*Official* Fourth Test at the MCG

[Furball]

With Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen and Bell in good form, I reckon the Sri Lanka series is an ideal time to blood someone to replace Collingwood (whether that's Taylor, Hildreth, or giving more time to Morgan) - I can't see any real reason why Collingwood should be retained.

 

[GIMH]

I wouldn't drop him for Sydney. Assuming we finish the job here I don't think we will learn any more about Morgan in a dead rubber than we did against Pakistan. Instead, I think we let Colly play there and then quietly move him on, but I have a feeling he may retire after the World Cup anyway.

 

[marc71178]

Yeah, I expect he'll retire from Tests after this series and ODIs after the World Cup.

 

[Woodster]

Be interesting how long England look to bat, and what tempo we're aiming to go at. The fact is there is still three days to go so we don't need to go chasing the runs, but it would be nice to keep moving the game forward. Prior will naturally look to attack, while I'd expect Trott to just continue at his own steady pace, in his own bubble, and accumulate his runs.

I suppose they may target one or two of the Aussie bowlers, while I anticipate they'll treat Siddle cautiously as he has been the real dangerman of the Aussie attack.

Of course should we lose a couple of quick wickets like we did at the start of day two, certain strategies and targets may go out of the window. Bresnan gives the batting some depth on paper, and we know Swann will look to score at a 100 strike rate.

 

[MW1304]

Yeah, I expect he'll retire from Tests after this series and ODIs after the World Cup.

Nah i disagree. I think he'll keep going until either he gets dropped or injured, doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would retire. People forget, too, he is only 34 so its not as if his body has completely packed up. Catches well enough obviously. The only time i could imagine him retiring is once he's reached 200 caps, which i think is about 10 away, but even then would be surprised.

 

[wpdavid]

I wouldn't drop him for Sydney. Assuming we finish the job here I don't think we will learn any more about Morgan in a dead rubber than we did against Pakistan. Instead, I think we let Colly play there and then quietly move him on, but I have a feeling he may retire after the World Cup anyway.

That's been on the grapevine for a while now, and it does make a lot of sense.

I wouldn't bring in Morgan for Sydney either. Given that he's barely played for months, I'm not convinced he'd add a lot in that game.

All I would add that the 5th test isn't a dead rubber even if the ashes are sorted by then - there would still be the little matter of winning the series wrt the test championship or whatever it's called nowadays.

 

[wpdavid]

Nah i disagree. I think he'll keep going until either he gets dropped or injured, doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would retire. People forget, too, he is only 34 so its not as if his body has completely packed up. Catches well enough obviously. The only time i could imagine him retiring is once he's reached 200 caps, which i think is about 10 away, but even then would be surprised.

Are you sure that Colly has 190 caps?

 

[PhoenixFire]

Are you sure that Colly has 190 caps?

For some reason, he was talking about ODIs...

 

[MW1304]

For some reason, he was talking about ODIs...

Could be for the reason that I was replying to a post in which someone mentioned ODI's possibly.

And, to be precise, he has 189 caps, yes.

 

[pskov]

I wouldn't drop him for Sydney. Assuming we finish the job here I don't think we will learn any more about Morgan in a dead rubber than we did against Pakistan. Instead, I think we let Colly play there and then quietly move him on, but I have a feeling he may retire after the World Cup anyway.

I think we learn even less about Morgan by letting him sit on the sidelines.

I am genuinely surprised by the general consensus on here to let Colly play at Sydney. I don't think he deserves to keep his place in the team based on performance and I have no doubt that we should pick the best XI for the final test even if the Ashes are already retained. A 3-1 series win is vastly better than a 2-2 draw.

 

[Woodster]

I think we learn even less about Morgan by letting him sit on the sidelines.

I am genuinely surprised by the general consensus on here to let Colly play at Sydney. I don't think he deserves to keep his place in the team based on performance and I have no doubt that we should pick the best XI for the final test even if the Ashes are already retained. A 3-1 series win is vastly better than a 2-2 draw.

Even if I put sentiment to one side, I would retain Colly in the side for Sydney. Morgan would be coming in with very little cricket under his belt, would be unfair to then judge him at Sydney. Colly's performances have been below par in 2010, but he still plays innings that very few can in our side.

There is no doubt 3-1 is vastly better than a 2-2 draw, and I don't think including Collingwood would harm our chances of achieving that 3-1 scoreline.

 

[Furball]

**** sake, 1 over in and Ponting's already annoying me.

Get on with the ****ing game, you've had the players in the dressing room all morning, why you need to chat with Siddle for 2 minutes before he bowls is beyond me.

 

[King Pietersen]

Wow, Sutcliffe, Hammond and Hobbs are the only 3 English batsmen to have scored more runs than Jonathan Trott in their first 17 Test matches. Superb from Trott, and he's still fairly under-rated. WAG.

 

[JBH001]

Oh, lucky there, Trott. There is still a little seam movement on this wicket if the right length is hit.

 

[King Pietersen]

KP told Ponting he edged 'that' delivery. Brilliant stuff. WAFG.

 

[Woodster]

Wow, Sutcliffe, Hammond and Hobbs are the only 3 English batsmen to have scored more runs than Jonathan Trott in their first 17 Test matches. Superb from Trott, and he's still fairly under-rated. WAG.

In excellent company there. I'm guilty of under-rating him, but he really has impressed in his own inimitable style on this tour so far.

It is his style that probably doesn't lend itself to getting too many supporters, but I've really enjoyed the way he's found the gaps so well in this innings and not tried to hit the ball too hard, is more than prepared to take a two or three than try and smash it to the rope.

 

[Woodster]

KP told Ponting he edged 'that' delivery. Brilliant stuff. WAFG.

Funny that, a cheeky little wink to boot!

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Wow, Sutcliffe, Hammond and Hobbs are the only 3 English batsmen to have scored more runs than Jonathan Trott in their first 17 Test matches. Superb from Trott, and he's still fairly under-rated. WAG.

I underrate him a bit i guess. I am waiting for the bubble to burst like it did for jimmy Adams who had a similar start. Obviously i hope it doesn't though and he carries on as a run machine.

 

[JBH001]

Tubby talking a lot of **** about no-ball referrals by umpires; because yes, all umpires are suddenly reviewing all their decisions and 89 overs bowled yesterday was not because Ponting wasted 8 minutes "discussing" the official's decision with Dar. What crap.

 

[Spikey]

taylor doesn't like change.