*Official* Third Test (Headingley, Leeds) 6–10 July

[ashley bach]

haha cheers la

lol you deserve it after all the stress you've been through lately.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah I think of Ashwin as like an Indian, downgraded version of Woakes.

Ashwin's probably a bit quicker, tbf.

 

[Ashes81]

Anderson had two below par Tests, following an injury. Write him off at your peril.

I'd agree with this but if Wood is fit he has to play.

Woakes is so valuable for his batting and his bowling is very good at home, so for me he has to play.

Broad has been our best bowler so I'd pick him which leaves one of Jimmy, Robinson or Tongue. I'd go with Tongue for his extra pace.

Big call to leave Jimmy out but if you pick him, who do you drop?

 

[OverratedSanity]

basically the English Ashwin

Both won their nations a historic series win in Australia

 

[GIMH]

I'd agree with this but if Wood is fit he has to play.

Woakes is so valuable for his batting and his bowling is very good at home, so for me he has to play.

Broad has been our best bowler so I'd pick him which leaves one of Jimmy, Robinson or Tongue. I'd go with Tongue for his extra pace.

Big call to leave Jimmy out but if you pick him, who do you drop?

Robinson - assuming he may not be fit anyway?

 

[hazsa19]

My side for OT;
Crawley
Duckett
Bairstow
Root
Brook
Stokes
Foakes
Ali
Woakes
Wood
Broad

What the side will be;
Crawley
Duckett
Ali
Root
Brook
Stokes
Bairstow
Woakes
Wood
Broad
Anderson

 

[Ashes81]

Robinson - assuming he may not be fit anyway?

I wouldn't play Jimmy or Robinson at OT. I'd go Broad, Wood, Woakes and Tongue, assuming Stokes isn't going to bowl much, if at all.

If we play 4 seamers, who would you pick.

 

[Niall]

I'd agree with this but if Wood is fit he has to play.

Woakes is so valuable for his batting and his bowling is very good at home, so for me he has to play.

Broad has been our best bowler so I'd pick him which leaves one of Jimmy, Robinson or Tongue. I'd go with Tongue for his extra pace.

Big call to leave Jimmy out but if you pick him, who do you drop?

I have been critical of Anderson but if Robinson out then considering its Old Trafford he has to be considered.

The alternatives..? Wood and Tongue in the same team would be fun but unsure from a workload POV if that is a good idea especially as Stokes not bowling much.

Then its Potts? A man who has not played a test yet (Ireland don't count) .....

Tough call!

 

[ParwazHaiJunoon]

How did Gill get out twice to this Boland guy

Gill has never seen a bowler like Boland before.

 

[Pothas]

Not having Tongue ahead of Anderson on the basis of one match. Especially when you already have Wood for the pace.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah Tongue over Anderson would be a ridiculous overreaction.

They should be picking the OT team with The Oval in mind though. There’s a lesson in having won this game off big performances by the two fresh bowlers.

 

[Croadymeister]

Not having Tongue ahead of Anderson on the basis of one match. Especially when you already have Wood for the pace.

Would be useful to have that 85-90mph bowler option outside of Woody though

 

[slowfinger]

i'm actually quite pleased that there can be some intelligent discussion about an England test side after so many years of brainless, nepotistic, closed minded selections from the recent past (2015-2022). this shows that we actually take the current England test team somewhat seriously again

 

[Gob]

Must be pretty gutted for Australia to get England 170 for 6 and lose that but then again I can't recall many close calls in that Woakes/Brooks partnership. Sure there was the odd play and miss but they batted normally.

Australia would need to win the next test because if England gets to the final with two back to back wins, they will be hard to stop. It's incredible to see the levels of belief they had through out this game whilst being 2 zip down they would feel nigh invincible if they level it after being two zip down.

 

[ripper868]

Woakes was popping plenty up early, just none went to fielders as they were all back on the rope - the day just went his way, which happens.

OT is going to be another fun one hopefully.

 

[zaremba]

Great result for England. 3-0 was quite possible and at one stage the likelier result, but it wouldn’t have been a fair reflection of the teams over the course of the series. And it sets the series up nicely.

The Manchester weather is looking predictably grim though from the forecast I’ve seen.

 

[mackembhoy]

I have been critical of Anderson but if Robinson out then considering its Old Trafford he has to be considered.

The alternatives..? Wood and Tongue in the same team would be fun but unsure from a workload POV if that is a good idea especially as Stokes not bowling much.

Then its Potts? A man who has not played a test yet (Ireland don't count) .....

Tough call!

What do you mean he played all of summer 2022?

 

[centurymaker]

Smith's form in the WTC/India series/Ashes so far has been a bit concerning, honestly. Not done terribly, and has made two match winning hundreds, but he had a torrid time in india and is averaging 31 this ashes so far. Deserves just as much criticism for recent form as marnus does.

It's because he hardly performs in the 2nd innings. Averages 38 with just 4 100s.

 

[Niall]

What do you mean he played all of summer 2022?

Oh dear.

Dunno how I forgot all about that, so yeah disregard all I said before.

 

[GIMH]

disregard all I said .

Don’t need telling