Ponting will bat at 3. Clarke will bat at 4. They need to get some form. Given we have the same squad there positions clearly aren't in doubt. They wont move Smith up the order now upset Hussey's rich vein of form.

Hughes will also open. RR - it's your pick on the Best XI.

Congratulations Sachin Tendulkar - 50 Test Hundreds. 14,500 run milestone.

Sth Africa def India. Man of the Match J.Kallis - Test Double Hundred (maiden)

Ponting will bat at 3. Clarke will bat at 4.

Your probably right. but it is a huge risk that i wouldn't take. I would risk putting Ponting down the order and bringing in D Hussey.

Clarke needs time out, and the same talk that was given to Johnson. He needs to re focus, IMO

Let's see what happens....

Your probably right. but it is a huge risk that i wouldn't take. I would risk putting Ponting down the order and bringing in D Hussey.

Clarke needs time out, and the same talk that was given to Johnson. He needs to re focus, IMO

Let's see what happens....

So where or what number would you put Ponting at if you bring in D.Hussey ?

Who would you bring in to replace Clarke for his rest then for the Boxing Day Test ?

Importantly, who do you promote up the order if Ponting drops down ?

Congratulations Sachin Tendulkar - 50 Test Hundreds. 14,500 run milestone.

Sth Africa def India. Man of the Match J.Kallis - Test Double Hundred (maiden)

Glad i picked him as my number 1 in test XI

Glad South Africa won. Hopefully they keep this form up and knock India over another two times to become the number 1 side. They deserve it more than India does. India just accrues points by belting teams at home without putting in decent performances on the road.

Glad South Africa won. Hopefully they keep this form up and knock India over another two times to become the number 1 side. They deserve it more than India does. India just accrues points by belting teams at home without putting in decent performances on the road.

I don't know the exact stats - but it seems to be the case. Gee South Africa played well. The bowlers had to work hard to knock over India in the second dig.

Your probably right. but it is a huge risk that i wouldn't take. I would risk putting Ponting down the order and bringing in D Hussey.

Clarke needs time out, and the same talk that was given to Johnson. He needs to re focus, IMO

Let's see what happens....

Ita a bigger risk putting in a new player in front of 90k at the G and having the batting order totally rejigged to bat Ponting down the order. You need to consider the other issues at play more.

Clarke is a different kettle of fish to Johnson. Johnsons a wafer head above the shoulders while Clarke is the heir apparent to the Captaincy. He needs to get runs in Melbourne. There is no doubt about it. Rest him for the 4th test when we are 1-1 for the Ashes is madness. He needs to play and needs to perform. Also if Ponting does aggravate his finger injury and is unable to take the field then who captains when Ponting is not there? There is no doubt Ponting will be bounced early and often in Melbourne.

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Anderson in doubt.... Broad missing.

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/anderson-in-doubt-for-fourth-test-20101222-194lt.html

My only regret of the 3rd Test is we could not keep them on the field for a further two sessions bowling the three quicks into the ground (given Swann was not bowling much)

Anderson in doubt.... Broad missing.

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/anderson-in-doubt-for-fourth-test-20101222-194lt.html

My only regret of the 3rd Test is we could not keep them on the field for a further two sessions bowling the three quicks into the ground (given Swann was not bowling much)

If Anderson doesn't play and Ponting does, this could be the spark Ponting needs to make some runs.

This is another benefit of playing four quicks, they get to bowl shorter spells to stay fresher for longer. Anderson and Finn will be exhausted and there are still two Tests to go.

Khawaja has been brought in to cover Ponting.

I found this article rather amusing.

[

If Anderson doesn't play and Ponting does, this could be the spark Ponting needs to make some runs.

Hopefully.

This is another benefit of playing four quicks, they get to bowl shorter spells to stay fresher for longer. Anderson and Finn will be exhausted and there are still two Tests to go.

No its a problem caused by England only playing 4 specialist bowlers with Collingwood bowling the odd pie. Australia only played four quicks because we did not have a front line spinner and the pitch allowed us to get away with it.

We will be exposed at the MCG with just four quicks. If we had a spinner, I would drop a quick and rely on Watson to provide back up.

Khawaja has been brought in to cover Ponting.

I found this article rather amusing.

Could be some smokescreens from the Australian selectors?

