*Official* Fourth Test at the MCG

[Pothas]

Yeah it would be good to see and I think we might do, Australia are surley not going to go back to being utterly awful and England nearly always responds well these days.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Bresnan for the MCG

Sez The Guardian.

Think we need a change, but Bres as part of a four man attack scares me a little. If the Kookaburra refuses to swing he'll be fodder.

 

[treamcast34]

Yes, I am aware the home advantage has changed. But my other points about comparing to 09 are pretty valid.

i.e

ENGLAND PLAYED WELL

then

ENGLAND PLAYED AWFULLY

Also, invert for Australia.

Statistically, that series is the only one in the history of the game where the losing side had 4 of the top 6 run scorers and wicket takers. Even here in this 2010-11 series, we have 4 of the top 6 wicket takers but only 3 of the top 6 run scorers; even if you take out Perth's stats, we didn't have 4 of the top 6 in both categories. I wouldn't draw anything from the 2009 series and try to compare it to this one because we'll never see a series like that again in our lifetimes.

 

[howardj]

Yep, but they weren't runaway top scorers or wicket takers in 2009. They were fractitionally less worse than the guys who they finished ahead of.

Anyway, it will be a mortal blow for England or Australia respectively if either Anderson or Ponting can't play.

 

[outbreak]

Just herd Anderson probably won't play the next test because of a side strain? Anyone have news on this? He was playing with his boobs alot last match and looked to have abit of soreness...

 

[Burgey]

Just herd Anderson probably won't play the next test because of a side strain? Anyone have news on this? He was playing with his boobs alot last match and looked to have abit of soreness...

Was sympathy pains for his missus breast feeding I think.

 

[Spark]

This is the second time Anderson has done this if so. Made a brilliant start to the series, and looked like he could be the man who wins the series for England with his bowling, then falls to pieces at the pointy end.

 

[Burgey]

Harsh imo. Can't help it if he gets a side strain, like Dougeh in India. Maybe the flights to and from didn't help, who knows? But I'm not going to bag him going home for the birth of his child. Stuff happens.

 

[Spark]

Yeah, it is a bit harsh, but interesting nonetheless. The major question hanging over Anderson for me is whether he can keep his standards up over 5 tests and not just 2 or 3 like last time (he just looked so toothless the last two tests).

 

[Ausage]

Bah, you can always make more children. Never going to get the chance again to prove he can bowl in Australia

 

[Pothas]

Losing Jimmy would be a disaster quite frankly but it sounds to me like he will play, anyway the Guardian think that Bresnan is going to play regardless. Have never really rated Bresnan but can certainly live with inclusion if it is alongside Tremlett and Anderson.

 

[vicleggie]

lol if anderson is out

finn
tremlett
bresnan
swann

still 2 verygood bowlers in there.

surely england must play bresnan rather than shahzad in melbourne- if theyre being smart- they'll realise a draw will be fine before sydney.

 

[FBU]

Was sympathy pains for his missus breast feeding I think.

stiff side, probably because our batsmen didn't give our bowlers a chance to recover.

 

[Spark]

lol if anderson is out

finn
tremlett
bresnan
swann

still 2 verygood bowlers in there.

surely england must play bresnan rather than shahzad in melbourne- if theyre being smart- they'll realise a draw will be fine before sydney.

Anderson missing will be a huge blow though. Even when he hasn't got wickets he hasn't gone for many runs.

 

[vicleggie]

Anderson missing will be a huge blow though. Even when he hasn't got wickets he hasn't gone for many runs.

true- think if he's not there, the aussies cant underestimate finn though. could see him nipping a few in quick time on a low melb pitch.

save bresnan, that's still a bowling attack capable of getting out a batting lineup that has 3 batsman in poor form, out twice..

 

[Pothas]

lol if anderson is out

finn
tremlett
bresnan
swann

still 2 verygood bowlers in there.

surely england must play bresnan rather than shahzad in melbourne- if theyre being smart- they'll realise a draw will be fine before sydney.

I am no good with grammar or punctuation but I did once discover these things called capital letters, you should try them one day.

 

[outbreak]

If i were an english person i'd be wanting bresnan in for collingwood with bell and probably prior being promoted.

 

[Spark]

true- think if he's not there, the aussies cant underestimate finn though. could see him nipping a few in quick time on a low melb pitch.

save bresnan, that's still a bowling attack capable of getting out a batting lineup that has 3 batsman in poor form, out twice..

For how many runs though? Tremlett'll keep it relatively tight but if Hussey continues playing Swann as he had and Clarke/Smith come to the party then he could leak and leak badly.

 

[Pothas]

Hussey is going to get out for less than 20 in the first innings.

 

[Julian87]

Ha. Playing 5 bowlers is not an option unless you want to bat Swann at 6. Prior can't handle #7.