Cricket

Has someone shopped Pietersen's face onto Broad's head? I'm confused.

It's Kevin and Prior from 2003, must be for the lions presuming it's not shopped or actually later, but going by Pietersen's hair it must be early.

So, we have two debut caps for Woakes and Kerrigan with Bairstow dropped. I understand having a medium paced all-rounder but having a second spinner is an interesting call.

Boof's comments re Broad add a little extra spice to this one too.

Fun times ahead.

So, we have two debut caps for Woakes and Kerrigan with Bairstow dropped. I understand having a medium paced all-rounder but having a second spinner is an interesting call.

Boof's comments re Broad add a little extra spice to this one too.

Fun times ahead.

Or "DABOO" if you're Jim Maxwell.

As for coach lehman's comments, he's even more stupid than the last one. Will they never learn? I bet Steve Waugh facepalmed when he heard that.

I particularly liked the bit where he says that he doesn't advocate walking but Broad remains a cheat for not walking.

And - Warner's out. Sounds like the England bowlers are getting a bit movement on the ball out there. Looking forward to sloping off to the pub for a couple of pre-lunch overs.

Jim Maxwell just said the Lehman incident was a "bit of jiz chucked on the fire"

Assuming "jiz" means something else in Australian

Fingers crossed.... either that or their fire departments have been doing it all wrong for quite some time.

No wonder they have all those bush fires.

Interesting game so far!

Shame about the two new guys, strange decision that. I'd have put money on unchanged except Onions/Tremlett for the injured Bresilad.

Have we won yet?

Nearly. Give it a few more days

^^ No, not yet

^^^ Been strange use of the bowlers in the morning session. I thought that the use of the bowlers was strange. Spinners at both ends at 25 overs on the first innings was quite a call - the Oval is not the Subcontinent.

For the two overs that Kerrigan bowled pre-lunch - he chucked short length sitters that begged to be stuck into the stand and Watson took his cue accordingly. As good as Watson was, the idea to bowl a first cap spinner on a relatively new ball and first innings pitch was bad.

Hopefully, we will make some better calls this arvo

Time for Bell, Trott and Root to have a bowl!

the Oval is not the Subcontinent.

I was quite tempted to reply to this with a "quip"

I have decided not to though

You're welcome

Thanks!

I was going to bite - but decided not to either.

However.....

The track at The Oval is decidedly British and is not, as far as I can ever remember, conducive to spinners at both ends in the first session of the first innings of a test match. At least not for English spinners (have we ever had two decent spinners at the same time?)

It certainly didn't appear to be today either.

It's not showing a lot of respect for the Aussies. Winning the series then bunging in a couple of C team guys to "have a bit of a chuck" in the last game because it doesn't really matter.

Thanks!

I was going to bite - but decided not to either.

However.....

The track at The Oval is decidedly British and is not, as far as I can ever remember, conducive to spinners at both ends in the first session of the first innings of a test match. At least not for English spinners (have we ever had two decent spinners at the same time?)

It certainly didn't appear to be today either.

We have produced decent pairs of spinners but tend not to pick them at the same time

Panesar/Swann
Edmonds/Emburey

But your point about the pitch is accurate.

How quickly I forgot about Monty :(

Point taken though.

It's not showing a lot of respect for the Aussies. Winning the series then bunging in a couple of C team guys to "have a bit of a chuck" in the last game because it doesn't really matter.

Would they have done that to England pre 2005?
(Did they ?)

Hmm, not sure about the Aus home games. But I don't remember it happening on tour. They didn't like changing the winning team and liked to screw it down to the very last session.

Strangely late declaration from Clarke
Could have had an additional; 1/2 hour at England

Good intent from Cook who must stay calm and stay in

TMS so unimpressed with this spell of play that they've been discussing entomology for the last 30 mins.

In a manner so simplistic that 3 year olds would understand it.

Spot on about the late declaration, another 50 odd runs wont make a blind bit of difference - Smith had his ton anyway.

The key difference between these sides is the ability to spot and exploit the key moments in matches, England have it. The late Australian declaration this evening is an example of a missed opportunity - irrespective of if it worked or not, it would have shown confidence and control.

Forecast for Saturday is not too clever either.

Now looking like Sunday is wet too.

I have just had a thought - as we've been having a back and forth about spinners.

Tredwell has done a decent job when he's been asked - offers control, not a fragile bloke, capable with the bat and decent fielder. What has he done to be ignored?

No point in having a second spinner who's not very good. Root and KP can bowl, although in this test KP seems to be still carrying injury.

Nobody can see any logic in this Eng selection, it harks back to the old days of bizarre surprise choices coming up on the morning of play.