Serious questions need to be asked of Clarke now, his been out of form for 18 months.. Voges isn't up to it. Atm if Rogers and Smith don't fire we don't make runs.

If this isn't Clarke's last test series - it's more than likely his second last. I've never been a rap for the man personally, but as a batsman he's all class. He genuinely looked like he lost sight of the ball in the background of the windows on a murky day... he's not in great form but until the last test series he's pretty much been the most consistent and prolific scorer. There is no one who can replace him atm so - serious questions or not he won't be replaced and I'm betting the selectors will back him to the hilt to fight his way through it. There's been no mention of dropping Warner who is also having trouble watching the ball (and once he's in throws his wicket away recklessly).

In general there's a dirth of good middle order talent atm in Australian cricket (which is why Voges is playing) - our strength is our bowling, but sometimes we need to reinforce to both our batsmen and bowlers that this is test cricket and its a test of patience as much as skill. We tried to push things too fast on day one.

The other big plus for Clark is he's a fantastic captain. My biggest criticism of Punter as a captain was that he just left the game to drift whereas Clark is always doing something. We're lucky that the heir apparent is in a rich vein of form and cut from the same cloth.

Fark me Mitchy goes bang bang!!! What a nut to get Johnny B! I genuinely love the shocked look on little Johnnys face when he gets out.

Fark me Mitchy goes bang bang!!! What a nut to get Johnny B! I genuinely love the shocked look on little Johnnys face when he gets out.

Was a heck of an over wasn't it!

Unfortunatly both Starc & Hazlewood have been bowling pies as support. Might need to get Lyon on at one end just to give some control.

Root thinks he's playing T20 and waves his bat at a Starc delivery that could have been called wide twice!

Happy for him to give his wicket away. Keeps us in it. Bring Johnson back, even if just for 1 or 2 overs of short stuff at Moeen!

Was a heck of an over wasn't it!

Unfortunatly both Starc & Hazlewood have been bowling pies as support. Might need to get Lyon on at one end just to give some control.

A was literally just telling the TV to bring Lyon on. Bang Root throws his wicket away. Massive end to the session, we need to finish them up quick smart.

This could be wrapped up inside 3 days one way or the other.

Was a heck of an over wasn't it!

Unfortunatly both Starc & Hazlewood have been bowling pies as support. Might need to get Lyon on at one end just to give some control.

Starc in particular and then he picks up a wicket - he's a bit like that. His height and pace and the fact that he's a left armer means he can still pick up a wicket even when he's not bowling well.

Mitch Marsh looks a likely type - nice movement away.

The game is evenly poised - they'd want to be at least 150 ahead after the first innings - if it's only a 100 odd, we're back in it.

Lyon 3 for 3 off 3 overs in 3 spells.

That's gotta be some sort of record.

Lyon 3 for 3 off 3 overs in 3 spells.

That's gotta be some sort of record.

Maybe it's the best way to get him. Haha.

I can't believe DRS was suggesting that the ball was missing. Looked out as anything live.

Maybe it's the best way to get him. Haha.

I can't believe DRS was suggesting that the ball was missing. Looked out as anything live.

Yep, sometimes the ball can act "strangely" but that was decidedly odd

Whatever the result of this test match, I think there'll be two big questions to come out of it.

1. Does Shaun Marsh come in for Voges?

2. Does Starc's inconsistent form cost him his spot for Siddle?

This lead is now really starting to get into a dangerous territory now.

If Moeen Ali plays & misses one more time I think I'm going to loose it!

Thankyou Hazlewood!

Now knock over these last two asap and go out and make 400 - 450 to give ourselves a chance!

There's certainly issues there.

Clarke is safe for awhile yet due toVoges being more in the gun and this series likely being Rogers last. I think moving further down the order to number 5 though could be a good thing. Shaun Marsh to come in for Voges (if he fails in the 2nd innings) and bat at 4.

Aussies needa huge morning session on Day 2. If we can knock them over for no more then about 260 i think we're still in it, although coming from a long way back. Then come our 2nd innings our leaders Clarke, Smith & Warner will need to stand up.

