It's The Ashes (again)

[Shabby Russian]

Tongue out Woakes in
Brooks to No3
Ali for Pope
Wood for Anderson

That's according to SSN.

Crazy if true.

Woakes and Ali can both bat abit which shortens the tail. And Wood gives us that bit of height and pace we are desperate for. Especially at Headlingly, and as Jimmy has been miles off it.

Has it?

This means Bairstow bats at 6, Woakes or Ali next.

Lost a proper batsmen, for a couple of decent lower order batsmen.

Does that weaken or strengthen batting line up?

[wba13]

Tongue out Woakes in
Brooks to No3
Ali for Pope
Wood for Anderson

That's according to SSN.

Crazy if true.

Woakes and Ali can both bat abit which shortens the tail. And Wood gives us that bit of height and pace we are desperate for. Especially at Headlingly, and as Jimmy has been miles off it.

Has it?

This means Bairstow bats at 6, Woakes or Ali next.

Lost a proper batsmen, for a couple of decent lower order batsmen.

Does that weaken or strengthen batting line up?

Bairstow will bat at 5 Stokes 6 ALI 7 and Woakes 8. Stronger than the lords batting line up. Even Wood at 11 is a better batsman than Anderson. We will have 7 bowlers if you include root  for me it’s a better balanced side. 
Time will tell.

[backsidebaggie]

Not happy with that, but at least they're changing it up. Something had to give.

What would you do differently?

Bring Foakes in. But I'm not sure of the rules of him not being the squad, so maybe that's impossible. 

I'd have dropped Crawley, too. 

I'm not sure Ali is a good choice, but again we're back to the arguments of spinning options being totally wank.

Squads are irrelevant. You can call up anyone at any point.

Leach has been a massive miss. Not because he’s a world beater, because he isn’t in the slightest. But he’s still miles better than our other spin options.

[AnelkasBeard]

Not happy with that, but at least they're changing it up. Something had to give.

What would you do differently?

Bring Foakes in. But I'm not sure of the rules of him not being the squad, so maybe that's impossible. 

I'd have dropped Crawley, too. 

I'm not sure Ali is a good choice, but again we're back to the arguments of spinning options being totally wank.

Squads are irrelevant. You can call up anyone at any point.

Leach has been a massive miss. Not because he’s a world beater, because he isn’t in the slightest. But he’s still miles better than our other spin options.

Yeah I only mentioned Foakes not being in the squad as a likely barometer that he wasn't about to be inserted into the playing 11.

[Tom Joad]

I don't think Jimmy was ever going to play all 5 tests, most back to back.

[rsbaggy2]

Looks like Cam Green will be dropped in favour of Mitch Marsh.

[AnelkasBeard]

Won the toss and bowling.... yikes.

[SuperBob2002]

Best tossers in the series. We're 3-0 up.

[AnelkasBeard]

Best tossers in the series. We're 3-0 up.

The Aussies have won 11 of the last 12 Tests where they've lost the toss... they're cheating with a weighted coin!

Guess the last time they lost after losing the toss....

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That start will do - gwarn Broady.

[Borin' Baggie]

Bairstow is an awful wicketkeeper