Somerset vs AUS

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Somerset

Marcus Trescothick (C)
Nick Compton
Christopher Jones
James Hildreth
Craig Kieswetter
Alexander Barrow (W)
Peter Trego
Craig Meschede
George Dockrell
Jamie Overton
Gemaal Hussain


Australia

Edward Cowan
Shane Watson
Phillip Hughes
Usman Khawaja
Michael Clarke (C)
James Faulkner
Bradley Haddin (W)
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon

trebellbobaggins wrote:Aussie are looking good.  I think they're going to surprise a lot of people who have overlooked their very good seam bowlers and the fact that Englands batting has been increasingly fragile.

This could be a very tight Ashes and come down to a few key sessions again.

 
I do not think anyone with serious following of cricket over-looked the underlined.
 
those supporting England (in majority on this forum) ........and the very vocal English media hoped that the turmoils in the dressing room and lack of team spirit would marginalize the impact of Aussie pace attack.
 
if the pitches are flat...Aussie attack has more fire
if the pitches are seaming......the atatcks are more or less even
if the pitches have any support for spinners......England would have an advantage. It might sound diabolical but in July, in a series in england.....if Englad prepares spinning pitches and throws 2 spinners is their best chance of holding an all round advantage over Australia.
and they have Monty as the 2nd spinner who will thrive well on spinning ptiches.
 
I do predict that England will resort to this by T3....... especially if Aus are in a less likely seeimg now advantage position  after first two tests

Yep, seems a fair analysis. Interesting thought. If you know you have an advantage in one area, do you plan around it? I guess flatter pitches that favour your opponents would be strange.

I see Cook is gone early in the practice match.  He's a bit scratchy at the mo.

Cook falls again to leaft arm seam.....but that dismissal doesn't change anything in anyone's plans.
 
Eng's big and possibly the only decision is Compton v. Root for opener
 
unless by some convoluted logic and skewed over-analysis they find justification to include Brensnan over Finn.....again

KP_fan wrote: Eng's big and possibly the only decision is Compton v. Root for opener
 
unless by some convoluted logic and skewed over-analysis they find justification to include Brensnan over Finn.....again

  

KP_fan wrote:Cook falls again to leaft arm seam.....but that dismissal doesn't change anything in anyone's plans.
 
Eng's big and possibly the only decision is Compton v. Root for opener
 
unless by some convoluted logic and skewed over-analysis they find justification to include Brensnan over Finn.....again

I won't be entirely surprised if they manage to chance up on such a convoluted and utterly ridiculous justification.

Hopefully this Somerset warm up game means Phil Hughes might play the test match.

A walking wicket for Swann.

Olly wrote:Hopefully this Somerset warm up game means Phil Hughes might play the test match.

A walking wicket for Swann.

A walking wicket for Swann, as much as he's a walking wicket for Anderson, Finn or Broad. Even Root, KP and Trott might fancy having a bowl at him. All hype, no substance, at least that has been the story of his international career so far, can't play pace, can't play spin. He was pathetic at the time of his latest dropping after the new Zealand series, where he made the Fantom look like Bradman, and in fact got out to Martin in all the 4 innings, caught at slip by Martin Guptill. Then he was protected from the South African quicks, came back against Sri Lanka, had an OK series, and went back to his pathetic ways in India.

KP_fan wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Aussie are looking good.  I think they're going to surprise a lot of people who have overlooked their very good seam bowlers and the fact that Englands batting has been increasingly fragile.

This could be a very tight Ashes and come down to a few key sessions again.

 
I do not think anyone with serious following of cricket over-looked the underlined.
 
those supporting England (in majority on this forum) ........and the very vocal English media hoped that the turmoils in the dressing room and lack of team spirit would marginalize the impact of Aussie pace attack.
 
if the pitches are flat...Aussie attack has more fire
if the pitches are seaming......the atatcks are more or less even
if the pitches have any support for spinners......England would have an advantage. It might sound diabolical but in July, in a series in england.....if Englad prepares spinning pitches and throws 2 spinners is their best chance of holding an all round advantage over Australia.
and they have Monty as the 2nd spinner who will thrive well on spinning ptiches.
 
