*Official* Third Test at Old Trafford

[Adders]

Billy!!!!

Now it feels like an Ashes series.

 

[ajdude]

can't wait for michael holding to say "shine"

 

[Spikey]

ABC poll: Should Shane Watson be dropped for the fourth Test?

Poll: Should Shane Watson be dropped for the fourt... | Liveblog live blogging

 

[91Jmay]

Bresnan pick of the bowlers so far to be fair. Some great balls.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Bresnan actually bowling pretty well.

 

[stephen]

Watto hasn't averaged over 25 as opener for three years.

 

[mightymariner]

Sounds like Big Tim is really on fire this morning.

 

[Expressway76]

ABC poll: Should Shane Watson be dropped for the fourth Test?

Poll: Should Shane Watson be dropped for the fourt... | Liveblog live blogging

83% say "Yes".

Tbf it would have been the same result before his latest fail.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Jimmy's bowled a good amount of ****. Just not threatening enough.

 

[Top_Cat]

41.2. 21.8 since the end of the last ashes series

For reference, in the 2-year period where Mark Taylor couldn't buy a run and everyone was demanding he be dropped, was one of the worst slumps we'd seen in years, etc. his average as opener - 21.7.

 

[Expressway76]

Bresnan actually bowling pretty well.

Indeed. Good to see and with Bres always a slight surprise even though he usually is tidy.

 

[Cabinet96]

That's some landmark.

 

[Tangles]

He was publicly backed by Boof to play 5 at least so I expect him to play 5.

 

[morgieb]

20000 FC runs for Rogers!

 

[stephen]

For reference, in the 2-year period where Mark Taylor couldn't buy a run and everyone was demanding he be dropped, was one of the worst slumps we'd seen in years, etc. his average as opener - 21.7.

The thing is that Mark Taylor was actually a good test match batsman.

 

[King Pietersen]

Holding comparing England's bowling stocks to those of the 80's West Indies team. What's he on about? There's no way Holding, Marshall, Garner, Roberts, Croft, Walsh and Ambrose are anywhere near as good as Bresnan, Broad, Finn and Tremlett.

 

[adub]

20 000 fc runs. Quality effort that. Come on Chris put a couple of thou more test runs on that before you finish.

 

[91Jmay]

Done really well after that opening stand to reign them back.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Indeed. Good to see and with Bres always a slight surprise even though he usually is tidy.

Bres is actually a tad bit underrated. He is admittedly not the same bowler as he was circa 2011, but he's above average and fits the role of workhorse/handy wicket taker very well.

 

[stephen]

So Watto hasn't made a half century in 12 innings. We dropped Hughes who had made 3 50s in his last 7 innings. It's MUCH more vital that we pick the best batsmen in a side that has terrible batting.

#dropwatto