Apparently the type of side that England picked was decided upon in advance. Don't know much about Kerrigan but his 1st class bowling figures are tidy (164 wickets @ 26.52)

Just as well we won the toss with the make-up of our XI. We're going to need a good 1st innings score. Smith might get a few overs.

Good 50 from Watson on a perfect batting pitch fast outfield with two debutants bowling soda balls.

He needs to cash in here and lead the charge with a ton.

Huge question mark on him remains if he doesn't....

Go Watto...

Oh good grief. 1/101

Kerrigan has bowled an over half trackers to Watson

0 4 4 2 4 4

Happy Birthday Shane - 76 off 71 balls

Wow, that was a terrible over from Kerrigan. Good on Hayden Watson for giving it the treatment it deserved, though.

1-112 at lunch

And 58 off 7 overs from the debutants in the Ist session.

However, great partnership of 100 from Rogers and Watson. Keep going Shane.

Rogers has really impressed with his gritty support in this series.

Great session Australia.

Well done Watto - must be a relieved man. Copped a nasty hit behind the ear from Broad along the way.

Let's hope this is a corner turned.

Hi all.

Really liking Watson's innings. Finally some valuable time at the crease, and a bit of composure after having been hit a beauty by Broad behind the ear. Still has a technical flaw with his front foot with the odd good delivery and always looks a chance of a lbw.

But, credit where it's due he has looked pretty good today. Hopefully he can make it a real big one for Australia.

England weren't happy with ball at 62 over mark. Probably because Watson knocked it out of shape!

Umps changed ball, immediately a hint of swing, and some reverse, Broad now on.

Watson 139*(182), looking strong. Watson's highest Test Score surpassing previous highest (127).

4/307, Watson 176. Even was successful using DRS late! A good day for him and good support by Smith who remains unbeaten.

4/307, Watson 176. Even was successful using DRS late! A good day for him and good support by Smith who remains unbeaten.

A great day and well done Watson and Smith. Even better that Watto made it a big hundred. Might have benefited from Clarke's assistance in the nets. Well I never!

England really surprised...at selection no Tremlett.... And their captaincy.

Is Cook the worst captain to have maintained the Ashes? I can't believe they bowled a debutant finger spinner in the 1st session of a Test when the other team were chugging along at 1/60 odd. Even more so when he was brought on to cover another debutant that had been smashed. Baffling.

By playing only 3 genuine Test bowlers England are really wasting this Test.

Oh and can someone please shut Lehmanns and Arthur's mouths! I would have thought that Athurs settlement would have included confidentiality clauses. I can only think Boof or Boofhead had an Eddie McGuire moment on radio.

Stumps Day 1

Australia 4/307

S. Watson 176

S. Smith 66*

C. Rogers 23

J. Anderson 2/52 (18)

G. Swann 1/71 (30)

S. Broad 1/73 (19)

Great day for the Aussies, especially Watson & Smith who were playing for their careers heading into this test. You'd think they've assured themselves spots for the GABBA test now and Watson has scored the dreaded number 3 role for some time. The only other question that would need answering is will we keep playing Faulkner and just have Watto as a specialist batsman. Or will Faulkner make way after this test for a batsman down the order and Watto play as the all rounder at 3?

But a great knock from him, especially given the heavy hit he copped from Broad. A fine innings from Smith also and a crucial gritty 23 from Rogersd off 100 deliveries to blunt the new ball. With Rogers falling to Swann once more however, I wonder if in the time between this test and the GABBA whether he should do a Matty Hayden and develop a sweep shot to make sure he doesn't get tied down by Swann and can rotate the strike a bit more like Hayden did against Harbajan all those years ago?

As for England young Kerrigan looked right out of his depth. I think Woakes will be an ok player and I can understand why they've played him, just under other circumstances they would have played Monty ahead of Kerrigan if not for the bouncer incident and their team balance wouldn't of looked so bad. The Oval always spins, but I thik that was the worst bowling I've seen from a debutant since Scott Muller made his test debut.

It's interesting the Cricinfo Huddle has Bryce McGain on it. He was more recent than Scott Muller. Lets hope that the infamous cameraman is not present at the Test.

just like to pay tribute to the English selectors for treating this as a dead rubber

now that sids has the eye in ,maybe we can get a few

aaahhh faulkner the next big thing in all rounders ay

A great day and well done Watson and Smith. Even better that Watto made it a big hundred. Might have benefited from Clarke's assistance in the nets. Well I never!

England really surprised...at selection no Tremlett.... And their captaincy.

Is Cook the worst captain to have maintained the Ashes? I can't believe they bowled a debutant finger spinner in the 1st session of a Test when the other team were chugging along at 1/60 odd. Even more so when he was brought on to cover another debutant that had been smashed. Baffling.

By playing only 3 genuine Test bowlers England are really wasting this Test.

Oh and can someone please shut Lehmanns and Arthur's mouths! I would have thought that Athurs settlement would have included confidentiality clauses. I can only think Boof or Boofhead had an Eddie McGuire moment on radio.

never?

the only thinkg watto would have got out of clartk net would be to help them recover from their ice wall.

Its Boofs doing all this, & the removal of falsehood cultural imports from the afracaan continent.. you only need to change a culture if its become corrupted. not if its tired.

Go Boof.

Edited October 21, 201311 yr by dee-luded

Australia:

David Warner

Chris Rogers

Shane Watson

Michael Clarke ©

Steven Smith

Brad Haddin (W)

James Faulkner

Peter Siddle

Mitchell Starc

Ryan Harris

Nathan Lyon

Now for Warner to go to 2, or 3...

imo his stature (smaller) allows him to be more nimble on his feet than Watto. so should be stronger against Anderson & Swann... & has more Grit than Watto. so to me would make a very good (3)

Edited August 22, 201311 yr by dee-luded

never?

the only think watto would have got out of clartk net would be to help them recover from their ice wall.

