The Cricket Season of 2018/19

[TheNuclearOne]

I wouldn't be resting Cummins for this test - win it, retain the Ashes, and rest him in the last if you want to. In bowling, I'd be telling Starc to impress in the tour game. If he does, I'd bring him in for Pattinson or Haslewood depending on how they react to Stokes getting at them. Stokes showing the other English batsmen that you can score runs off the pace bowlers could have a positive impact on them which could be negated by bringing in someone new like Starc if his form warrants it.

For batting, Smith comes in for Wade or Harris - not overly fussed which. Opening the batting is a tough gig in this series, no matter who the person doing it is - moving Kwaka up to open isn't likely to make him get any better results than Harris would. If they want Harris as a long term opening option, drop Wade.

No point dropping Paine at this point as Wade isn't the long term solution and that creates a captaincy issue. Probably better to kick that can to the end of the series and allow Paine to "choose" to retire.

For the English, I'm not sure what they are going to do. I like Woakes but I don't think Root trusts him, so if he isn't going to be bowled, then Anderson comes in for him. For the batting, I hope they make some kind of change, if only to the batting order. I don't think there are other in form openers knocking around county cricket. I'd open with Denly as he's proven he can get stuck in better than Roy. If they drop Roy down the order then he's got to be low down where he can bat with freedom - but that's supposed to be Buttler's role and he's not exactly setting the world on fire. So I'd be bringing in Pope for one of Roy/Buttler - not overly fussed which.

The way Hazlewood's gone i think he'd be the last quickie to be dropped right now. Totally agree putting Kwaka to opener isn't overly likely to help tho if he's due for runs he is due whether at opener or #3. Paine is carved in stone and may even last until Smith can captain again.

Woakes has bowled quite well at times but he would have to be looked at if Anderson is coming in. If he had a big score on the board he'd be sitting better. Roy's been a spud so far and they have to do something with him. You guys must be light on for openers.

[TheNuclearOne]

Kwaka captain and opener in the tour match last night.

[Grumpy8]

Harris scored an unbeaten fifty and starc three wickets test selections is going to be tough

[Yossarian]

Starc picked up batsmen 7, 8 & 9... although he did manage to go at under 3 rpo this time

[3oneday]

Wonder if Paine will miss the next test through injury that’d be the best result.

[Grumpy8]

Starc picked up batsmen 7, 8 & 9... although he did manage to go at under 3 rpo this time

News grabs don’t point that out , bet selectors look at it tho

[TheNuclearOne]

Excellent match for Starc with another 4.

[Grumpy8]

Excellent match for Starc with another 4.

Unfortunately marsh had a good match as well !!!! Wonder boy in ashes out the window????

[TheNuclearOne]

Unfortunately marsh had a good match as well !!!! Wonder boy in ashes out the window????

I'd be surprised if Marsh got a gig at this stage. As for the bowling there is no wrong answer. We have five world class bowlers ready to roll. It's going to be tense.

[TheNuclearOne]

I'd be surprised if Marsh got a gig at this stage. As for the bowling there is no wrong answer. We have five world class bowlers ready to roll. It's going to be tense.

Talk of Marsh for Wade now.

[TheNuclearOne]

Bumrah shows his last Test feats were no fluke. He keeps improving in leaps and bounds and now has great command of a pretty late outswinger. What a bowler.

[Grumpy8]

Bumrah shows his last Test feats were no fluke. He keeps improving in leaps and bounds and now has great command of a pretty late outswinger. What a bowler.

Wonder how long it will take him to qualify for the poms , reckon he will tour with them for the next ashes ?

[TheNuclearOne]

wonder how long it will take him to qualify for the poms , reckon he will tour with them for the next ashes ?

lol!!!!!

[jimandr]

Greetings from Manchester. I will be at the game tomorrow, sitting in the stand that joins the Hilton hotel. I'll be wearing a silly grey beanie with a koala attached to it in a vain attempt to get on tv.
Local reports say the pitch will be hard and bouncy but may turn into a batting paradise if it doesn't swing. It will probably rain on and off for the first 3 days. Max of 16 tomorrow.
I'm only there for day 1,so I will post a full report.

[TheNuclearOne]

Greetings from Manchester. I will be at the game tomorrow, sitting in the stand that joins the Hilton hotel. I'll be wearing a silly grey beanie with a koala attached to it in a vain attempt to get on tv.
Local reports say the pitch will be hard and bouncy but may turn into a batting paradise if it doesn't swing. It will probably rain on and off for the first 3 days. Max of 16 tomorrow.
I'm only there for day 1,so I will post a full report.

Lucky bugger - unless it rains a plenty!

[mrbluu]

Greetings from Manchester. I will be at the game tomorrow, sitting in the stand that joins the Hilton hotel. I'll be wearing a silly grey beanie with a koala attached to it in a vain attempt to get on tv.
Local reports say the pitch will be hard and bouncy but may turn into a batting paradise if it doesn't swing. It will probably rain on and off for the first 3 days. Max of 16 tomorrow.
I'm only there for day 1,so I will post a full report.

Make sure u wave when I see you on tv!!

[TheNuclearOne]

Starc naked to play.

[sms316]

Starc naked to play.

No wonder they call him Tangles.

[TheNuclearOne]

no wonder they call him tangles.

lmao!!!

[Sookie1]

For ****s sake. Why are they staying with Warner. He is a ****ing has been. Cut the clown. Cheating ****

[jimandr]

For ****s sake. Why are they staying with Warner. He is a ****ing has been. Cut the clown. Cheating ****

Lets try again. The site keeps rejecting my longer posts so here is a short one.
It was the coldest day I have ever spent watching sport.
As a venue, Old Trafford didn't impress me. All the Aussie G's are better.
Smith looks better live than on tv. I'm glad I saw him.

[TheNuclearOne]

Who comes back from that sort of sickening blow/incident and scores 200. Good to see some support too even if not so much from the top order.

[Jarro]

Apparently Smith can score 30 consecutive ducks and still average 50 in test cricket.

Freak.

[TheNuclearOne]

Apparently Smith can score 30 consecutive ducks and still average 50 in test cricket.

Freak.

LMAO!! Never thought of it that way.

[Sookie1]

Warner sucks. He really really sucks