5th Ashes Test, Sydney

First topic message reminder :

January 3-7, Sydney Cricket Ground
Start time 1030 (2330 GMT)

Australia:
CJL Rogers, DA Warner, SR Watson, MJ Clarke*, SPD Smith, GJ Bailey, BJ Haddin†, MG Johnson, PM Siddle, RJ Harris, NM Lyon

England:
AN Cook*, MA Carberry, IR Bell, KP Pietersen, GS Ballance, BA Stokes, JM Bairstow†, SG Borthwick, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, WB Rankin


The grassy SCG pitch should offer some assistance for the pace bowlers early on. Some grip there for the spinners too. It's not going to be too hot and there is the chance of a few showers over the 5 days - but nothing too substantial. Some cloud cover and high humidity though.

I'm literally praying that Root hasn't been dropped. When Nasser suggested that I thought he'd just messed up but it genuinely seems that, somehow, in trying to build for the future, we've dropped our most promising batsmen at 23 for a 33 year old. Bonkers decision.

Aussies unchanged.

Somehow George Bailey will survive the series. I hope he plays the Staffers gonna be lolz

Surprised they haven't gone Faulkner but at the same time they don't need an all rounder and i'm sure they're giving Bailey, who's a specialist batsmen the chance to finish the series and lay a marker down in the final test

Maybe just maybe Borthwick has been brought in to bat three...

Cook wins the toss and England will bowl.

Liam wrote:I'm literally praying that Root hasn't been dropped. When Nasser suggested that I thought he'd just messed up but it genuinely seems that, somehow, in trying to build for the future, we've dropped our most promising batsmen at 23 for a 33 year old. Bonkers decision.

Correct. I have nothing against Carberry but he is not one for the future so why play him whilst dropping Root who seems to be a big part of England's future plans.

thank god we've won the toss and its good bowling conditions. still amazed root has been dropped.

Ballance, Borthwick and Rankin make their debuts and Root, Bresnan and Panesar miss out. As I said I cannot fathom the dropping of Root. Australia are unchanged. England win the toss and will bowl.

The last time we saw three debutants was in Nagpur in 2006.

One of those was Alastair Cook.

Will one of these three go onto have an esteemed career like Cook is enjoying?

England build for the future by picking 3 debutants.

Simultaneously, England shoot themselves in the foot by leaving out one of the most promising batsman they have for a 33-year-old.

England have failed to get the selection right for all five tests now. Unacceptable.

At least Cook's won the toss. Oh dear...it's bound to turn into a pancake after the first hour isn't it?

Minority voice here.

I don't think that leaving out Root and retaining Carberry is that bad a decision.

As everyone keeps saying, Root is the future. Dropping him now at the end of a dreadful series (for the team and him) is not going to change that. He'll still obviously be right in the selectors' thoughts and with a good start to next season could be back straightaway.

Probably a last chance for Carberry but one that his resilience and determination just about merit. If he does come off, that doesn't mean he'll keep his Test place next season but should result in him being at least a squad member for another year. We should reflect that we don't have so many opening batsmen demanding a place in the Test side before rushing to dump Carberry forever. Leaving him out here would surely have meant that.

Ultimately, still though a deckchairs scenario with too many debutants in my view. Contrary to Olly, I would have gone for Tredwell's experience rather than Borthwick's all round promise.

I think it's a fair call to rest Root. He will be back in the summer and this way Carberry gets another chance and the selectors get to look at Ballance.

I just don't rate Tredwell Guildford, don't see the point in him playing. Were gonna get beat, so might as well give the young uns some experience!

As for today, well looks great for bowling. Big Boyd must be licking his lips, looks like it'll have pace and carry but also nip around as well.

Well, in hindsight, if it means England get the win and at the same time get to look at new faces then it won't be a bad selection. Root will be back but the poser may be where he bats in the order especially if Bell excels at No.3 here. Clearly, the dropping of Root retaining Carberry suggests the selectors don't see Root as an opener in the future.

Ian Chappell thinks this pitch reminds him of 1967... overhead conditions will make it a bowler's day.

So no 5-0 whitewash after all then....   

I agree with guildford. In fact I suggested yesterday it might be Root who made way. He will come again , but maybe not at two or three.

I don't mind Borthwick. And good luck Rankin , though I doubt he is the future.

We will see...

Hadn't occurred to me that Root would be sacrificed but, if he goes on in his career as he's expected to, this will just be a footnote in a decade as a fixture in the team.
Carberry has earned the opportunity to see the Series out - hopefully he'll justify the confidence; if not, he'll have to re-earn it all over again.
Not thrilled by anything to do with Rankin and mixed feelings, to say the least, on more additions of foreign mercenaries (see what an old phart I am?).
Is Panesar's an injury of convenience? He was treated so badly in the last Test one wonders why he doesn't follow Graeme up the Swannee.
With Captain Cook making a string of bizarre decisions, who is the Brearley figure to give Cook something of a captaincy master class?

I can understand the reasoning behind dropping Root rather than Carberry.

Not too enamoured with Borthwick still.

I'm not convinced by the argument "England have nothing to lose, so might as well chuck the youngsters in". First of all, they do have something to lose, namely a test match, and the possibility of harming the youngster's careers; secondly, it's surely much better for a youngster to come into a side with a few old heads to guide him along. But anyway, England have made some interesting calls, and with the exception of Borthwick, I don't have a major issue with any of them.

