How was Cowan in the field? I definitely don't rate Watsons fielding has highly as TC does. I really like the way we've gone about this match in terms if bowling and batting order. LHC, I agree with the XI, maybe Lyon ahead of Faulkner but it's only a maybe. Who would captain, Cowan?Seems like Watson, who not only has got his opening back, but his spot at first slip back, has shelled one
love how you have clarke at 4 here spikaroolyClarke definitely has to play next game. He's played one game in months, Cowan's done half a county season. I would have thought after this game we'd have a pretty damn fair idea whether we're pushing ahead with Cowan or not. And we could say similar in regards to Usman who has had plenty of recent game-time right under the nose of Lehmann. Only one of them should play imo.
I'd go four bowlers, so
Rogers
Watson
Khawaja/Cowan (if cowan, rogers 3)
Clarke
Hughes
Smith
Wade
Agar or Lyon no biggie
Harris
Siddle
Bird
If we want to play a 5th bowler, and there's just no reason to play Faulkner so not him, remove Watson. If we go in with 4 bowlers, Watson may be called upon to bowl 5-10 overs which would be nice preparation because he will surely be expected to do that in the tests, but if we play 5 bowlers he won't, so there's no real reason to play him
Does seem a strange one. Why not let him play for Essex?Also, no talk of the fact that Compton is turning out for Worcester?