I do predict that England will resort to this by T3....... especially if Aus are in a less likely seeimg now advantage position  after first two tests

England have 4 bowlers in the top 15 in the world, Australia only have 2. 'Nuff said.

The Rootster gone for 41 which was rather uncomfortable at times. I'm still not convinced about him opening.

All depends on Bairstow vs Compton. I prefer Compton but we will see

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Aussie are looking good.  I think they're going to surprise a lot of people who have overlooked their very good seam bowlers and the fact that Englands batting has been increasingly fragile.

This could be a very tight Ashes and come down to a few key sessions again.

 
I do not think anyone with serious following of cricket over-looked the underlined.
 
those supporting England (in majority on this forum) ........and the very vocal English media hoped that the turmoils in the dressing room and lack of team spirit would marginalize the impact of Aussie pace attack.
 
if the pitches are flat...Aussie attack has more fire
if the pitches are seaming......the atatcks are more or less even
if the pitches have any support for spinners......England would have an advantage. It might sound diabolical but in July, in a series in england.....if Englad prepares spinning pitches and throws 2 spinners is their best chance of holding an all round advantage over Australia.
and they have Monty as the 2nd spinner who will thrive well on spinning ptiches.
 
I do predict that England will resort to this by T3....... especially if Aus are in a less likely seeimg now advantage position  after first two tests

England have 4 bowlers in the top 15 in the world, Australia only have 2. 'Nuff said.

Close your eyes and pretend you are invisible.....it's called some kinda sydrome.......can't recall just what now  

Roots neither here nor there 41 falling to I presume Sajid Mahmood [ still playing  ] is staus quo

or perhaps it tilts the balance in favour of Compton a bit and will nail it for him if for the Worcs he does a 40+

If Bairstow gets some big runs here, that would be the end of Compton's hopes unless he could produce a 150+ effort in the upcoming tour game perhaps.

However many runs Compton scores, I can't see him being picked due to the fact that Geoff Miller came out and said that Root is the best opening partner to Cook

Compton I suggest will be better than other,but after all we have to look at the performance in the first test. Though Root till now fits better in the middle order but he is a man who can go and perform any where from 1 to 6.

As KPF said earlier that on flat pitches Aussies will have more fire but I think Anderson will be a threat what so ever the pitch is, just England need to find a better partner for him.

Regarding Aussies they are in a bit trauma after some recent off field events but their show in the match against Somerset proved that they have done their homework. Hughes the man on attack by all has come hard on the field and atleast is the man in top 11 for the first test.
As treb said we can't overlook the bowling attack of Australia. Starc as claimed by the members of this forum is the greatest left arm seam bowler after Washim. Pattinson can take out wickets from flat road also.

Guardian reports Braod has a stiff shoulder and needs a week for recovery.
alos reports.....that this game is being treated a s a bowl-out for the 3seamers slot between Bresnan and Finn...there you go   

and english batting is falling apart against Essex......whose bowling doesn't seem to have any threatening names..........saj mahmood is a known name but he wasn't threatening even when he was young.
 
Not a single 50 from the top order and top score by the usual suspect KP
 
CT star allrounder ....Bopara .....if he puts a good show tomorrow ....might fancy a recall given his reverse swing abilities  are world reknowned now

England looking very poor. The batting is an unsure mess at the moment.

Across see two matches Aussie look in better shape.

KP_fan wrote: CT star allrounder ....Bopara .....if he puts a good show tomorrow ....might fancy a recall given his reverse swing abilities  are world reknowned now

No doubt Bob Willis will put in a good word for Bops and his ability to make things happen with the ball.

KP_fan wrote:Guardian reports Braod has a stiff shoulder and needs a week for recovery.
alos reports.....that this game is being treated a s a bowl-out for the 3seamers slot between Bresnan and Finn...there you go   

Bowlout between Finn and Bresnan? If it is true, can't help but conclude that the English management are out of their minds!.

