The Ashes 5th Test. The Oval. August 20-24.

[The Waugh Twins]

Yep I agree Sussex and Oz should do something similar.

If they were willing to drop Haddin in the fashion they did then they should have the 8@!!5 to drop Clarke. It sounds harsh, but to say he is a walking wicket goes without question.

When I think back to how hard they tried to get rid of Steve Waugh and he kept stuffing it in their faces it comes to light just how odd these selectors can be.

[backfootpunch]

The series has been won, but there are a number of question marks on the team leading from this test, especially the main spinner role and at opener.

Id like to see England make 4 changes for this test, but obviously we are so wrapped up in inflicting pointless extra misery on the Aussies for Cook's Cult of Personality needs, and the ECB's.

Cook himself should stand aside and make room for another opener to stake his claim. I would have given Hales a go.
Root has nothing to prove, get Taylor in for a test.
Mo Ali will tour UAE without a doubt, but should he fail it would be nice to test Rashid out now.
Id rest Broad (and Anderson, but thats happening) and give someone like Rushworth or someone else....a cap to prove he can bowl at this level, as in South Africa, an all seam attack might be likely needed.

i would hope that broad will be rested during the ODI series

i would imagine he would not be very happy at all if they tried to rest him from this test match

[from_the_stands]

Broad will definitely play at the Oval. He doesn't need a rest. He's just had a week and a half off, and he only bowled a few overs in the last match. Can't see any changes for England in this last Test.

[Aidan11]

I'd be upset if Broad didn't play at The Oval.

He won the match in the first session of the last test. Not saying he'll do it again but you don't drop the heroes.

[backfootpunch]

I'd be upset if Broad didn't play at The Oval.

He won the match in the first session of the last test. Not saying he'll do it again but you don't drop the heroes.

With the way the aussies have been batting he hasn't bowled too many overs in the last two tests either

[Aidan11]

Cummins for Josh according to this

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the ... 7489539061

[sussexpob]

I'd be upset if Broad didn't play at The Oval.

He won the match in the first session of the last test. Not saying he'll do it again but you don't drop the heroes.

This series has nothing to settle. Broad has been playing a lot since January, with the Tri Series, the World Cup, Windies tours, straight into a long summer with 7 tests and associated games. He has a history of breaking down with niggles too. Why risk him in a glorified friendly dead rubber game when England have huge challenges ahead?

After all, Wood has broken down this series, Ali's place is hardly safe, Anderson is currently injured and on his last tour Finn was reduced to bowling to cardboard cut outs..... another injury could screw the winter up badly, so why risk it.

[backfootpunch]

Cummins for Josh according to this

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the ... 7489539061

A pace attack of Cummins, Starc and Johnson seems a big risk

Very much an all or nothing bowling attack, no one who is going to bowl long accurate spells

[dan08]

Cummins for Josh according to this

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the ... 7489539061

A pace attack of Cummins, Starc and Johnson seems a big risk

Very much an all or nothing bowling attack, no one who is going to bowl long accurate spells

I presume Mitchell Marsh or Watson will come in as you can't have Cummins in a four man attack.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Reports are suggesting another green pitch. Didn't expect that of the Oval.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cricinfo thinks the Marshes will swap again. Bit of a dog's dinner that.

[captaincolly]

Cricinfo thinks the Marshes will swap again. Bit of a dog's dinner that.

A shambles!

[rich1uk]

would be surprised if its a brother swap , I doubt voges will play another test after this series whereas shaun marsh will at least be in the frame with rogers and Clarke going

after dropping smith and Clarke down a spot for the last test dropping shaun marsh would see them move back up again , i'm not as big a worrier about scorecard numbers for batsmen as some but it does seem a lot of fiddling around

its all got a bit reminiscent of a couple of years ago when the aussies didn't seem to have a clue what their best team is and chopped and changed all the time

[yuppie]

I don't think there is any reason to play Voges in this test. I'm no fan of S Marsh, but arguably he can play test cricket for the next 5 years........

As has been pointed out by other posters there is little room for Aus to blood some new players, but they may as well look to the future as best they can in this dead rubber. Arguably Clarke should be dropped on form but he wont be so Voges needs to go. And if a bowler is injured then Cummings needs to come in.

So for me

Rodgers
Warner
S Marsh
Smith
Clarke
Marsh
Neville
MJ
Starc
Cumings
Lyon

Wont be surprised if the bottom 5 score more than the top 6 again...

[Slipstream]

Broad has the chance of Man of the Series. Give him a rest? I don't think so. He has only bowled 123.0 overs.