I've been listening while driving home, was worried, til I heard the score when they were 201... now 277,,, & a wicket just falls.

It looks & sounds to me, like the wicket is getting better to score runs on??? we may be right, if our top order can get amongst them in our 2nd dig... & then hopefully we can knock them over?

If this isn't Clarke's last test series - it's more than likely his second last. I've never been a rap for the man personally, but as a batsman he's all class. He genuinely looked like he lost sight of the ball in the background of the windows on a murky day... he's not in great form but until the last test series he's pretty much been the most consistent and prolific scorer. There is no one who can replace him atm so - serious questions or not he won't be replaced and I'm betting the selectors will back him to the hilt to fight his way through it. There's been no mention of dropping Warner who is also having trouble watching the ball (and once he's in throws his wicket away recklessly).

In general there's a dirth of good middle order talent atm in Australian cricket (which is why Voges is playing) - our strength is our bowling, but sometimes we need to reinforce to both our batsmen and bowlers that this is test cricket and its a test of patience as much as skill. We tried to push things too fast on day one.

The other big plus for Clark is he's a fantastic captain. My biggest criticism of Punter as a captain was that he just left the game to drift whereas Clark is always doing something. We're lucky that the heir apparent is in a rich vein of form and cut from the same cloth.

succession plan for Smith; let Clark do it for another 12 months, whilst Smith consolidates his batting, & learns the leadership position.

In the meantime Clark to 5, & find a regular number 4. & look to blood an opener, maybe at 4 at first..

another wicket moheen,,,,,, gorn !

This lead is now really starting to get into a dangerous territory now.

If Moeen Ali plays & misses one more time I think I'm going to loose it!

Advantage England ... we had them 7 for 190 but Moeen & Broad have swung it back in their favour.

Minimum 370 required by us when we bat again (that would give us a 225 lead) Ideally we make in excess of 400 ... however, we'll almost certainly need one of our batsman to dig in and make a big hundred to get to that sort of figure.

succession plan for Smith; let Clark do it for another 12 months, whilst Smith consolidates his batting, & learns the leadership position.

In the meantime Clark to 5, & find a regular number 4. & look to blood an opener, maybe at 4 at first..

another wicket moheen,,,,,, gorn !

Jo Burns who played a couple of Tests against India in the summer batting at 6 normally opens for Queensland.

Maybe after the Ashes they'll look to bring him back into the team to bat at 4 before eventually moving to the top?

If that's the sort of stroke play to expect in this innings by Smith just then, I think we'll struggle to set them much of a target at all.

Complete brain fade!

Loss inside 3 days by the looks of it. Very little backbone in the batting order.

I'm hoping that if i keep saying Edgbaston 1981 enough times that Nevill & Starc can summon Botham & Willis like performances, get us about 150 in front and then roll England. I'm dreaming i know!

Well i think Voges has played his last test and both Starc & Hazlewood will be in the gun due to their inconsistent bowling with Siddle to come in and potentially Cummins also?

Will also be interesting to hear the latest on Anderson's side strain.

Classic Australian batting woes. Moving ball and pressure of needing to bat a long innings and we crumble, again.

Voges has to be dropped. Clarke can't be dropped but we're playing one short at the moment with him at 4, we need someone stronger at 5.

Mitch Marsh is a good player and I like him in the side but he has to be a better batsman to hold his spot at 6.

Inexcusable from Smith to do that after failing in the first innings.

We should already lead by 100 though, failing to knock the tail over was partly unlucky (lots of misses from Moeen) but partly we let them off. Starc's bowling in particular was putrid.

Whatever the result of this test match, I think there'll be two big questions to come out of it.

1. Does Shaun Marsh come in for Voges?

2. Does Starc's inconsistent form cost him his spot for Siddle?

Agree with both. Voges is hopeless and Marsh is in form. That change has to be made.

Starc is dangerous when he gets it right but he isn't getting it right enough.

If that's the sort of stroke play to expect in this innings by Smith just then, I think we'll struggle to set them much of a target at all.

