Ashes 2013/14

[PaulWinch again]

Bottom line is we need to get 400 + in our first innings in order to start turning the pressure round on the Aussies. I'd be curious to see how they cope if they have to respond to a massive total.

[OCD]

It wouldn't do any harm to win the toss this time either.

[peter w]

i'd go

Cook
Carberry
Bell
Peterson
Root
Stokes
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Finn
Anderson

[Lsvilla]

i'd go

Cook
Carberry
Bell
Peterson
Root
Stokes
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Finn
Anderson

Tempting - but I think I would play Panesar ahead of Bresnan to get at their right-handlers later in the game on a pitch baked by hot sun for 4 days (does rely on us winning the toss and getting 450 though !)

[eastie]

Let's not forget that Finn and Rankin have hardly pulled up trees on tour or they'd be playing. I really rate Finn but he's a bowler who needs bowling, I'm not sure you can bring him in cold.

They wouldn't have played mainly because Brisbane didnt suit and Adelaide we went with. 2 spinners - now the conditions are perfect for them - I wouldn't carry on playing bowlers who are woefully off form - at some stage changes need to be made and lose this game and it will be over .

[eastie]

Bottom line is we need to get 400 + in our first innings in order to start turning the pressure round on the Aussies. I'd be curious to see how they cope if they have to respond to a massive total.

Exactly - win the toss , post a decent score and skittle the tossers out cheap

[eastie]

i'd go

Cook
Carberry
Bell
Peterson
Root
Stokes
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Finn
Anderson

Tempting - but I think I would play Panesar ahead of Bresnan to get at their right-handlers later in the game on a pitch baked by hot sun for 4 days (does rely on us winning the toss and getting 450 though !)

I would be amazed if panesar doesn't get the gig in Perth.

[PaulWinch again]

I don't mind that side, but I am apprehensive about having no spinner. Bresnan will play, so I imagine it'll be Finn or Panesar/Swann.

[eastie]

I don't mind that side, but I am apprehensive about having no spinner. Bresnan will play, so I imagine it'll be Finn or Panesar/Swann.

If Bresnan gets the nod ahead of Finn then for me the ashes are gone - we need to take 20 wickets - dream conditions for Finn who has the height and bounce and pace - Bresnan is a steady set bowler who hasn't bowled much in recent months - got to be Finn for me - if we go with Bresnan then it should be at the expense of stokes with prior at 6.

[PaulWinch again]

There's no point in bringing Bresnan for Stokes, Stokes is one of our quickest bowlers. The problem if you play Finn and Panesar is that our tail becomes very long, I appreciate we haven't batted well but that certainly won't help. I think Finn should play, but if that's going to be the case we shouldn't be playing a spinner.

[eastie]

There's no point in bringing Bresnan for Stokes, Stokes is one of our quickest bowlers. The problem if you play Finn and Panesar is that our tail becomes very long, I appreciate we haven't batted well but that certainly won't help. I think Finn should play, but if that's going to be the case we shouldn't be playing a spinner.

I think we need to play Finn and a spinner - if that leaves the tail long then thats a risk we have to take in a game which we must take 20 wickets - we just have to hope our top 6 deliver the runs and the bowlers deliver the wickets - we are at the point where every player must be on top of their game .

If by some means we could win this test then I would fancy us to at least  retain the ashes with Melbourne and Sydney to come.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we have to win this Test, I know a draw wouldn't mean the end mathematically but I think winning in Sydney and Melbourne back to back will be very tricky.

I don't think they'll change the top 6 given that Flower was praising Stokes, especially since he gives us pace and bounce. I'd like Finn to play, but I actually think Bresnan would be useful in Perth.

[OCD]

I'm waiting for Clarke to name our team for us.

[eastie]

2am means can go to bed on time and watch 3 or 4 hours in the morning , which is handy.

[eastie]

@MichaelVaughan: Sensing a Gary Balance debut this week ....  #Ashes.