Ashes 2013/14

[OzVilla]

Regardless of Trott's illness, Warner should'nt have said what he said.

To be fair, I don't think he really meant to say it. A journo asked a few leading questions and out it came. He's really not bright enough to hold press conferences with journos after a spicy angle circleing him.

Anyway, siege mentalities rarely work on Cricket tours abroad. They are too long and it eats teams up in the end.

I'd rather our press dug the dirt on Warner and his misses (the term more pricks than a 2nd hand dartboard spring to mind) to show them what real press deviants do - then we'll see whose mentally strong.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Is it just me that thinks of Albion and their fans every time I see an Ausie player or the "fanatics" on the telly?

I wouldn't mind if they had the class to do things in a humourous way, but they've turned from someone I don't give 2 shits about into an annoying pain in the arse that you just want to slap.

I remember the fanatics trying to create an atmosphere over here in the summer and they were laughed at by the England fans

[john e]

I don't think anyone is saying we have to win with class, but there's a line. Also Broad's is no worse than all those before him including Haddin and Clarke in the summer.

no better either,   as all are cheats

[spangley1812]

Tim Bresnan hit an unbeaten 57 for the England Performance Programme on the opening day of their match against Queensland 2nd XI.

All-rounder Bresnan, who is recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back, was playing for the first time since the fourth Ashes Test in August.

The EPP made 376-9 after being put in to bat, with Middlesex batsman Sam Robson scoring a century in Brisbane.

Worcestershire's Moeen Ali made 83 while wicketkeeper Jos Buttler hit 54.

England's Test squad have travelled to Alice Springs for their two-day match against a CA Chairman's XI which starts on Friday.

Bresnan, however, remained in Brisbane to prove his fitness ahead of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, which begins on 5 December.

The 28-year-old from Yorkshire has played 21 Tests for England, scoring more than 500 runs and taking 67 wickets.

[eastie]

@MichaelVaughan: Looking at the Order England have picked for Alice it looks like Balance will make debut in Adelaide and Root will Bat 3... #Ashes

[PaulWinch again]

Well that's fair enough, I don't mind Ballance being given a shot and Root played Johnson excellently in that second innings. Stokes's time will come, but I do worry about our third seamer. I think we need Finn because we need our third seamer to be able to come on and knock some of them over.

[PaulWinch again]

Although Ballance was one of the few high spots of that first day, our batting line up failed miserably again. That's a huge worry, 212-7 is not good.

[PaulWinch again]

I think the biggest worry is that again all the batsmen other than Carberry got starts but they couldn't go on to a big score. This has been a problem of ours for a while now.

[PaulWinch again]

Our batsmen are getting out too cheaply and they're not scoring quick enough either. We're too nervous we need to start being aggressive and more proactive with the bat.

[OCD]

Don't like the sound of having Root at 3. I would rather Bell been moved there.

[paul_e]

Don't like the sound of having Root at 3. I would rather Bell been moved there.

Bell has been our best batsman this year, why move him and risk that?

[PaulWinch again]

I think they won't move Bell because it'll leave a very inexperienced middle order.

[taylorsworkrate]

I think Root is more than capable of batting at 3, its just worrying that he's being moved around the order so much in what is an early part of his career.

I do like Ballance , and another left hander in the line up can't be a bad thing.

[Dave Cooper please]

Root at three yes, but I'd pick Ben Stokes over Ballance because of his bowling. We haven't got an all-rounder, time to see if Stokes can be that man I reckon.

[OCD]

Don't like the sound of having Root at 3. I would rather Bell been moved there.

Bell has been our best batsman this year, why move him and risk that?

It's because he's been our best batsman that I would elevate him up the order. Mark Butcher says he wants the job too. Whereas I don't think Root is ready for that position at international level.