3rd Ashes Test, Headingley, Aug 22-26

[GarlicJam]

Leaving aside my disappointment with Arthur for a brief moment, I thought I had better start this.

Main points of interest, going into the test:

First up, of course, is Smith. Is he going to be ready to play? How is his frame of mind going to be, after looking very un-Smith like in his return to the crease after going off. No doubt he is facing a lot of short balls in the nets atm.

Archer. How will he follow up his fantastic debut? He didn't have massive bowling load, did he? Sure, he got some assistance from the up-and-down pitch, and the slope, but can he maintain the intimidation of Lords?

Then, selection issues, on both sides. Bother have questions of openers to answer - Aus may have two. Bowlers too - Anderson and Starc pressing for a return. Is broad going to be dropped for Jimmy? Woakes? Of course, it cannot be Archer. If the selectors want Starc, I assume that it will be Banana Boy to make may for him.


Looking forward to this test very much.

[GarlicJam]

An Australia without Smith presents a much different prospect to England.

I hope Aus keeps his non/selection quiet until the toss. (sell more pixels that way)

[backfootpunch]

Surely it would be incredibly reckless to pick him

[yuppie]

Australias batting with out Smith, well that is a win for England.

More importantly, will Australia change the top order?

[SaintPowelly]

There is no way Smith plays. They are already facing a minor backlash for letting him come back out in first innings (which I agree with) would be reckless to let him play

[captaincolly]

There is no way Smith plays. They are already facing a minor backlash for letting him come back out in first innings (which I agree with) would be reckless to let him play

Yep. He's been officially ruled out.
https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/ban ... ngley.html

[backfootpunch]

There is no way Smith plays. They are already facing a minor backlash for letting him come back out in first innings (which I agree with) would be reckless to let him play

There is clearly something very wrong with the concussion system if he is deemed fit to play on the day but not a test match a week later

[yuppie]

Australia need to find out which god England have been praying to, and start doing the same.

Even more important now for Australia when bowling to make sure they use their referrals at the right time. 3 times this series they chose not to use them and its cost them wickets when bowling. Its more frustrating then wrong decisions.

[Durhamfootman]

There is no way Smith plays. They are already facing a minor backlash for letting him come back out in first innings (which I agree with) would be reckless to let him play

There is clearly something very wrong with the concussion system if he is deemed fit to play on the day but not a test match a week later

It was the headaches the next day that caused the real concern, I think. Until recently a physio would have held up some fingers and let Smith bat on regardless, so it feels like progress is being made

[Durhamfootman]

Even more important now for Australia when bowling to make sure they use their referrals at the right time. 3 times this series they chose not to use them and its cost them wickets when bowling. Its more frustrating then wrong decisions.

having let 2 go begging on day 4 at Lords, it was perhaps obvious that they would waste their referrals on marginal appeals straight away on day 5.

I've said it before and doubtless I'll say it again, but no captain should be referring on a hunch, or a punt, or on a marginal decision. In fact I'd go further and stop the TV from doing their own review after a captain has turned down the opportunity. It's just another chance to show the world how rubbish the captains are, how sh1te the umpires are and to make them all look foolish. If the ICC want to use these things later to assess umpires, or teams want to use them between matches to help hone the decision making process then that's fine. I want to see good umpires umpiring well and captains happy to trust their judgement, but that's hard when every single decision is being unnecessarily scrutinised to the nth degree.

remember the howler it was brought in to address?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Leaving aside my disappointment with Arthur for a brief moment, I thought I had better start this.

Archer?

[SaintPowelly]

There is no way Smith plays. They are already facing a minor backlash for letting him come back out in first innings (which I agree with) would be reckless to let him play

There is clearly something very wrong with the concussion system if he is deemed fit to play on the day but not a test match a week later

I fractured my skull almost exactly 10 years ago and it took about 36 hours for it to be clear I had a concussion.

[yuppie]

There is no way Smith plays. They are already facing a minor backlash for letting him come back out in first innings (which I agree with) would be reckless to let him play

There is clearly something very wrong with the concussion system if he is deemed fit to play on the day but not a test match a week later

I fractured my skull almost exactly 10 years ago and it took about 36 hours for it to be clear I had a concussion.

That sounds serious Saint. Any lasting damage?

[SaintPowelly]

There is no way Smith plays. They are already facing a minor backlash for letting him come back out in first innings (which I agree with) would be reckless to let him play

There is clearly something very wrong with the concussion system if he is deemed fit to play on the day but not a test match a week later

I fractured my skull almost exactly 10 years ago and it took about 36 hours for it to be clear I had a concussion.

That sounds serious Saint. Any lasting damage?

Not massively, I sometimes get headaches, particularly as hair grows, so I keep my head shaved but that might be more of a placebo thing.

[Durhamfootman]

it's the fashion now, of course. All you need to do to be really on trend is to grow a foot long beard, powelly.

thank goodness the concussion didn't lead you to become a Pompey supporter