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^ Onions?

Please bring in Finn. We may be able to win a game with him in.

Order of the day to fill batting abyss


Those who have been tried at No. 3.

Ricky Ponting bestrode Australian cricket from the front, which is far less elegant phraseology than his footwork ever was. For 10 years, he batted exclusively at No. 3 and averaged more than 56. As is so often the case, only after he abdicated the position was it possible to see the immensity of that feat in perspective.

The handover was unceremonious, even accidental. In mid-2011, Australia was in Sri Lanka, licking the wounds of the previous summer's Ashes debacle. Michael Clarke had replaced Ponting as captain, though Ponting was retained at No. 3 for the first Test.
But when Ponting returned to Australia for the birth of his daughter, Shaun Marsh stepped in at first drop for the second Test, and promptly made a debut century. When Ponting rejoined for the third Test, it was down the order a notch. He would never make another run at No. 3.

Seemingly, Marsh had opened a door, but it was to an abyss. In two years and 26 Tests since, eight men have appeared at No. 3, collectively averaging a meagre 22. Not one has made a century. But they have made nine ducks, including three in one series for Marsh, and one for Clarke, in his only captain's innings at No. 3.

The pattern of Australia's capitulation in England sadly was all too predictable. The bowlers have been honourable, not conceding more than 375 in an innings. But however few England makes, Australia always was and is liable to make fewer.

Australia's most brittle batting order in long memory is full of holes, and the most gaping is at No. 3.

In the Clarke era, the openers have made sporadic runs, Clarke has been prolific in the middle order and has insulated No.6; Mike Hussey's last four Test centuries were made from platforms of 4-325, 4-299, 4-210 and 4-198.

But No. 3 remains a black hole. In this series, it was occupied in the first Test by Ed Cowan, and since by Usman Khawaja. Apart from Khawaja's 54 on the last day at Lord's, in a cause already long lost, the highest score is 24. The ill-starred Khawaja looks to be playing himself out of the team again, though now that the Titanic is fatally holed, there is no point in shuffling the deck chairs again at the Oval. Khawaja, now sans lifejacket, must sink or swim.

In cricket's schema, No.3 is not the premier's pivot it was when, say, Ian Chappell bristled there for Australia, up for the contest whether the scoreboard showed 1-0 or 1-150, with the tools and the craftsmanship either to repair a poor start or consolidate a flyer. Now, a team's best batsman melds into the middle order. Steve Waugh rarely batted at No. 3, Sachin Tendulkar never. Ponting's long vigil was a revisitation.

But this is not to pine for Ponting, nor Simon Katich. Nor is it to prevail on Clarke, temperamentally a natural in the middle order, also an unbroken part that does not need fixing. But it is to expect more at first drop than a figure that looks more like a bowling than batting average.

The selectors do not now have the luxury, if they ever did, of persevering faithfully with an underperformer while others pack up the runs around him. Nor can they do deals with themselves, as they appeared to when hiding Phil Hughes from South Africa last summer. They can only trial the talent in turn, until one seizes his chance. No one expects a bestriding Ponting; someone to straddle the crease for more than an hour will do for a start.

Read more: Order of the day to fill batting abyss


It may be considered 'racist' - but Khawaja is not worthy of the #3 spot - send him back to state cricket until he scores big runs consistently! Bring back Hughes I say. He may be crap at playing spin, but he is our best option IMHO.

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

^ Onions?

Isn't he injured?

Tremlett is the most likely replacement the Oval is his home ground.

Yes, the pundits are saying Tremlett will play - unless England go with 2 spinners. Besides Monty the molester, who else do you guys have?

Originally Posted by daveboy

Tremlett is the most likely replacement the Oval is his home ground.

Well Lords is Finn's home ground and look how that turned out.

Tremlett is averaging 40 in domestic cricket over the last year or so - hope he gets picked

Last time he faced Australia he got 17 wickets at 23.35 a piece in 3 test matches.

replacing Ponting is not easy
the best Oz batsman since the Don

Perhaps England should change the batting line up. Root opening with Cook isn't working and he should be dropped down the order or rested. Not sure if KP, Bell or Trott would favour being there at the start but worth an experiment in the final test if no other opener is brought in as a replacement.

^ I think everyone (except the Ockers) is perfectly happy with Bell staying where he is.

KP is playing like a 20-20 opener at times, so maybe he could move up the order and let Root drop back to #4?

It's a shame Gary Ballance is a #4. He's just smashed Aus for 104 in a tour game and has been doing it in county cricket all season.

Originally Posted by daveboy

Last time he faced Australia he got 17 wickets at 23.35 a piece in 3 test matches.

When was that? .... If memory serves me right (which it doesn't always - so I could be wrong) it was when we beat you guys 5 - zip.

I like him. He's a nice bloke, and he's a hard working bowler - but has never met his potential. The kind of bowler that batsmen can work out easily - as he doesn't have too many variations besides his stock ball.

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

replacing Ponting is not easy
the best Oz batsman since the Don

Yep. He was one of the greats. He was hated by the opposition for his no-nonsense approach on the field ; but he is exactly the kind of guy Australia needs now - as opposed to metrosexuals like Twatson.

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

Perhaps England should change the batting line up. Root opening with Cook isn't working and he should be dropped down the order or rested. Not sure if KP, Bell or Trott would favour being there at the start but worth an experiment in the final test if no other opener is brought in as a replacement.

Engerland can afford to tinker with the team in the last test.

Root, as opener, is the obvious position to try somebody new.

Perhaps the punch on the chin from Warner was a good tactic from Australia

Stop whinging.

^ stop getting non-poms to win games for you and I will

Truly ridiculous how many South Africans and Zimbabweans the poms have to play to field a competitive international team. And then they gloat about how brilliant and strong English cricket is.........pffffttt.....

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

Another f*cking ring-in! (Zimbabwe) England will get MUCH more respect when they can field a winning English 11 !

Oh jeez! OK shoot the kunt and burn his passport. WTF is up with English cricket?

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

He was hated by the opposition for his no-nonsense approach on the field

I think he was hated because he had the kind of face you wanted to smash with a bat. In his defence, he did lose the Ashes regularly.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I think he was hated because he had the kind of face you wanted to smash with a bat. .

He does look a but like a mini version of George Bush, doesn't he

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

Yes, the pundits are saying Tremlett will play - unless England go with 2 spinners. Besides Monty the molester, who else do you guys have?

Surely "Panesar the Pisser"?

England have announced their squad for the 5th test at the Oval.

squad : Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Simon Kerrigan, Steven Finn, Chris Woakes

Spin bowler Kerrigan and allrounder Woakes playing their first tests.

Australia have dropped Bird and Kwajaja - and so they should have. Bird did nothing in the last test, and Kwajaja produced just one 50 during the chances he was given - I would say they will put Hughes at 3...

The Oval is known to be a road, so it may suit Australia...

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

The Oval is known to be a road, so it may suit Australia...

Are you getting excited thinking you might win one?