a wicket. I doubt Australia would have enforced the follow on due to the wear & tear the bowlers have already taken this test & series. England did score slowly yesterday so Australia may be able to force the issue if they dismiss England before lunch. The weather could be a major problem for Australia.