The Backyard Ashes thread

[Punchy Bassett]

Replace Lee with Siddle and you've got yourself a deal. I really wish they'd taken Ferguson over with them as backup, in the event (which has transpired) that Hussey's poor form continued. If you want to talk about selectors handing out golden tickets, then he's the poster boy right now. He sits 11th on the list of run scorers for the series, with an average of just 29.

Fine by me, but we know how much the selectors love Lee so they are going to try and get him back in which is insane in my opinion without Clark being there hence why I selected it the way I did.

Agreed with Ferguson, hell any extra batsman, crazy we took both Watson and McDonald yet no extra batting backup.

 

[RoosterLad]

Hussey's half century has booked his spot for the next Test. Amazing what happens when you hit the ball.

Pup has been a superstar this series, what a fantastic player he is turning in to.

North was unlucky not to get a ton, was in average form until that as well (apart from 1st Test ton of course).

Clark needs to play so we can try and stop leaking runs like a bitch.

 

[smoovy]

Clark has to come in. At least with him Ponting can set the field to some sort of plan. Right now he has got Siddle and Johnson bowling both sides of the wicket.

Clark for Siddle.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Watson (I wasn't a fan of the choice but hey its worked so far)
Katich
Punter
Clarke (move him up a spot now)
Hussey (only cause we have no other options, hell if Hodge is over there and inform give him a go and I hate Hodge)
North
Manou (Haddin surely wont be fit)
Johnson
Lee
Clark
Hilf

Like that eleven. Would keep Hussey/Clarke where they are though.

It would be a bold move to put Lee straight back in without a warm up game but the three other quicks + Watson gives us some insurance. Surely Watson won't bowl that pathetically again if called upon.

I am a big fan of Siddle but it just hasn't been happening for him in the English conditions. I reckon he has been moving the ball too much and his accuracy has struggled as a result. All of a sudden he has all these different delivery options at his disposal and he's spoiled for choice. Trying too many different things whereas in India, Australia and South Africa on the flatter wickets the KISS principle was in operation.

 

[birdmanptr]

Watson (I wasn't a fan of the choice but hey its worked so far)
Katich
Punter
Clarke (move him up a spot now)
Hussey (only cause we have no other options, hell if Hodge is over there and inform give him a go and I hate Hodge)
North
Manou (Haddin surely wont be fit)
Johnson
Lee
Clark
Hilf

Sounds like Haddin is fit so he goes straight inand i agree with your team except the order leave Hussey at 4 No point NOT playing Lee if he has been doing as much work as he says he has

Lee missed the opening three Tests with a side strain but has bowled for the past eight days and believes he has done enough to demand selection.

Lee bowled with menacing intent for more than an hour on Wednesday and struck Michael Hussey on the side of the helmet with a fearful blow. His speed increased as the session progressed in an encouraging return to full training duties.

"I've been bowling for two weeks, and bowled eight days straight," he said. "Most days have been bowling back-to-back, morning and afternoon sessions. Today I bowled pretty much a full session and my pace felt really good. I'm 100% ready to go."

No point playing Hauritz

Feel for Hughes but he is young his time will come

 

[jackster83]

Looks like Clark has been recalled, and Hauritz dropped.

Flintoff is out of the 4th test. Prior is injured as well apparently. Poms will be playing for the draw now I'll bet.

 

[Drummond]

Clark in you beauty! About time.

 

[birdmanptr]

Ok here we go Bowling cause Ponting rotten luck at tosses continues

Early break through vital cause then we expose their weakness Bopara Bell as they have no all rounder now Harmison is in hes useless almost as bad as Anderson.

4 for at lunch fingers crossed

 

[birdmanptr]

Umpire under pressure early

 

[birdmanptr]

Strauss new he was gone

 

[birdmanptr]

Ok here we go Bowling cause Ponting rotten luck at tosses continues

Early break through vital cause then we expose their weakness Bopara Bell as they have no all rounder now Harmison is in hes useless almost as bad as Anderson.

4 for at lunch fingers crossed

Not even close

 

[brucetiki]

England lose 2 key players in Andrew Flintoff and Rudi Koertzen, and they are all out for 102.

At the rate we're batting we'll have a lead by tea.

 

[jackster83]

Ponting will score a century this innings, lock it in.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

England lose 2 key players in Andrew Flintoff and Rudi Koertzen, and they are all out for 102.

At the rate we're batting we'll have a lead by tea.

More like our idiot selectors finally woke up and selected S Clark.

 

[cmndstab]

Pity about the three quick losses there, but gee, we're dominating them so far. Great that we could get them out so quickly AND score quickly, so hopefully this won't just fizzle out into another draw. If we win this the scores are tied amazingly.

 

[RoosterLad]

I'd be surprised if this lasts 3 days, we probably won't even have to bat again.

Brilliant bowling - glad Clark is finally playing.

Brilliant start with the bat too - spewing Punter didn't get his ton.

 

[brucetiki]

I'd be surprised if this lasts 3 days, we probably won't even have to bat again.

Brilliant bowling - glad Clark is finally playing.

Brilliant start with the bat too - spewing Punter didn't get his ton.

If we're really arrogant, we could declare at 250-300, get England all out for 100 again and the game could be over tonight ala the 2nd test against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2002.

 

[jo172]

Good to see normal service resumed overnight.

 

[birdmanptr]

Funny how things work out

2005 there was talk if we played Hussey we win the Ashes

2009 if we had Dropped Hussey we keep the Ashes

Fair bowler Broad but he aint that good but then we had to put up with Anderson a couple of tests ago shame there aint one more test Hoggard could come back and have one good spell

 

[amer]

Anyone wanting to sink a few bucks on our mob at present?

 

[showdownhero]

Anyone wanting to sink a few bucks on our mob at present?

I don't like losing my money

 

[birdmanptr]

Hussey finally makes some runs But Runs out POnting just when the poms must havee been wondering

 

[showdownhero]

Hussey finally makes some runs But Runs out POnting just when the poms must havee been wondering

At that moment I ran around my TV screaming... just couldn't believe it

 

[jo172]

Looking forward to it, my tip would be the Mother Country 2 -1 with Rain ruining the other tests to a draw.

Australia don't have the class or flexibility needed to win outright.

Far out my tipping is in god form recently! Of course it wasn't really rain in Cardiff, but meh

 

[birdmanptr]

Far out my tipping is in god form recently! Of course it wasn't really rain in Cardiff, but meh

Well done

Still cant come to terms with our batting 160 good god all we had to do was get to 300 some time Sunday