No its a problem caused by England only playing 4 specialist bowlers with Collingwood bowling the odd pie. Australia only played four quicks because we did not have a front line spinner and the pitch allowed us to get away with it.

That's not what I said. I said it was a 'benefit' of having four quicks. We did not choose to play four quicks for this reason, we did it because the Perth pitch offered something for pacemen and this was a good way to avoid the spinner issue.

Not only has England played just four bowlers for each match, but Anderson and Finn have played all three Tests so far, whereas for us Siddle is the only one to have played them all. And for England, Anderson and Finn bowl lots and lots of overs because there's not a lot of support, whereas Siddle didn't have much to do in Perth.

Khawaja has been brought in to cover Ponting.

I found this article rather amusing.

Good article.

Can imagine him checking the rearview mirror around the Great Ocean Road.

I found this article rather amusing.

Kevin may well be despised more than Tony Grieg after this series, let's hope so. At least Tony had a legitimate reason at the time to find better places to play cricket.

Kevin only has the ego. He must be loathed in South Africa...

That's not what I said. I said it was a 'benefit' of having four quicks. We did not choose to play four quicks for this reason, we did it because the Perth pitch offered something for pacemen and this was a good way to avoid the spinner issue.

Not only has England played just four bowlers for each match, but Anderson and Finn have played all three Tests so far, whereas for us Siddle is the only one to have played them all. And for England, Anderson and Finn bowl lots and lots of overs because there's not a lot of support, whereas Siddle didn't have much to do in Perth.

Fair enough.

A die Pom supporter friend has advised me that the they will play Breshan for Finn because he leaks too many runs. Wait and see.

Im confused about something, a few months ago they said the Royals were no longer part of the IPL, but i see now they are.When did the change happen,also good to see Lara joining the IPL will be good to watch

Had to laugh at KP not knowing what a "relationship" means.

Of all of the players the poms could've sent out to present a strong, in control front, KP would be one of the last I'd pick.

So where or what number would you put Ponting at if you bring in D.Hussey ?

Who would you bring in to replace Clarke for his rest then for the Boxing Day Test ?

Importantly, who do you promote up the order if Ponting drops down ?

Considering i heard this morning that Ponting's finger is at this point Twice its normal size, i don't see how Ponting can play at 3.

The Poms are just going to aim every ball straight at that finger. If Ponting made 20 runs in each innings it would be a major achievement.

Can D Hussey make over 20 runs in each innings. Ponting i would consider playing at 5th drop in this game, just to get some shine off the ball at least.

Clarke is such a huge worry, moreso because he directly follows Ponting. Right now if the Poms take an opening wicket, they re looking at a potential Hat trick in each innings.

To be honest i am still considering who replaces Clarke, can they play any worse???

Maybe Michael Klinger who has been quietly making scores?? i am not sure....

Edited December 22, 201014 yr by why you little

If Ponting aint batting 3 then he should not play. If he is deemed fit then he should bat where he normally does.

If we bat him at seven it means definitely he is not fit to play and completely upsets the apple cart

From the ABC website at Noon....

Injured Ponting trains strongly

Updated 3 hours 12 minutes ago

... Australian captain Ricky Ponting looks a certain starter for the the Boxing Day Test against England at the MCG despite having a fractured finger.

Ponting trained well on Thursday morning and appeared to have no difficulty in fielding and throwing drills at the MCG, ruling out any doubts about that side of his game.

Not really shocked.

Lucky though, Khawaja out for 2 up in Sydney.

He'll play for sure. No way they'd let Khawaja play for NSW in a 50 over game if they thought there was any chance he was going to bat at 3 on Boxing Day. Plus Ponting is strong enough to play through it.

Gosh!!! What a disappointing day at the Test!!!

They bowled well and we batted badly, then they batted well, and we bowled only fairly.

I was looking forward to today for ages, hoping for a close game(won by Aust!).

Not much hope of that now. Only spark of hope is that it's grey and dark tomorrow again morning at 9.30(real time), and perhaps our bowlers can extract something out of the pitch, and get some early wickets.

I felt that our guys bowled too fast to move the ball off the seam,and the disappearance of the clouds when England came out to bat made conditions easier for them. But those excuses don't make up for the one-sidedness of this match so far.