Complete brain fade!

our players so far this series look to me like they are unsettled by something. they don't look in harmony to me

I hope the talk over our summer of boof having too much power, hasn't bought an antagonist into our teams hierarchy, upsetting a functioning outfit.

which changes have occurred in the last 6 months ?

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5 of the top 7 in the team (from the first test) are either finished, finishing up, never should have been picked in the first place or possibly coming to the end prematurely.

It's time to rebuild the batting side of things as we have traditionally done - picking old blokes just because they've made a few runs at shield level is fraught with danger.

Just about all of our top batsnen over the years were picked on spec and picked when they were relatively young - fact

Most of these top players were NEVER "bangin' down the door" - another fact.

Bancroft just made 150 against India A and he's a 22 opening batsman from WA - the average punter would never have heard of him because other forms of first class cricket are not in our face anymore ... there are a number of other promising young players out there if people could be bothered looking.

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Edited July 31, 20159 yr by Macca

5 of the top 7 in the team (from the first test) are either finished, finishing up, never should have been picked in the first place or possibly coming to the end prematurely.

It's time to rebuild the batting side of things as we have traditionally done - picking old blokes just because they've made a few runs at shield level is fraught with danger.

Just about all of our top batsnen over the years were picked on spec and picked when they were relatively young - fact

Most of these top players were NEVER "bangin' down the door" - another fact.

Bancroft just made 150 against India A and he's a 22 opening batsman from WA - the average punter would never have heard of him because other forms of first class cricket are not in our face anymore ... there are a number of other promising young players out there if people could be bothered looking.

.

Agreed.

Cameron Bancroft

Joe Burns

Peter Handscomb

Nic Maddinson &

Marcus Stoinis

These are five youg batsmen who are all potential players that will get chances over the coming years. I'm a really big fan of Handscomb, and Bancroft has also had a good year.

I'm not against picking older blokes per se but we shouldn't put ourselves in a position where we are forced to use 4 or 5 new players in the top 7 because of the general age of the team - it's not like these aging cricketers are all all-time greats.

It should be more of a gradual process - rotating young talent through the no.5 batting position is one way of doing things - the all-rounder traditionally takes up the no.6 spot but there would have been nothing wrong with batting Mitch Marsh behind Haddin as a softer intro. I was surprised to see Brad left out of this test - not because of what Warnie and others said, more so that without him, our middle order and late middle order looks vulnerable (and this isn't just an ordinary series - it's the ashes)








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Edited July 31, 20159 yr by Macca

Agreed.

Cameron Bancroft

Joe Burns

Peter Handscomb

Nic Maddinson &

Marcus Stoinis

These are five youg batsmen who are all potential players that will get chances over the coming years. I'm a really big fan of Handscomb, and Bancroft has also had a good year.

Yep and in the case with Burns, he's been given a taste of the big time. What happens with Burns from now is up to Joey himself - he got picked on spec so he's obviously got something ... he can now go back to shield or Australia A level and hopefully get better - and he's young enough to get better too. Martyn, Langer, Hayden and many others had to fight their way back in after being initially picked on spec.

It's been that way going all the way back to Bradman and beyond - and it works. Khawaja is another who can get back - he's also currently on that Australia A tour in India. Jordan Silk is another with prospects. It's not all doom and gloom as the so-called experts keep telling us. In fact, I'd wager that the system we have in place is much the same as it's always been. It's more that people just have less knowledge because it's not in their face. The selectors job is to look further than just the numbers - I'd compare it to evaluating a top rate draftee in footy - there are no guarantees yet sometimes they can hit the jackpot.

Re the bowling - Starc and Hazlewood still have a few kinks to iron out but there's a big upside with both of them. Cummins and Pattinson look to have bright futures too (if they can remain fit) Mitch Marsh & Nevill both need a decent go at it and I wouldn't rule a line through Maxwell either - temperament is his issue and that can be learnt.

As for the current series, who knows where it takes us from here? Trying to make predictions is pure guesswork Anderson might be out for the remainder of the series with that side strain and if that's the case, they'll really miss him - and our batsmen would be relieved too (if he was to miss)