Ashes 2010/11

[KevinGage]

It's also a crucial role that requires decent adaptability and a good mindset.

If the top order batsmen have been skittled out with the new ball or in conditions that seam earlier on, the responsibility is there to stabilise the innings and help to ensure a respectable total. If the top order have done well, the challenge is there to take the game even further away from the opposition.

It needs a good batsmen to really play the position well, not just someone to make up the numbers. And Bell is a good batsmen, probably in the form of his career.

[rutski]

My guess is the Aussie team will be:

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
Johnson
Harris
Beer
Siddle

i think you will be right in your team selection for the crims! I love the fact of them chopping and changing all the bowlers, they really are in a quandry of how to stop us!

[OzVilla]

Re Bell batting at 6 imo it's all about the balance of the batting order that works better with Bell at 6.

With Trott and Collingwood fairly similar types - hard to get out, head down grafters and Pietersen and Bell the stroke players it makes perfect sense to split them up in the order;
3. Trott
4.Pietersen
5.Collingwood
6.Bell

It gives us a far better balance to the batting order and ensures the run rate won't be in danger of stalling at any point.  Also allows the stoke players the opportunity to play around Collingwood in particular.  The order might change i we had a run chace on but other than that I can't see this changing.

News breaking here about Warnie having a bit with Liz Hurley - the jammy f*****.

[Lsvilla]

agree with all the sentiment re Bell at 6 - compare him walking out to bat at 80-4 (if things go badly for any reason which i have to say i can't currently see) compared to how we feel when North / Smith walks to the wicket. Also, i understand Ponting has never even met Beer let alone see him bowl.....and Johnson has only had net bowling since being dropped having been 'protected' from the last round of Shield games - just serves to underline the state convict cricket is in compared to ours right now.

lets hope we pulverise them this week - having been in Perth 4 years ago when they reclaimed the ashes gutted at not being there now and comforted by knowing that those that are will milk it for everything

[Warren Aspinall]

Episode 5

[Warren Aspinall]

England are not revealing their side until the toss, i've got a feeling Bresnan will get the nod as Shahzad is a bit raw & Tremlett seems to have a touch of the Harmisons about him. Hope i'm wrong though as Tremlett (on fire & form) is perfect for this wicket.

[PaulWinch again]

Sounds like Tremlett will be picked, which would be good.

[KevinGage]

Thought Tremlett initially, didn't even think there was a debate.

Big tall bowler, ideal to exploit the extra pace and bounce traditionally associated with Perth.

But the more I think about it, the more I'd be tempted to go with Bresnan. Not just for his runs down the order (useful as they may be). That would be defensive, and you'd be picking a bower for the wrong reasons.

But as others have said, throughout his career Tremlett can blow very hot and cold. He looked sharp in Hobart and his body language was good. But when things start to go wrong it looks like he's got the world on his shoulders.

There is also talk that this pitch isn't particularly bouncy by old Perth standards, hasn't been for a while so that should open it up for the other two. I like the look of Shazad, and when the conditions suit I reckon he could be the most explosive option out of the three, capable of taking 5/6 wickets if it all clicks in double quick time.

Bresnan doesn't have that ability to go through a side single handedly, but he's a workhorse. Throw him the ball and he'll run in for plenty of overs and give you a degree of control. Tremlett is at his best in short sharp bursts and with Finn still finding his feet at international level, I'm not sure you could go with two bowlers who you have to use sparingly.

Finn ticks the box as far as height and bounce is concerned too, so I'd be very tempted to go with Bresnan. You could also look at the issue of consistency of selection and make the argument for picking a bowler who can feature in the next three tests, rather than the horses for courses/ chopping and changing model Australia seem to have adopted.

[TopDeck113]

Is this a must-win toss?  Get in, post a big score and hope our bowlers can make hay?

[Colhint]

right i'm off to bed up at 4.40 for the afternoon session

[KevinGage]

Is this a must-win toss?  Get in, post a big score and hope our bowlers can make hay?

Plenty of grass on the wicket apparently.

As we've seen at Adelaide, any movement first up can have a big impact on the course of the game.

The Aussies know they need a response in this game and conditions that favour their fast bowlers initially could bring them back into the series. In contrast, lose the toss and take a few early wickets and any semblance of planning or preparation they put in place post Adelaide will be out the window. There will be that sinking feeling for them of 'here we go again.' Great. Keep them down.

I think you'd have to bat first up if the coin drops in your favour but it might be one of those tosses where you don't mind losing.

I do expect a big reaction from the Aussies though. I don't think there is a huge gulf in class between the two sides and with Broad out and Anderson jetlagged -  I expect this to be a lot tougher than Adelaide.

[Dave Cooper please]

Strauss wins toss and will....bowl?!

Wow, big decision, need to bowl them out for less than 250 now.

[KevinGage]

Ponting says he'd have bowled too.

No doubt it'll be questioned if the Aussies go on and post 500+ though.

Momentum is with England, make some early inroads and the game is theirs to lose.

[KevinGage]

Tremlett strikes!

3 more of these cants back in the shed before lunch would be just the ticket.

[KevinGage]

King Rat walks.

Great work by Collingwood.