It seems to be unthinkable to the Australian selectors for the past few years.
I can understand the desire to squeeze as many runs as possible from the bottom half of the line-up and the fear of a repeat of Cape Town 2011 but I’d rather have a genuine batsman at six.
I see that Haddin has gone home, Watson has been dropped, Faulkner is out. So Nevill and M. Marsh come in. We’ll see if it’s an improvement.
Warner has deputised when Haddin was injured in the 2nd Test v Pakistan in Oct-14. No mug but not Test class.
Don’t believe any other batsman in the squad has taken the gloves in a 1st class match. There was a scurrilous rumour started by a shit-stirrer in my cicket club that they were going to give the gloves to Watson.
Wheres Matthew Wade? On Haddin, “non specific family problems” always mean marital trouble. Otherwise for illnesses et al more information is given.
No it doesn’t.
A more reasoned, nay compassionate view would be to consider the previous circumstances in 2012 when Haddin, the incumbent Test keeper, stood down from all forms of cricket. Maybe google “neuroblastoma” if you aren’t too indolent.
FWLIW Matthew Wade is at home in Australia working on getting his glovework up to Test standard
I think that’s a little harsh,
The initial response from someone unaware of personal background could well be that assume a non-specific relationship or family issue. Certainly the phrase can cover a multitude of areas but having taken note of previous instances where it was used it tends to be something serious, and definitely if it is medical ( because if it was an appendix issue or malaria you’d just come out and say it yes?)
Anyway. onto the test today. Predictions?
Regardless of the English groundmen’s sudden, collective allergy to grass; if Australia is more than 5 down for less than 350 at stumps Boof Lehmann and Marsh will do their 'nannas.
One of Voges, Marsh or Nevill to score plenty, preferrably Nevill.
Anderson wil persistent in running down the pitch and the resuting crater in his footprints will allow Lyon’s gentle off-breaks to rip through theEnglish left handed batting line-up chasing 200 to win on Day 5.
Sunday, I reckon, to win the game. Monday, in the loud words of Ollie Williams, weather reporter for Quahog’s Channel 5 Action News, “it gon rain”. At least that what it looks like.
My prediction is for England to be bowled out early on day 5 chasing an unlikely 450 to win.
You heard it here first.
I got two tickets in the ballot in December. The first friend I offered the other one to turned it down, on the grounds that he and his wife were (big news!) expecting their first baby. In fact the baby came two weeks early, and I know my friend is getting past the initial euphoria into the “Yes, obviously it’s wonderful but I’m SO TIRED. Also, nappies,” phase. But the upshot was I went yesterday to Lords with another mate, full of excitement.
I texted the new father yesterday evening, congratulating him on the wisdom of his life choices.
God it was grim. There were flashes of excitement in the morning - Anderson and Broad started reasonably well and Wood beat the bat twice in his first over. But time passed. And kept passing.
I think there were three actual chances in the whole match - Anderson’s catch, Bell’s drop and a peach by Broad that went through the gate and could so easily have been a nick or taken out off-stump. Other than that, the few nicks that the batsmen did give away went nowhere near a fielder.
Ali really showed how far he’s got to develop to be a Test spinner. He’s *got *to hold up an end, and he would consistently and reliably pitch one too short, or too wide and be picked off for four. You could really see that, Warner’s rush of blood aside, the Australians didn’t feel the need to attack like they did in Cardiff - just wait for the inevitable four-ball. It was the epitome of the whole - Broad aside, we couldn’t bowl economically and if the wicket isn’t doing anything, scoreboard pressure is all that you’ve got. (I entertained a mild hope that the nervous nineties would do for Rodgers, but by that point he knew he had nothing to worry about.)
Cook, to be fair, was setting positive fields all day, but the wicket and the inconsistent bowling meant that there was little he could do. The wicket is the big culprit here. Whoever decided that a lifeless pitch was the route to victory needs to be locked in a room and forced to watch yesterday’s play on endless loop. It’s a strategy which boils down to hoping you win the toss, for Christ’s sake.
On the other hand, it was sunny and I was off work, so you know, not a total waste. But I admit I was hoping for much more.
Two wickets! In one session! What strange world is this?
366 to avoid the follow on, and Lyth has gone already.
And worse by the minute.
I said up thread that the batting plan is “Here, Rooty, sort this out for us will you?” We’re one quick wicket away from that being the case. Again.
ETA: And there it is. This is happening all too frequently to be honest.
30/3. Innings loss on the cards, here.
And Rooty can’t sort this out.
This is going to be all over by tomorrow tea time by the looks of things.
Certainly not now.
A quick scatter of early wickets is getting to be a habit. Mind you, as we’ve said before England bat deep and the wicket is not a bear-trap. There is a still a healthy possibility of 400 here for England and if they do that (and the projected rain arrives) it’ll be a draw.
This is not going according to plan.
(Seeing if lightning can strike twice)
Australia have tightened their grip on this game, and England will have to play well to lose it, even if we lose a session or two to rain.
Ian Bell’s position is started to look untenable, I’d suggest. And I say that as a fan of his - I don’t think they should drop him, but they might.