Changes for 4th test

[Stan_Darsh72]

Out Either Starc or Harris if rested For Jackson Bird.

Warner to Open with Rogers.

 

[Run n Spread]

Only possible change:
In Bird
Out Harris (if not fit/rested)

Warner to open

 

[Bucking Beads]

Unchanged unless Harris can't back up although I'd be open to Bird coming in for Starc.

 

[wotdoiput]

I see everyone is also persisting with Chris "turns 36 next month and averages 25" Rogers

Missed the first innings of the 3rd test?

 

[swansfan51]

Missed the first innings of the 3rd test?

No. I also didn't miss his other 7 test innings and I'm not a believer in 1 decent innings overruling all previous form.

 

[eddiesmith]

He just contributed 96 runs in the match.

Also is Australias 2nd leading run scorer for the series...

Wouldn't have thought 2 50's in 3 test matches was terrible given the performances of those below him, a better opening partner might help, other than the 2nd innings chasing runs, I don't believe he has been the 1st wicket to fall yet, very good at holding up an end

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

We will never know, but Watson could have taken 4 crucial wickets yesterday to win us the game

That's where his value is, and why he will be afforded selection despite a long form slump with the bat

He needs to drop to 6 though, happy for him to open again when/ if his form turns around.

Being a tight part-time bowler shouldn't make up for not being in the first six batsman.
He is not in the first six batsmen, not in the first bowlers, not the first keeper. He therefore has to go, but won't.
He really only went to India on the back that 80-odd in Melbourne, and should not have come back into the side for the final Test there and certainly should not have been in the Ashes touring squad.
Unfortunately for all that, you are correct that they will keep picking him and at some point he will get a decent score which will again save him for 10 matches at a minimum.

 

[matty p]

In: Bird, Hughes
Out: Starc, Watson

 

[bluespooner]

In: Bird and Faulkner
Out: Starc and Watson

 

[frankrizzo]

Still think bird needs another year or two of first class, get that bowling average down to 11 and then he can challenge for a spot.

 

[willba_victory]

HUGHES IN.

 

[Zach Package]

there's a difference between what i'd do and what will happen.

I'd bump Watson for Hughes and have the top 7 like this:

Warner
Hughes
Rogers
Clarke
Khawaja
Smith
Haddin

but in reality, with nothing to gain and a short turn around it's a good idea for rhyno to have a spell, Bird deserves a shot, that'll be the only change imo

 

[Doodlesweaver]

They shouldn't change the team at all. Too much shuffling already. Just put Watson at 7. It is where he belongs.

 

[Kram]

Bird in for someone and keep the same batting order from the 2nd innings last Test.

 

[western royboy]

Lots of questions to answer. Do we look short term or long term? And what time periods represent each view?

Given we can't win the Ashes in this series, we should start looking at the return series now, so what does that mean?

Rogers - We need to make a call is he our preferred opener for the return home series YES - he plays / NO - sorry time to move on
Watson - same decision
Warner /Hughes / Cowan - they open if the answer is NO to both, Warner gets first option if only one No.
Khawaja - I'm not convinced he has the tools to be able to hold down this spot, despite his bad luck but he gets the next 2 to see what he can do.
Clarke - carry on
Smith - play on
Warner / Watson - if no open then last chance - I would not be against throwing in Doolan for a go but that won't happen
Haddin - in rare form with the gloves last Test but similar thoughts to Rogers maybe bat 6 at the Oval to allow Faulkner a game.
Harris - No point killing him - rest up for the Oval or home series
Bird - no point not having a look at him given what he's done in Tests thus far.
Siddle - don't kill him rest in either of the next two tests
Faulkner - why not have a look at him
Starc - we now what we get - play one more test
Lyon - Bowled well at Old Trafford, like to see him and Agar both play at the Oval
Agar - Must play at The Oval.
Wade - dependent upon what happens with Haddin but unlikely at this stage

From a limited look at the pitch at Durham via the box this year, the track was very hard (similar to Old Trafford), thus you'd want a similar type of attack, at the Oval you'd like to think that Lyon and Agar could have a trundle together and perhaps play two of Siddle/Stac/Harris and play Faulkner with Haddin going up a slot.

We have nothing to lse but a lot to gain so we may as well use the next two tests wisely with a view to the future.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

In Wade as a batsman only
Out Khawaja

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Why is everyone so keen on changing the team? We've had such an unsettled line-up since the beginning of the Aus summer.

You can't find out how someone is going to go off the back of an odd test match here or there - which is how Khawaja has been treated. And Rogers needs to play the whole series, wtf is the point in bringing him in otherwise? The seamers did ok, Harris and Sids more than ok, we don't have strike spin bowler but Lyon should be given more than one test at a time.

They should just stick with this team unless Rhino can't back up.

Personally, I'd rather Watson was dropped but that should have happened after Lords, no point in dropping him now. Just make him behave as a proper all-rounder and stick him in at 7.

 

[bird_man]

Utterly unacceptable for Watson to be selected. Can't be selected on his bowling because he doesn't bowl enough and has admitted he doesn't want to. Can't be selected on his batting because we have 3 specialist bowlers (Pattinson, Starc, Harris) who have better batting averages than him over the past 2 years.

I see everyone is also persisting with Chris "turns 36 next month and averages 25" Rogers

Who would you like to open the batting?

 

[The_Reaper]

I do want to see a bit of Faulkner and I want Hughes to get a run.

 

[BluesMan]

Only possible change:
In Bird
Out Harris (if not fit/rested)

Warner to open

thats it

 

[wotdoiput]

No. I also didn't miss his other 7 test innings and I'm not a believer in 1 decent innings overruling all previous form.

Has made 2 fifties so far in this series, second leading run scorer for Australia in the series has shown enough. Who do we replace him with?

 

[frankrizzo]

I am with a lot of others here and that is watto loses his opening spot, but this time no half arsed bat him at 4 and let him decide when he wants to bowl compromise.

If watson won't bat at 6 and bowl in every innings then he has no role in the team and he can bugger of back to the easy ipl money.

 

[swansfan51]

Who would you like to open the batting?

Has made 2 fifties so far in this series, second leading run scorer for Australia in the series has shown enough. Who do we replace him with?

Please don't think I get any enjoyment from this either, our batting lineup is just awful and it is really disappointing to watch.

I would never have dropped Simon Katich, he was better than any of the options we have tried since. Although I accept that ship has now sailed. Not only was he given less chances than other batsmen have been, the "too old" argument seems inconsistent when we're now playing Chris Rogers.

He is unpopular with a lot of people but David Warner is very well performed as an opening batsman at test level, averaging over 40. I would also back Hughes as an opener, he scored well there before being taken in and out of the team several times, and has scored heavily there at first class level. He is young enough that he can continue to improve his technique, while still performing decently compared to Rogers and Cowan right now.

TLDR opener ranking:
Warner
Hughes
Rogers
Watson
Cowan

I haven't seen anywhere near enough of Maddinson to fairly rate him, I'm sure others have.

 

[HBF]

I do want to see a bit of Faulkner and I want Hughes to get a run.

Swann has got his measure and will be bought into the attack as soon as Hughes walks to the crease. Too many flaws in his technique as well.

 

[The_Reaper]

Swann has got his measure and will be bought into the attack as soon as Hughes walks to the crease. Too many flaws in his technique as well.

So we open with Hughes.