TOPIC:

If Watson doesn't come up to play because of groin soreness, does that spell the end for George Bailey as well. Lehman has stated he wants 5 bowlers in the team.

My team baswed on Watson not being fit would be:

Warner
Rogers
Doolan
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Faulkner
Johnson
Harris (if fit) Coulter Nile (otherwise)
Siddle
Lyon
12th Bailey

Any different opinions?

Pretty sure the side won't change, Watson just needs to grow some balls, he did his groin just ambling in to bowl! Seriously!!!, smith & Clarke will bowl as the SCG is spinner friendly.

Like your side bundy12, wouldn't risk either watson or harris if any questions over their fitness with the tour of South Africa coming up, both are too important. Give Bailey the old lemon & sarse, he's had his chance, 4 tests, one 50, faced 19 balls for a duck in the 4th test-see ya.
If Watson is unfit, then Faulkner comes in, Bailey has to go for balance.
Keen as for the test series against the South Africans.

Surely Dougie would be a better bet at the SCG than Coulter-Nile........Dougie has 50 test wickets from 12 tests at a decent average of 25......and he is bowling as welll as Coulter-Nile is........when was the last time Faulkner played a 4 day game? Its bullshit having a T20 comp during a test series......surely keeping the 4 day games going until the New Years test is better than this Big Bash rubbish........play the T20 around the one day games......

Hi bundy I think Bailey will play. He needs to relax and get his stance/guard right. Off stump for one dayers is great because he plays to his strengths on leg side. He is loosing his off stump currently and it's forcing him to not be natural.

Would play Coulter Nile if Harris doesn't get up.

Happy new year to you and the family mate.

P.H.

Bailey isn't a test cricketer, a very good limited overs batsman only, you saw what he did to anderson at the waca that proves this. Need to start some more youth now like a Maddison at 5 or 6.

Happy New Year to you and the family PH.

I don't disagree with you judgement on Bailey. If Watson is out though I think it speels the end for Bailey due to team balance.

Anchor I agree re -Bollinger and Coulter-Nile. I prefer NCN for Harris as it more like for like.

If Bailey doesn't play the need to play another batter. Don't need 4 quicks + Watson, it's one to many bowlers. One would guess if Watson is in one day squad then he is fit and can play, then again in the USA there is no cricket coverage so like I said its a guess. A few hours time we will know hey

Unchanged side. Would have thought Bailey would get the chop, has not proved in a 4 or 5 day game. Got his place off his 1 day form (which was amazing). But I remember when Warner was given his place in the test team after limited success in the longer format, he was being analysed a lot harder than bailey and his place was not safe for a while, even when playing solid cricket. If Bailey fails again he must be dropped for SA, but then bringing in a new batter to face Steyn and Co is a big test.

Joe Root.....dropped or injured. He hasnt been playing the best, but he is a very talented cricketer who is going to be a great player, surely England should have persisted with him....especially when Aussies are persisting with Bailey. Bell to number 3 should have happened a lot earlier!!

The humiliation of the Poms is complete. Reduced to a rabble by an inspired group of men.
Perhaps England will now review their questionable time wasting tactics and in future concentrate on playing the game. Time wasting is just NOT cricket.