Bairstow meanwhile is batting on 15 in the company of Matt Prior, as England XI are 189-5 against Essex. Jonny has to convert this into a big innings here if has to keep Compton out.

To be fair to Bresnan he's done well in tests for us and was extremely good in Aus last Ashes series

Olly wrote:To be fair to Bresnan he's done well in tests for us and was extremely good in Aus last Ashes series

Rarity on this forum!

young leggie Craddoc running through the middle oroder

Olly wrote:To be fair to Bresnan he's done well in tests for us and was extremely good in Aus last Ashes series

But that was 2 and a half years ago. Even Chris Tremlett was also terrific there. Finn was very good in India and against South Africa at home, Bresnan was awful. Finn continued to be a key wickettaker in the recent New Zealand series as well.

Only 23 for Bairstow. A big innings from Compton would now make it very difficult for the selectors to drop him.
Bresnan batting on 30. Hopefully that wouldn't decide the choice between Bresnan and Finn.

Not sure England wanted Bresnan to get a big score against Essex....

Its really interesting to see Bresnann and Swann scoring easily where most of Top order batsmen failed to go big.

I still would prefer Finn to Bresnan but if Bresnan played I wouldnt have as much of an issue with it as I did in the CT

Swanny obvs should open

Swann and Bresnan playing for tomorrow - probably fancy their chances of getting centuries.

Olly wrote:I still would prefer Finn to Bresnan but if Bresnan played I wouldnt have as much of an issue with it as I did in the CT

Swanny obvs should open

Swann along with cook...   

328/7 at stumps. Looks like every England batsman got a start, but only Swann and Bresnan kicked on.

*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

KP_fan wrote:*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

They probably wouldn't be rejoicing at facing a man who averaged 19.5 with the ball against them in Australia.

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

They probably wouldn't be rejoicing at facing a man who averaged 19.5 with the ball against them in Australia.

yeah..that's a good aproach...don't even play the series...just put averages on paper and based on superior averages against each otehr award the series to Eng  

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

They probably wouldn't be rejoicing at facing a man who averaged 19.5 with the ball against them in Australia.

yeah..that's a good aproach...don't even play the series...just put averages on paper and based on superior averages against each otehr award the series to Eng  

If it goes England will win...     

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

They probably wouldn't be rejoicing at facing a man who averaged 19.5 with the ball against them in Australia.

yeah..that's a good aproach...don't even play the series...just put averages on paper and based on superior averages against each otehr award the series to Eng  

Well England would probably be favourites for any Test Series against any team bar South Africa...and maybe Pakistan away.

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

They probably wouldn't be rejoicing at facing a man who averaged 19.5 with the ball against them in Australia.

yeah..that's a good aproach...don't even play the series...just put averages on paper and based on superior averages against each otehr award the series to Eng  

Well England would probably be favourites for any Test Series against any team bar South Africa...and maybe Pakistan away.

I must confess...I like you....for you are a die-hard supporter and every team needs some such infectious all condition, die-hard, evergreen optimistic supporters

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

They probably wouldn't be rejoicing at facing a man who averaged 19.5 with the ball against them in Australia.

yeah..that's a good aproach...don't even play the series...just put averages on paper and based on superior averages against each otehr award the series to Eng  

Well England would probably be favourites for any Test Series against any team bar South Africa...and maybe Pakistan away.

I must confess...I like you....for you are a die-hard supporter and every team needs some such infectious all condition, die-hard, evergreen optimistic supporters

'Tis the truth though. England are second in the world for a reason. Kind of marooned on their own - long way behind the Saffers at the moment, long way ahead of Australia/India.

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

They probably wouldn't be rejoicing at facing a man who averaged 19.5 with the ball against them in Australia.

yeah..that's a good aproach...don't even play the series...just put averages on paper and based on superior averages against each otehr award the series to Eng  

Well England would probably be favourites for any Test Series against any team bar South Africa...and maybe Pakistan away.

I must confess...I like you....for you are a die-hard supporter and every team needs some such infectious all condition, die-hard, evergreen optimistic supporters

'Tis the truth though. England are second in the world for a reason. Kind of marooned on their own - long way behind the Saffers at the moment, long way ahead of Australia/India.

