3rd Ashes Test - Headingley

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The Breen Machine said:
We are putting all of our eggs in the Archer basket. We've had a huge swing in our favour for this next test with Smith being ruled out but our top order is still as unreliable as ever. There is only Stokes and Burns in any sort of form although Bairstow showed signs of returning to form at Lords. Thankfully Australia's batting line up is just as creaky at the moment with Warner in no form, Bancroft all over the place and Khawaja flattering to deceive away from home again. Labuschange looks the part and Head is looking solid at 5 but they could easily roll over as quickly as we can.

Their selection has been poor IMO, Labuschange should have started the series after his mountain of runs for Glamorgan this season, he also offers them a part-time spin option. Wade might have scored a century at Edgbaston but he's a place too high at 6 and arguably shouldn't be in the side even if he was given the gloves. Paine is a real weak link and is offering nothing, Wade and Carey surely would be better options than him at 7 - I expect his captaincy journey will end should they lose this series. Then there's Starc being omitted for 2 tests and whilst their bowlers have performed well, a firing Starc with a swinging ball is a match for anyone.
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Aye as I said before , Smith is a proven match winner in all sorts of circumstances so I'm very glad he's out. Archer is obviously a tremendous talent who will be a big factor but people are talking as though if he just bowls they'll be all out for 45 or something. Labuschange actually played him better than Smith. Warner isn't going to keep getting out for single figures either. We've got a really good chance but this chat of us suddenly being massivley on top is bollocks, we're one behind already and could only get a draw in a pretty dominant position on Sunday. From my perspective removing Smith gives us parity, it doesn't make us clearly superior.
 
sonson said:
Aye as I said before , Smith is a proven match winner in all sorts of circumstances so I'm very glad he's out. Archer is obviously a tremendous talent who will be a big factor but people are talking as though if he just bowls they'll be all out for 45 or something. Labuschange actually played him better than Smith. Warner isn't going to keep getting out for single figures either. We've got a really good chance but this chat of us suddenly being massivley on top is bollocks, we're one behind already and could only get a draw in a pretty dominant position on Sunday. From my perspective removing Smith gives us parity, it doesn't make us clearly superior.
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Good post. They still have a good bowling attack and we still have a fragile batting line up. The Smith incident is helpful in so much as we couldn't really win the series with the form he was in and we now have a better chance than we had. Two even teams but they have the 1-0 lead so its still advantage Aus.
Scotty 1978 said:
Think Aussies will pick Starc, fighting fire with fire
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Starc can be devastating but he also bowls more loose stuff than the rest of them. I wouldnt be too upset.
 
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chunkylover53 said:
Square pegs. Round holes

Roy is never a test opener
Neither is Denly
Bairstow and Buttler can’t bat at 5
Both are lucky to be in the side still, albeit some form from Bairstow at least
Buttler desperately needs runs. He’s a specialist batsman apparently
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Not many better if any, Bairstow in particular is a lot lot better than any potential replacements.
 
chunkylover53 said:
Square pegs. Round holes

Roy is never a test opener
Neither is Denly
Bairstow and Buttler can’t bat at 5
Both are lucky to be in the side still, albeit some form from Bairstow at least
Buttler desperately needs runs. He’s a specialist batsman apparently
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They may well be thinking of putting Bairstow back to opener.
sonson said:
Aye as I said before , Smith is a proven match winner in all sorts of circumstances so I'm very glad he's out. Archer is obviously a tremendous talent who will be a big factor but people are talking as though if he just bowls they'll be all out for 45 or something. Labuschange actually played him better than Smith.
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Labuschange's innings was heroic and well-judged. Smith's absence could be crucial, but they have a very able reserve.
 
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Pope brought in as ‘cover’ for Roy.

He is not an opener.....I smell a batting order reshuffle.
 
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Scotty 1978 said:
Siddle I reckon
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Think they'll go with Pattinson in for Siddle, not Starc.

No point banging it in at Headingly, it's a featherbed. Think even Jof will struggle to get that much bounce, though it may go uneven by day five.

Swing (if cloudy) and turn from day three - and stacking up the runs when the chance allows - are the key to this test.

Nip them out.
Mainze said:
Pope brought in as ‘cover’ for Roy.

He is not an opener.....I smell a batting order reshuffle.
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Not sure like. Think they'll want Pope in for Denly at some point, so not much point moving Roy if that change is incoming.
 
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mackembhoy said:
Burns
Denly
Root
Roy/Pope
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Woakes
Archer
Broad
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Tend to agree with this
Comeback_Kenwyne said:
Think they'll go with Pattinson in for Siddle, not Starc.

No point banging it in at Headingly, it's a featherbed. Think even Jof will struggle to get that much bounce, though it may go uneven by day five.

Swing (if cloudy) and turn from day three - and stacking up the runs when the chance allows - are the key to this test.

Nip them out.


Not sure like. Think they'll want Pope in for Denly at some point, so not much point moving Roy if that change is incoming.
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I have a feeling Denly will open.
 
Langer's general comments prior to the match do him tremendous credit:

Jofra certainly brings a different dimension and we saw he bowled quick. But also his economy was incredible. So it’s skilful bowling with fast bouncers in between.
“That’s Test cricket. That’s what we love about it. You know you’re alive when you’re facing fast bowling. It’s bloody brilliant.
“Our guys play a lot of short-ball cricket in Australia. We tend to play on bouncy wickets. We play on the Waca, we play on the Gabba. So they’re used to playing off the back foot and I’m sure they’ll prepare accordingly.”

No hysterics, no mind games, no attempt to stir the pot even slightly . You get the impression he really just cares about a good game of cricket, whoever wins.
 
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