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Australia v England, 3rd Test, 16th December , 23.30


scotch said:
Mccullum suggesting it'll be the same top 7 for Adelaide 🤮
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A preparedness to consider some changes might have been useful (I think Smith in particular looks shot to be honest) but the top seven that lost by an innings to Australia A isn’t exactly braying the door down.

Being unable to do the business against Richardson, Bartlett and Murphy doesn’t really make an unarguable case for selection to face Starc, Cummings and Lyon. Replacing those who don’t appear to be good enough by those who would appear to be worse isn’t really a solution.
 
No issues with Tongue coming in for Atkinson. Only concern would be that if his radar is off, and Carse bowls similarly to Brisbane, we haven't picked a frontline spinner to hold up an end. Really, you need a frontline spinner in Adelaide anyway so going in with only Jacks is a little concerning but Bashir is clearly unselectable.

They can't really make any changes to the top 7 as they haven't picked a back-up opener, specialist number 3 or keeper. The overall squad selection and faith in certain players is under huge scrutiny now. All they can do to freshen up the side is rotate the bowlers, they have barely any room to move out long-term under performers like Pope and Crawley, who tbf had a decent test in Brisbane but got out playing shit shots as usual.

The question marks were all over those 2, Bashir and the fitness of Wood and look where we are approaching the third test.
 
The Breen Machine said:
The question marks were all over those 2, Bashir and the fitness of Wood and look where we are approaching the third test.
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Picking and hoping Bashir learns his trade on the job in test matches based 'on vibe' is surely the stupidist experiment/gamble in the history of sports. Well, maybe second only to Ali Dia.
 
The same top 7 and batting order that's collapsed 4 out of 4 times.
The one bowler that bowls line and length replaced by a spell bowler.


Bashir has become unpickable.
Tongue should probably be in for Carse (Haway Carse have a great test).
Once again Crawley and Pope get another test to extend their careers.

3 day hammering incoming
The Breen Machine said:
No issues with Tongue coming in for Atkinson. Only concern would be that if his radar is off, and Carse bowls similarly to Brisbane, we haven't picked a frontline spinner to hold up an end. Really, you need a frontline spinner in Adelaide anyway so going in with only Jacks is a little concerning but Bashir is clearly unselectable.

They can't really make any changes to the top 7 as they haven't picked a back-up opener, specialist number 3 or keeper. The overall squad selection and faith in certain players is under huge scrutiny now. All they can do to freshen up the side is rotate the bowlers, they have barely any room to move out long-term under performers like Pope and Crawley, who tbf had a decent test in Brisbane but got out playing shit shots as usual.

The question marks were all over those 2, Bashir and the fitness of Wood and look where we are approaching the third test.
Click to expand...
I'd move Stokes to 3, bring in Rew as WK and have Smith as a specialist number 6 batter.
Pope out.

Any opener from the Lions would be a gamble and Crawley did play well past test.

Iirc the Lions go home after this test so then Baz can hide behind having nobody else to select from.
 
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Bowling line up is so poor. Carse and stokes the only ones with a decent average and strike rate this series (neither necessarily bowling impressive). Archer and Atkinson both with averages over 50 and 3 wickets a piece. Combine with a batting line up that crumbles every game, we are in an awful place as a team
 
Fair enough Pope and Crawley get this game, but they really must turn up now like.

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