Guys again the same debate. Every one know, England is the best test side today. With KP back they look more dangerous. It is worthless to go on in a debate like this and I too agree present England side is far ahead of Aus/India. But one thing clear that they rely more on two to three players when they play away. At home all of them are dangerous.

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:*Breaking*
Bresnan  confirms his place as the 3rd seamer...without having bowled a ball
 
Australian camp rejoices 

They probably wouldn't be rejoicing at facing a man who averaged 19.5 with the ball against them in Australia.

yeah..that's a good aproach...don't even play the series...just put averages on paper and based on superior averages against each otehr award the series to Eng  

Well England would probably be favourites for any Test Series against any team bar South Africa...and maybe Pakistan away.

I must confess...I like you....for you are a die-hard supporter and every team needs some such infectious all condition, die-hard, evergreen optimistic supporters

'Tis the truth though. England are second in the world for a reason. Kind of marooned on their own - long way behind the Saffers at the moment, long way ahead of Australia/India.

Guys again the same debate. Every one know, England is the best test side today. With KP back they look more dangerous. It is worthless to go on in a debate like this and I too agree present England side is far ahead of Aus/India. But one thing clear that they rely more on two to three players when they play away. At home all of them are dangerous.

and as I wrote on one of the threads....that Aus would be stupid to seriously not consider Warner because he punched an englishman in a pub:shock: 

and Lehman confirms that by a public annoucement stating "Warner's slate is clean"......he is being given early practise daily on the practise pitches in the center.

Warner will be played in T1...and now Lehman is challenging Siddle to raise his

Bresnan and Swann nearing hundreds and top-scorers....as Eng totals 400 .

dunno whteher Englnad would take the above scorecard as positive or negative:roll: 

This is a practice match . That is all it is.

Do not make the mistake of reading too much into what happens either in Tour matches or this sort of trial.

Selectors have a pretty good idea of their preferred XI ...well perhaps Australia a little less so...and with limited opportunities for players to change their minds before the first Test the main function of these games is to ensure that the players selected have all had a decent run out.

Still the phony war at the moment.

Sky Sports News ‏@SkySportsNews
Graeme Swann going to hospital for scan on arm injury #SSN

Gulp

Olly wrote:Sky Sports News ‏@SkySportsNews
Graeme Swann going to hospital for scan on arm injury #SSN

Gulp

Tch Tch.....england broke their own rule.
they didn't play Swann in CT citing preservation for Ashes.
Too bad they break their own rule and played Swann in some kind of practise game.

I hope he is fine.......he is the single biggest undisputed diffrence between two sides.

Watson and Rogers to open the batting for Aus

KP_fan wrote:

Olly wrote:Sky Sports News ‏@SkySportsNews
Graeme Swann going to hospital for scan on arm injury #SSN

Gulp

Tch Tch.....england broke their own rule.
they didn't play Swann in CT citing preservation for Ashes.
Too bad they break their own rule and played Swann in some kind of practise game.

I hope he is fine.......he is the single biggest undisputed diffrence between two sides.

Resting for the CT made a lot of sense - it allowed quite a few weeks rest then back for the Ashes including the warm up game to get some match practice, its a fine balance.

Olly wrote:Sky Sports News ‏@SkySportsNews
Graeme Swann going to hospital for scan on arm injury #SSN

Gulp

#prayforswanny
#faithinmonty

Lehman is being clear and categoric:

--openers are firm
--warner will play in middle order
--most likely they will play 4 bowlers + 1 bolwing allrounder in Faulkner

so the 11 is looking like:

1) Watson
2) Rogers
3) *****
4) Clarke
5) *****
6) Haddin
7) Faulkner
8) Starc
9) Pattinson
10) Siddle
11) Lyon

so #3 and #5...... the 2 slots will go to any two of..... Phil Hughes/ Ed Cowans/ Warner/ Smith
by a long shot ....faulkner's slot might also go to any one of the above 4

so the variables are becoming less and less

Swann doesn't have a fracture and will return to the field later in the game.

And breatheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.