Its Boofs doing all this, & the removal of falsehood cultural imports from the afrcaan continent.. you only need to change a culture if its become corrupted. not if its tired.

Go Boof.

don't bother debating with RR

everybody not playing atm is wrong and doesn't know what their talking about

never?

the only think watto would have got out of clartk net would be to help them recover from their ice wall.

Its Boofs doing all this, & the removal of falsehood cultural imports from the afrcaan continent.. you only need to change a culture if its become corrupted. not if its tired.

Go Boof.

In other words you don't actually know.

I trust you will be a the MCG to call Broad a cheat.

In other words you don't actually know.

I trust you will be a the MCG to call Broad a cheat.

wrong yet again rhino.

you have a great history of writing others thoughts before they've thought of them.. your fantasies are almost whimsical in the most vexatious ways... i'm sorry you never felt the love you needed.

& you just have the habit of bringing out the best in everyone you sneeze your comments over.

I'll go back to ignoring you again, see ya, til next time.

One of the joys of sport is when a team or a player comes out against the odds and does something quite substantial. I had Watto out of the 1st Test in Brisbane for a number of reasons but mainly because he just seemed to have had too many chances and he wasn't delivering.

Following on from his solid 68 in the 4th Test he comes out and makes a fantastic 176 in this Test. Not only did he go on with it but he was also was struck a fearsome blow behind the ear from Broad that looked awful in real time. (and in replay) The fact that he batted on for another 80 odd runs was great stuff.

Well played Shane Watson. A grand innings and if we win this Test, he'll be largely responsible.

Oh and 'TD', you might have to make a provision for Watto at the no.3 spot in the 'Poll' (not that I would change my vote!)

& you just have the habit of bringing out the best in everyone you sneeze your comments over.

It clearly failed you and jazza badly. No one one could sneeze that much and that often even with a 3rd nostril to get you anywhere near that standard.

Following on from his solid 68 in the 4th Test he comes out and makes a fantastic 176 in this Test. Not only did he go on with it but he was also was struck a fearsome blow behind the ear from Broad that looked awful in real time. (and in replay) The fact that he batted on for another 80 odd runs was great stuff.

Well played Shane Watson. A grand innings and if we win this Test, he'll be largely responsible.

Oh and 'TD', you might have to make a provision for Watto at the no.3 spot in the 'Poll' (not that I would change my vote!)

Credit where credit is due. But that innings is long overdue. If he is to bat at 3 and bowl for the foreseeable future then I cant see more than one Test for Faulkner unless he blows the lights out on debut.

Credit where credit is due. But that innings is long overdue. If he is to bat at 3 and bowl for the foreseeable future then I cant see more than one Test for Faulkner unless he blows the lights out on debut.

He hasn't even been on the field yet and you're demanding that he 'blows the lights out on his debut'? How about we give him a few Tests to see what he's like? He's 23 years old for crying out loud.

Do you have the same attitude for all debutantes? Do you want him to fail? He's one of your players - how about wish the bloke well like most fair minded people would?

He hasn't even been on the field yet and you're demanding that he 'blows the lights out on his debut'? How about we give him a few Tests to see what he's like? He's 23 years old for crying out loud.

Do you have the same attitude for all debutantes? Do you want him to fail? He's one of your players - how about wish the bloke well like most fair minded people would?

FMD.

Watson gallant century entrenches him as the team's all rounder.

Its superfuous playing two all rounders unless he performs with bat and ball.

Despite the score we are exposed longer term by playing only 5 specialist batsman.

His opportunities are limited and he needs to make it happen. Its a reality you cant see.

And if you were really one for supporting our players you would be defending a proven player like Clarke against some of the caveman stupidity that has been prevalent here

Watson gallant century entrenches him as the team's all rounder.

Its superfuous playing two all rounders unless he performs with bat and ball.

Despite the score we are exposed longer term by playing only 5 specialist batsman.

His opportunities are limited and he needs to make it happen. Its a reality you cant see.

And if you were really one for supporting our players you would be defending a proven player like Clarke against some of the caveman stupidity that has been prevalent here

I've defended Clarke numerous times on this thread and continue to do so (see the post below for another example) Those who are overly critical of Clarke are damned by their own words. Same as those who have been overly critical of the much maligned Watson. By the way, Shane has made the most runs in this series by an Aussie (392 - which is the 2nd most runs in the series by any player)

As for Faulkner, if he picks up a few wickets in this Test anything could happen in the future. He's a bowling all-rounder (his figures indicate this) so he doesn't necessarily have to bat in the top 7 going forward. I've never regarded him as anyone who could bat in the top 6 (and have said so in this thread) but believe he might make it as one of the 3 seamers. If he does have a good all round game then it's a nice problem to have. Aren't we looking for competition for all the spots?

There may also have been other reasons that we played 5 bowlers (if we assume Watson isn't bowling in this game) Maybe the selectors have drawn a line through 3 batsmen (for now) and have decided (already) to go in a different direction for the 1st Test in Brisbane. Selectors have been known to do this sort of thing at all levels of sport. (deny opportunities as part of a selection strategy)

Harris and Siddle are our only shoe-ins right now although I'd agree that Starc would be next in line (if Pattinson isn't ready) However, Mitchell is no world beater and needs to bowl with more penetration (he may well do that in this Test) Starc now bowls at 135k's which is a maximum of 10k's short of his top pace. From the outside, it looks like the selectors are trying to send him a message (bowl well enough that we can't drop you or 'rest' you)

Faulkner deserves a chance at least and I hope he does well when he gets his opportunity.

Edited August 22, 201311 yr by Macca