The Ashes; First Test, Cardiff, July 8-12

[Dr Cricket]

Don't think England will change the top seven for the first three Tests.

Would have been nice to have KP available, as there isn't really an obvious replacement.

could see them changing it after the 2nd test especially if england are 2-0 down.
Bell and Ballance are the only ones at risk though.

[sussexpob]

Ian Bell is an interesting dilemma. Sending him away to Warwickshire clearly isn't a solution as he scores runs for fun even when out of form, as he showed last week, but he then comes into the test arena and looks all at sea. Jonny Bairstow has to be in with a shout of replacing him.

I guess its another England example of playing a guy well past the point at which his form is acceptable, but rather than react quickly, they end with the dilemma of fielding an inexperienced replacement in test 2 or 3 of a live Ashes series versus a very good attack.

Bairstow has question marks, but I would feel more confident with him at 5 at the moment.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Go Root.

England's best batter?

Holding's always saying he should bat at three. Against that, it's not inconceivable that he might be skipper by Trent Bridge, should England play poorly to that point. I reckon he wouldn't be best served by moving up in that eventuality.

[Aidan11]

At Cardiff you're not allowed to take your own sheep into the ground.

[sussexpob]

Go Root.

England's best batter?

Holding's always saying he should bat at three. Against that, it's not inconceivable that he might be skipper by Trent Bridge, should England play poorly to that point. I reckon he wouldn't be best served by moving up in that eventuality.

Like Steve Waugh, keep him where he works

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can you buy them inside the ground?

[Aidan11]

Can you buy them inside the ground?

I think that is what they are hoping.


To me it's tantamount to prostitution.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bet you can take your own in at Lord's. For your own use.

[sussexpob]

Hard to gauge how poor or good this start is. Pitch looks slow, but certainly evidence of some uneven bounce and some two paced balls after pitching. Johnson has bowled too full generally so far looking for the swing.

[Arthur Crabtree]

You can take pigs in in Australia. Like the Eddie Hemmings pig.

[Aidan11]

Some of them are MCC members.

[Aidan11]

[yorker_129-7]

He bowls it to the left
He bowls it to the ri-i-ight...

[budgetmeansbudget]

Well done Ballance, good fighting knock so far with your position under most scrutiny.

[sussexpob]

He bowls it to the left
He bowls it to the ri-i-ight...

Apart from Headingley in 2009, has Johnson ever bowled well in England? Seems a more mentally stronger cricketer than in 2009 though, so I expect him to have a strong series still.