MadAsHell

Been calling all week that Siddle should have played here. When we loose this test and series, the selectors are going to have to go back to the drawing board and make a decision on how they want to build this team going forward. Need to start to take the same approach with selection that the side did in the late 80's to build that era of dominance.

Good to see both Starc & Hazlewood spray at least one each in the first two overs!

Outside our ODI loss to Bangladesh in Cardiff in 2005 this is the most putrid thing I've ever seen from our Cricket team. The only way to save face is to pull off a remarkable come back in this match. But I don't see the match winners there.

Crucial test match starts tonight. And from what i'm hearing a lot of the changes we've discussed (S. Marsh for Voges, Clarke to 5 & Siddle for Hazlewood) are setto occur. Come on Aussies, lets win the toss, bat and get 400 on the board!

I know your a Haddin fan Macca and I have no doubt that the likely plan coming into this series was for it to be Haddin's swan song. But now that the change has been made when it did for the 2nd Test (no matter what the reasons for the change were) and Nevill did a decent job, it's hard to mount a case to go back to Haddin now. Haddin was huge for us when he came back into the XI for the 10 Ashes Tests of 2013/14, but since then he has played 12 Tests averaging 15.24 with the bat which is boosted with 4 not out scores. He's had 21 innings, only passing 22 on two occasions with 1 fifty and has managed 3 ducks. And the even more alarming thing was that his glove work at Cardiff was poor, which included dropping Root on 0 which could well have been a game/series changer. Given Nevill's had two scores of 45+ in his three innings and his glove work hasn't been any worse, I can't see them going back, but I'm not a selector. As for Siddle being yesterday's man, coming into this series I agreed with you 100%. However our bowlers are struggling to build any type of pressure and their consistency is off. This is where Siddle with his experience, line & length could be very useful. It would be a hard call either way as to who to leave out though. As we know, Starc can bowl some unplayable deliveries, however he's going at more then 4 an over for the series @ over 30 (average) and has only taken 5 wickets in the last 2 Test. While although Hazlewood's the leading wicket taker in the series, there just seems to be something off about him. Maybe as Grazman suggested, he's just had the wrong fields set, and that could be all he needs. So yes, there's grounds for Siddle to come in IMO, but there's equal argument for no change to that department, as we have taken 60/60 possible wickets. But I think S. March in for Voges with S. Marsh to bat at 4 and Clarke at 5 is something we all think is a good idea. And as for Nevill/Haddin, I'd be sticking with Nevill and hopefully Mitch Marsh can find some form with the bat. His bowling is pretty handy for mine.

Couldn't have said it any better myself grazman.

Agree with pretty much everything you say there TU. It is amazing that we're going to be down 1-2, I guess the only heartening thing to take away from what the first three tests has shown us is that the matches seem to be on our batsmen. Our bowling, although inconsistent, is good enough to deal with England's brittle batting, so it just comes down to how our batsmen can perform. So as yo said, Siddle in for one of Starc or Hazlewood to help provide some control and build more pressure. Shaun Marsh in for Voges, hopefully allowing Clarke to drop down the order. At least Nevill looks more likely to score some runs at 7 then what Haddin was.

Having said the above, the stats of the series so far actually suggest otherwise. Before the start of England's second innings, so far this series Starc has taken 11 wickets @ 31.55 with an economy rate of 4.08. On the other hand, Hazlewood's stats are much more respectable with 13 wickets @ 22.62 and an economy rate of 3.63. Selectors will have 5 days to ponder I guess.

Clarke puts a regulation catch off Bell down. Can this match get any worse....

He's been below par Mitchell Starc, I don't think anyone can dispute that. But the delivery that he just bowled to dismiss Cook is the reason why he's probably beyond being dropped and Hazlewood's the guy who may struggle to hold his spot.

Some good news for Australia at least: http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/the-ashes-2015-england-blow-as-jimmy-anderson-to-miss-trent-bridge-doubtful-for-the-oval/story-fndpt0dy-1227465403232

I need to pull myself up here. I have made multiple references to Edgbaston 1981, when in fact i was referring to Headingly 1981. My apologies.

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 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.

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!

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?

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

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!

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?

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.

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.

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.

Rogers out. He couldn't get going after the last rain break it seemed. Well at 8/110 if they could somehow manage to grind out 170 that'd be great but I'm not optimistic. Think we're in for some pain! This is just a shambles! Mainly bad strokes which is what makes this performance all the more worse! Edit: Last line.

Well made 50 Buck Rogers, we'd be in all sorts without him! This series is difficult to get a hold of either team's form so far.