Your first test team...

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

M.Slater
M.Hayden
S.Katich
M.Waugh
S.Waugh (c)
R.Ponting
A.Gilchrist (vc)
B.Lee
S.Warne
J.Gillespie
G.McGrath
12 man: D.Martyn...sorry mate. Simon hit great form, give him a run.
13th man: J.Langer...sorry Justin, he's a great bloke, but he has been skating on thin ice with a hot blade lately.

Hey guys,
what would be your team for thr 1st test.
Dipper,London Dave, put your england team in.

 

[Spogs]

I think they'll probably give Langer another go as the incumbant number 3 (not that I agree with that). The problem with that though is that once the tests start, Katich won't have another chance out in the middle. So if Langer fails, you bring in a batsman who hasn't had much cricket for a while.

With the three quicks available, I wonder how the selectors will go if the wicket looks like it'll turn a bit. Would they consider Funky instead of Lee or Gillespie? You wouldn't think so early in the series but maybe for the last couple of tests.

 

[Briedis]

M.Slater
M.Hayden
J.Langer
M.Waugh
S.Waugh (c)
R.Ponting
A.Gilchrist (vc)
J.Gillespie
S.Warne
B.Lee
G.McGrath

Langer will get one more go. If he fails then put in Katich and promote Ponting to number three. It would be a bad move to put someone in his first test at number three and Ponting is in sensational touch at the moment. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Ponting comes in at three, Langer at six.

The other question is how will Hayden go? After a lean time of it up until India and then such a great series against India, he will play all the ashes tests but seems to be struggling against mediocre seam bowling. Might be worthwhile dropping him down the order if things aren't going well for him...

 

[Spogs]

I'd be pretty interested to see the English side. Assuming everyone is fit I would imagine something like:

Atherton
Trescothick
Vaughan
Hussain
Thorpe
Stewart
White
Hoggard
Cad****
Gough

Which is only ten but I'll be stuffed if I can think of another batsman worthy of a game. They wouldn't play Hick would they? I think White averages around 20 with the bat so they may play him as an allrounder and another spinner such as Giles.

Most of the batters have scored runs lately although I'm not sure about Hussain. All capable but will struggle against our very potent attack. Atherton could be a key but he needs bad balls to score and he won't get many against McGrath and Gillespie. He may prefer Lee and Warne for the occassional loose one.

 

[Spogs]

The second to last player was Cad + (part of the male anatomy commonly used for watering the garden and inserting in part of the female anatomy)

 

[Briedis]

Mate if Atherton is looking for something loose he should try out for Essendon....

 

[BomberBoy]

Originally posted by Briedis
Mate if Atherton is looking for something loose he should try out for Essendon....

oohhhh

low blow

low blow

Ill let you go

Hey that rhymes lol

 

[Fat Red]

Not that I think it'll go this way, but:

Hayden
Slater
Ponting
Waugh
Waugh
Martyn
Gilchrist
Warne
Gillespie
Lee
McGrath

 

[Dipper]

Well if I was picking the Aussie team I'd go exactly with what Fat Red has put down but I've got a feeling that they'll go with Langer-i think all he needs is one half convincing knock & he'll be in.

Nick it's a bit harder to pick the England side now because i)we were thrashed in the 1 dayers ii)There's a few injuries knocking about (Thorpe, Cad****, Giles) but here goes:-

Atherton
Trescothick
Vaughn
Hussain
Thorpe
Stewart
Ward
White
Giles
Cad****
Gough

This is what I think the side could be, Ward is the 6th batsman-he played both Tests against Pakistan but I'm pretty certain that he's not up to the job, especially as he seems too defensive & only looks to score off the bad balls a la Atherton.
If they look at the pitch/conditions for Egbaston & decide that it will aid the faster bowlers then I would expect them not to pick Giles (left arm spinner) BUT they've fallen into this trap so many times it's just not funny any more.They end up finding that the pitch is better for batting than they thought & once the ball's got a bit older they have no way of taking wickets or keeping control.Giles is obviously not the best spinner in the world but in Pakistan his record was virtually the same as Saqulain's & he was bowling to a side that can play spin well Inzimam etc plus he's a reeasonable bat so I would give him a go.
It's possible that with White back in the side as an allrounder that they'll play 5 batsman + Stewart as wck have White at seven, & pick 3 other fast bowlers as well as Giles ( in this case the extra bowler would probably be Hoggard) but they'll probably play it safe & go for the extra batsman.Personally I would go with Shah over Ward as he looks as if he has the talent to succeed at this level & he plays his shots rather than just letting the bowlers (McGrath especailly) dictate to him.

 

[London Dave]

I tend to agree with ya Dip. can't see them giving Langer the big A. Opening three bats for Oz worry me. I think its the weak link in the side.
Hayden
Slater
Langer
Waugh M
Waugh S
Ponting
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Gillespie
McGrath

As far as the poms go, I think you just about nailed it. Don't think Giles (fitness?)will make the 11, reckon they will stick with Cork.
In batting order, I'd reckon the poms will go for...

Atherton
Trescothick
Hussain
Thorpe
Stewart
Vaughn
Ward
White
Cork
Cadnob
Gough

Hoggard or Giles 12th.
If the deck looks like it may turn, Cork gets the flick for Giles (if fit) or wait for it...Crofty, the non spinning spinner!

 

[Dipper]

Originally posted by London Dave

If the deck looks like it may turn, Cork gets the flick for Giles (if fit) or wait for it...Crofty, the non spinning spinner!

Hey mate don't knock it there's a long tradition in this country of the non-spinning off spinner (I'm one myself) they've always played a vital role in improving the averages of aspiring batsmen throughout the land.

I agree with you LD that the only area of potentail weakness in this Australian side is the top 3-England's only hope is to consistently break through early on & try to expose the middle order to the new ball but if Steve Waugh & Ponting are coming to the wicket with the score at 150/3 or worse then we're going to struggle.

Also Hussain won't be batting at 3, they've decided that that's where Vaughn will bat from now on.It is possible that he'll bat at 5 with Thorpe at 4 but I don't think that he wants to move that far up the order.