Good toss to win you feel. Good chance for Rankin to impress early on.

kwinigolfer wrote:Hadn't occurred to me that Root would be sacrificed but, if he goes on in his career as he's expected to, this will just be a footnote in a decade as a fixture in the team.
Carberry has earned the opportunity to see the Series out - hopefully he'll justify the confidence; if not, he'll have to re-earn it all over again.
Not thrilled by anything to do with Rankin and mixed feelings, to say the least, on more additions of foreign mercenaries (see what an old phart I am?).
Is Panesar's an injury of convenience? He was treated so badly in the last Test one wonders why he doesn't follow Graeme up the Swannee.
With Captain Cook making a string of bizarre decisions, who is the Brearley figure to give Cook something of a captaincy master class?

Can't say I'm too thrilled either.

Olly wrote:I just don't rate Tredwell Guildford, don't see the point in him playing. Were gonna get beat, so might as well give the young uns some experience!

...

Yep, I gathered that, Olly. That was why I gave you the personal plug!   

Just believe there needs to be more of a balance and not quite so many young uns. By way of comparison, Norwich may give the odd debut to a youngster in a League Cup tie. The experience gained would be more meaningful and beneficial for the youngster if he was playing alongside mainly regular first teamers than an assortment of other kids.

Tredwell ain't an in form Swann but I believe he's better than you and others claim. Also, more likely than Borthwick to put the brakes on with his style of bowling and greater experience.

Not claiming I'm right but it's my view.

Anderson a fraction short so far.

Good carry, if a fraction tennis ballesque.

Well done Broad - maintained the full length and got his reward. Simple stuff.

9 to go!

Always a good wicket to get early on - Warner bowled by Broad. Australia 22 for 1.

Well bowled Broad. Did well to keep it full after being driven twice.

And England tie another record today! A record 8 left handers in the side!

Yeah Broad bowling an aggressive length. Don't want to bowl too many floaties (like the first one to Watson) but can afford a few early on if the ball's swinging. Best to err too full than too short to start with.

Stokes on as first change ahead of Rankin. Interesting. Stokes does have a happy knack of making things happen.

Would expect Rankin will be on very soon. If Australia do get after Borthwick early doors and with no Root, the 4 seamers are going to have to do a lot of bowling today- unless they get 10 wickets first.

Root fully deserved to  be dropped. 

He's vastly overrated. 

He's got rubbish footwork and in Tests outside England he averages 28. 

He needs to go back to Yorkshire and  learn how to move his feet otherwise he'll be exposed every time he comes up against high quality fast bowlers.

Ah...a special moment here for Boyd Rankin.

Making a test debut for his country. Well one of them anyway.

Hang on a sec...he's got a bit of kick out of this surface.

Staggering stat that England have only bowled 18 deliveries at Watson out of 340 that would have hit the stumps this series. The guy is a walking lbw victim! Sums up how awful England's thinking has been this tour.

Good start from Rankin. Couple of balls with some zippy bounce.

He looks good. Already giving the batsmen something to think about.

Born Slippy wrote:Staggering stat that England have only bowled 18 deliveries at Watson out of 340 that would have hit the stumps this series. The guy is a walking lbw victim! Sums up how awful England's thinking has been this tour.

Good start from Rankin. Couple of balls with some zippy bounce.

No prep, no planning, no order.

England getting exactly what they deserve.

Thought it was a fairly nervous start from Rankin, but if he gets it right he could be a handful.

Decent first hour for Australia in the end. However with this carry you're always in the game as a bowler, because the edges will carry. And there is enough lateral movement also.

Watson looked even more nervous though. He was in an ugly position, off balance and was almost tempted to edge one again to the waiting slips cordon.

Apparent confirmation that Panesar was dropped, rather than being unfit (perhaps injured would be a better word?).
Makes his original selection somewhat curious, especially if he didn't have enthusiastic support from his Captain.

You've got to be a bit more patient to Watson. Drag him across to the off-side then try for the LBW ball. England have just been a bit loose, a few too many easy scoring opportunities looking for the wicket instead of working him over. Mind you he's now entering his danger 20 zone...

Rogers gone
Played on to Stokes

And just as I type that, Rogers contrives to drag on a nothing ball from Stokes. I tell you Stokes makes things happen; Rogers will feel a bit unlucky, it seemed harder to get that back onto the stumps than not, but a poor shot really from a guy with his experience. Not the kind of wicket you want to lose in these conditions, you need to make sure the bowlers are earning their wickets.

Great opportunity now for England, Clarke in early, Broad fairly refreshed. A wicket or two more before lunch...

I'm reluctant to say this of Stokes but his dismissal of Rogers reminded me so much of many of Botham's wickets. As Mike says - making things happen.

No surprise to see Broad straight back on for Clarke.

An important time between now and lunch. One further wicket (or even more) and it'll appear to have been our session with us well placed. However, if Australia can get to around 80 without further loss, they'll be pretty satisfied.

Appreciate both sides have to bat once before definitive conclusions but I'm sure the above will be the early and important perceptions.

Clarke goes c. Bell b. Stokes!!

Brilliant ball by Stokes, the pick of the bunch this morning

There's the wicket England would have been so desperate for just before lunch. Excellent ball from Stokes, just a bit of bounce and movement to get the Australian captain.

Another mini-start and mini-partnership. I definitely think this is the kind of pitch on which you're always in the game as a bowler. Wouldn't say it's the kind of pitch on which you can expect to score 400+, so every run vital.

1 more over to go. Can Anderson get one more wicket to make it comprehensively England's session?

Mike Selig wrote:1 more over to go. Can Anderson get one more wicket to make it comprehensively England's session?

Yes! Good morning from England. That's very out.

Watson LBW!!!

He can! Great piece of bowling from Anderson, dragged Watson across then the fuller straighter one. Watson another to go after a start (for the nth time).

Very good session in the end for England. Still a way to go, but Australia are going to have to guts it out from here...

At lunch Australia are 94 for 4 with Watson trapped lbw on the stroke of lunch. That makes it England's session. They need to crank up the pressure in the afternoon session.

First LBW of the Series for England?