*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[social]

Haha unbelievable selections. Why the **** is Hilfenhaus playing?

a. Clark is out of favour

b. Oz selectors are fwits

 

[inbox24]

Damn England batting first.

 

[Son Of Coco]

a. Clark is out of favour

b. Oz selectors are fwits

Think you hit the nail on the head. It beats me how Clark is out of favour, but Lee was considered by some to be an automatic selection before he'd bowled a ball. Both of them had periods of poor form due to injury before being out for some time. Before that Clark was the better bowler for a more consistent period.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Just love how Strauss says it wasn't a hard decision to pick Donkey Panesar ahead of Onions. Yea I mean it's obviously straight forward choice deciding between a ****ing liability in the field and with the bat who takes wickets at over 50 in county cricket division 2 for the past 12 months. Compared to a guy who destroyed West Indies and has 40 wickets at 13 in division 1 this season. Only problem is England got it completely ****ing wrong.

 

[GIMH]

England bat (Y)

Panesar (N)

 

[Penguinissimo]

Anderson > Hilfenhaus
Broad < Johnson
Flintoff > Siddle
Swann > Hauritz
Panesar > North / Katich / Clarke

On the other hand, from a batting perspective:

Prior = North
Flintoff < Haddin
Broad < Johnson

The Aussies are going to have to hope their deeper batting compensates for fielding what looks like a pretty filthy bowling attack.

 

[andmark]

What a day to have a teachers training day.

 

[pup11]

Strauss wins the toss and bats.

Big disadvantage this for Australia, if the pitch turns like it is expected to, then England could be calling the shots in this game, considering England put up a substantial 1st innings total on the board.

 

[Penguinissimo]

Just love how Strauss says it wasn't a hard decision to pick Donkey Panesar ahead of Onions. Yea I mean it's obviously straight forward choice deciding between a ****ing liability in the field and with the bat who takes wickets at over 50 in county cricket division 2 for the past 12 months. Compared to a guy who destroyed West Indies and has 40 wickets at 13 in division 1 this season. Only problem is England got it completely ****ing wrong.

Agreed. Even with the Aussies' comparative ineptitude against spin, Panesar shouldn't be in the side.

 

[social]

Just love how Strauss says it wasn't a hard decision to pick Donkey Panesar ahead of Onions. Yea I mean it's obviously straight forward choice deciding between a ****ing liability in the field and with the bat who takes wickets at over 50 in county cricket division 2 for the past 12 months. Compared to a guy who destroyed West Indies and has 40 wickets at 13 in division 1 this season. Only problem is England got it completely ****ing wrong.

When you look at how Cardiff has played, Panesar's form, the weather, etc it's nothing more than a massive hail mary that's been thrown by the English selectors

 

[Jono]

Genuinely shocked at the sides chosen, must be said.

Hmmm, let's see how this goes.

 

[Craig]

No Clark?

 

[Penguinissimo]

Big disadvantage this for Australia, if the pitch turns like it is expected to, then England could be calling the shots in this game, considering England put up a substantial 1st innings total on the board.

Brave prediction...........

 

[Richard]

Sheesh I hope the opening over contains something as nondescript as possible. Just so's we don't have to put-up with yet more "the first over set the tone" nonsense.

Now this anthems nonsense. Whose idea was it to have these at cricket matches.

 

[NUFAN]

So Johnson and Hilfenhaus to share the new ball yeah?

Hilf has to open the bowling.

 

[Penguinissimo]

Now this anthems nonsense. Whose idea was it to have these at cricket matches.

Well, they have them at every other international sporting event...it's not necessarily wrong, it's just different.

Not sure what the point of Jerusalem is though.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Scaly to land a Fleet Street position before the series is up.

In other news, **** you Hilditch. Way to impersonate Trevor Hohns when your biggest selling point after his exit was not being him.

 

[Langeveldt]

Ha Hilf? So amped, what a game this is going to be

 

[Craig]

12th man for England is Tom Maynard. Apparently he is a good fielder.

 

[Richard]

Genuinely shocked at the sides chosen, must be said.

I'd be more surprised if they'd picked the best possible combo.

And I love how the British national anthem of GSTQ still counts as English. Why couldn't someone have arranged for LOHAG to be added to the Welsh anthem?