Test The Ashes Second Test December 4-8 1430hrs @ The Gabba

[Gough]

Australia from, Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
England from, Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood

 

[AJ_2000]

The longest time between tests 1 & 2..... Still another week

 

[cats_09]

If the test lasts just 2 days again, is there really any winners

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

A PM X1 is supposed to take on England in a day/niter in Canberra today. But actually it is not the first X1 playing, it is their second stringers instead as the team beaten badly last week is not bothering with cricket but slumming it in Noosa. Bewildering.

Please have a poor Day 1 in this test

Then we can settle in and enjoy a spicy press conference

 

[LukeParkerno1]

If the test lasts just 2 days again, is there really any winners

Yes

Us because the Poms can whinge between each other again

 

[LukeParkerno1]

A PM X1 is supposed to take on England in a day/niter in Canberra today. But actually it is not the first X1 playing, it is their second stringers instead as the team thrashed last week is not bothering with cricket but slumming it in Noosa. Bewildering.

To be fair conditions in Canberra are slow and flat compared to Brisbane

 

[sr36]

Looking like same 11.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Looking like same 11.

As expected.

Head will go back to 5

 

[Hamingja]

I would be going Webster for Khawaja here.

Even if Khawaja's end goal is a SCG farewell, it is better for him to get the body right and cash in his seniority card for boxing day / new years day than cash it in here, play underdone, fail and have the masses baying for his blood some more.

It is unlikely both Weatherald and Webster make themselves undroppable in the interim.

 

[sr36]

I would be going Webster for Khawaja here.

Even if Khawaja's end goal is a SCG farewell, it is better for him to get the body right and cash in his seniority card for boxing day / new years day than cash it in here, play underdone, fail and have the masses baying for his blood some more.

It is unlikely both Weatherald and Webster make themselves undroppable in the interim.

I don't think Weatherald has to do much to get the whole Ashes. And he looked good in that second innings.

 

[Hamingja]

I don't think Weatherald has to do much to get the whole Ashes. And he looked good in that second innings.

I think Weatherald is similiar to McSweeney. If the runs aren't there they won't persist for long as he is not a CA golden boy.

 

[sr36]

I think Weatherald is similiar to McSweeney. If the runs aren't there they won't persist for long as he is not a CA golden boy.

Yeah but McSweeney didn't look like getting runs, whereas Weatherald already has looked likely. And it's got more urgent to lock in an opener.

 

[Pistol Night]

A PM X1 is supposed to take on England in a day/niter in Canberra today. But actually it is not the first X1 playing, it is their second stringers instead as the team thrashed last week is not bothering with cricket but slumming it in Noosa. Bewildering.

Their theory is "camaraderie" is more important than some time in the middle getting used to some pink ball cricket. The Bazball way

 

[melanChronic]

Yeah but McSweeney didn't look like getting runs, whereas Weatherald already has looked likely. And it's got more urgent to lock in an opener.

To be fair to McSweeney he made a huge contribution to winning the Adelaide test by getting through the evening session on day one. 30 odd there was crucial to let Head go ham the next day.

For Weatherald, if he doesn't cement a spot with 50 or more then a lot will depend on the state of the series. Last year there was a Bumrah panic going into the MCG at 1-1 and zero margin for error if they wanted to win the BGT.

If the English quicks rinse the top order a few more times like the first innings in Perth and square the series then the selectors will probably knee-jerk drop the new guy.

 

[sr36]

To be fair to McSweeney he made a huge contribution to winning the Adelaide test by getting through the evening session on day one. 30 odd there was crucial to let Head go ham the next day.

Yeah he did. He was also very lucky to get through.

 

[BGman]

Weatherald
Head
Labuchagne
Smith
Green
Webster/Inglis
Carey
Neser
Starc
Doggett
Boland

#6 depends on whether Lyon plays.

Who decides the type of match, day or day/nite, ICC or home board?

 

[JackOutback]

Head to open, Inglis to 6, Webster if we want to leave Lyon out and play an extra quick (read somewhere it’s the one Test where a spinner may be surplus).

 

[Aussie in exile]

This England team are spineless, so I expect us to wrap it up within 4 days at most

 

[jannissary]

don't think they'll be dropping khawaja.

 

[swingdog]

If we lose this series, it'll be due to our conservative selection policies.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I don't think Weatherald has to do much to get the whole Ashes. And he looked good in that second innings.

He’s need to get a 50 plus in the next two tests. Whilst he looked “okay” he did only make 26 after a duck. If we win likely they keep him but he wouldn’t want to fail and us to lose like McSweeney did

 

[LukeParkerno1]

If we lose this series, it'll be due to our conservative selection policies.

Hardly. Going with what has won a test is not conservative anyway it’s backing a winning formula.

Cummins back and Doggett in when it happens and Haze in for Boland when that happens.

Give the top 6 a go we did win in 2 days jeez

 

[darcytiger]

Unfortunately I’ll be cheering for Ussie to knick off. Bring in Renshaw for the rest of the series.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Unfortunately I’ll be cheering for Ussie to knick off. Bring in Renshaw for the rest of the series.

Seems silly. Surely you want our openers to score runs. Renshaw is hardly Mr Sure Thing anyway and I like him.

What’s the big deal he’ll be in after Sydney anyway

 

[BGman]

To be fair conditions in Canberra are slow and flat compared to Brisbane

Is not being fair to the orqanisers that chose it as a warm up for Brissie, the ungrateful so and sos,

If we lose this series, it'll be due to our conservative selection policies.

If you mean by conservative that they have waited too long to move on one or two players to start a generational transition, am with you.