*Official* Fourth Test (Old Trafford, Manchester) 19-23 July

[Molehill]

Eng best xi>> will easily best Aus at old Trafford

Duckett
Crawley
Root
Brook
Bairstow
Stokes
Foakes
Woakes
Broad
Tongue
Wood

No spinner, England simply don't win matches without a spinner, no matter how often they try it (bar one seamers paradise in SA). Also, OT needs a spinner too.

 

[Molehill]

Nah they want him to play it so he's got some overs under his belt in prep for the Test. I think it's actually a good sign for his chances.

I read it that way too. Boland may as well get the next plane home, he's not getting another game in this series. Neser is either playing or at worst the first choice replacement for Hazlewood.

 

[91Jmay]

Have to play a spinner at OT. I'd go Dawson and just force Root to play 3 for couple of games. He's in great form and although Mo actually bowled well 2nd innings (despite Aus playing him awfully, he was accurate for most part) he just looks so out of practise & was never a particularly great player anyway.

 

[halba]

Likely the only change will be Tongue for the injured Robinson. Everyone else stays. Anderson test career is mostly over with so many faster and younger than him now and more all round in ability. Even Woakes was pretty sharp clocking at 135kph, plus being extremely handy with the bat. Really good cricketers- Wood and Woakes

 

[Adorable Asshole]

Gotta feeling this one’s a draw

Draws are not possible when a team is bazballing.

 

[Croadymeister]

Likely the only change will be Tongue for the injured Robinson. Everyone else stays. Anderson test career is mostly over with so many faster and younger than him now and more all round in ability. Even Woakes was pretty sharp clocking at 135kph, plus being extremely handy with the bat. Really good cricketers- Wood and Woakes

That's the change I would like to see

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Old trafford without jimmeh will be meh

 

[ashley bach]

Robinson won't play if he is still injured. Anderson will come in for him. I suspect Broad will be rested and tongue replacing him.

Can you really afford to rest your best bowler after a nine day break in such an important match?

 

[Croadymeister]

Old trafford without jimmeh will be meh

Yeah but does Tongue not offer us something different in terms of pace though

 

[Croadymeister]

Don't think England have the guts to make straight Wicketkeeper swap for this match

 

[WICFan]

I read it that way too. Boland may as well get the next plane home, he's not getting another game in this series. Neser is either playing or at worst the first choice replacement for Hazlewood.

Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell is playing in Warwickshire's County Championship game.

 

[shortpitched713]

Labuschagne due a big knock.

 

[CartyDurham]

Neser is in the Glamorgan team that should have started a four day game today but it was rained out completely

maxwell bowled 5 overs for 17 , 0 wickets today for Warwickshire

 

[Fuller Pilch]

The key difference in the third test was the spin - Moeen got Smith and Labuschagne while Murphy was comparatively just a passenger.

Like fast bowlers, good spinners are equally important to balance the workload of a bowling attack and taking key wickets.

Smith and Labuschagne got themselves out tbh.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

The perfect result would be an England win in the 4th followed by an amazingly exciting and close 5th test which is ruined by rain on the 5th day, leading to a 2-2 draw and both sets of players and fans feeling disappointed.

 

[slowfinger]

Foakes scoring a very Foakes-like 48 in the county championship today. Probably not enough to get him noticed by the selectors though unless he hits another 50 or tons up 2nd innings

 

[CartyDurham]

Foakes scoring a very Foakes-like 48 in the county championship today. Probably not enough to get him noticed by the selectors though unless he hits another 50 or tons up 2nd innings

Tomorrows press has a story stating that as far as the management goes Bairstow will be retained in the side

daily telegraph back page splash Tuesday morning

Football gossip - all of the latest transfer stories and speculation - BBC Sport

The home of Football transfer gossip on BBC Sport online.

www.bbc.co.uk

I know that says football but scroll down and the back sports pages can be seen including the Bairstow story

 

[Ashes81]

Tomorrows press has a story stating that as far as the management goes Bairstow will be retained in the side

daily telegraph back page splash Tuesday morning

Football gossip - all of the latest transfer stories and speculation - BBC Sport

The home of Football transfer gossip on BBC Sport online.

www.bbc.co.uk

I know that says football but scroll down and the back sports pages can be seen including the Bairstow story

I'd be surprised if Bairstow was dropped or played just as a batsman with Foakes keeping.

They've made their choice and I think they'll stick with it

 

[shortpitched713]

The perfect result would be an England win in the 4th followed by an amazingly exciting and close 5th test which is ruined by rain on the 5th day, leading to a 2-2 draw and both sets of players and fans feeling disappointed.

Would serve both teams right, for being unable to secure the result, with their negative play and mindsets thus far. Tut.

 

[Adders]

Likely the only change will be Tongue for the injured Robinson. Everyone else stays. Anderson test career is mostly over with so many faster and younger than him now and more all round in ability. Even Woakes was pretty sharp clocking at 135kph, plus being extremely handy with the bat. Really good cricketers- Wood and Woakes

You really do have no clue at all fella.