3rd ODI: England v Australia at Southampton, Sep 9, 2009

[8ace]

England won the toss and elected to bat

England team
RS Bopara, AJ Strauss*, MJ Prior†, OA Shah, PD Collingwood, LJ Wright, EJG Morgan, GP Swann, JM Anderson, RJ Sidebottom, TT Bresnan
Australia team
SR Watson, TD Paine†, CL White, MJ Clarke*, CJ Ferguson, MEK Hussey, JR Hopes, MG Johnson, B Lee, NM Hauritz, NW Bracken

 

[Hiney]

Very light drizzle in the air at the moment

 

[sten_super]

England won the toss and elected to bat

England team
RS Bopara, AJ Strauss*, MJ Prior†, OA Shah, PD Collingwood, LJ Wright, EJG Morgan, GP Swann, JM Anderson, RJ Sidebottom, TT Bresnan
Australia team
SR Watson, TD Paine†, CL White, MJ Clarke*, CJ Ferguson, MEK Hussey, JR Hopes, MG Johnson, B Lee, NM Hauritz, NW Bracken

That's odd - surely Bresnan isn't batting at 11?!

I'm not sure what to make of the way they are treating Rashid; he is in form and has been playing well, but they obviously don't think it is much of a spinners wicket and don't want him to get tonked and lose confidence.

Looks like they want to play Morgan as a 'finisher', someone to come in lower down the order and knock off quick runs as required to reach a target; however he hasn't looked like that sort of player, and I think he bats at 4 for Middlesex doesn't he? Equally, Prior doesn't seem to know what is expected of him at 3. I don't really understand how they can simply play the same batting line up again after the two dismal failures in the first two games.

 

[CHAPPERS]

The batting order (and team) is all wrong considering the last two matches.

There's no way Prior should come in at 3, it's a nothing position for him. Wright and Strauss to open, shift Bopara down a spot and have Prior come in a bit later in the innings.

AND USE THE f***ing POWERPLAY PROPERLY.

 

[keaton]

And play Rashid.

I'd have Mascerenhanus in the squad too and probably Cook

 

[sten_super]

The batting order (and team) is all wrong considering the last two matches.

There's no way Prior should come in at 3, it's a nothing position for him. Wright and Strauss to open, shift Bopara down a spot and have Prior come in a bit later in the innings.

AND USE THE f***ing POWERPLAY PROPERLY.

Agreed. As much as anything, by using the powerplay early you force Clarke to use Lee and Johnson more than he would want to, meaning they can bowl less at the death. With everyone fit (I'm looking at you, Joe Denly)

Strauss
Denly
Bopara
Collingwood
Prior
Wright
Rashid
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Onions

You've then potentially got three quicks (Onions, Anderson and Broad), two spinners (Rashid and Swann), one medium pacer (Collingwood) and a couple of others who can bowl (Wright and Bopara), and they can be alternated as required. Also, the batting looks solid down to 9. For the moment, given Denly's injury I'd either open with Morgan or ask Bopara to open and play Bell at 3.

 

[CHAPPERS]

You know who I hate?

Brett Lee, that's who. Not because he's blatantly a well good bowler but he just chats SO much at the batsman AND he has a stupid haircut.

 

[The Wizard]

You know who I hate?

Brett Lee, that's who. Not because he's blatantly a well good bowler but he just chats SO much at the batsman AND he has a stupid haircut.

3 Consecutive 4's.
Awaiting Strauss to have him wicket smashed out of the ground by a 95mph reverse swinging yorker now..

As much as I hate Brett Lee theres something about the guy I kind of admire..

 

[The Wizard]

What THE f*** are you doing Bopara?

 

[SirDouglasLoft]

Quality bit of running by Ravi


Oh YES RAVI, 6

 

[keaton]

Bopara played the whole of the Ashes as if it were a 20/20 match and now he's playing one-dayers like a nightwatchmen

 

[The Wizard]

Bopara played the whole of the Ashes as if it were a 20/20 match and now he's playing one-dayers like a nightwatchmen

Then he hits a 6.

 

[keaton]

It's all in the timing

 

[patchamalbion]

aaaand hes gone

 

[SirDouglasLoft]

Fuckin hell Ravi

 

[The Wizard]

f*** sake Bopara.

 

[Titanic]

10 off 17 balls, including one 6... is NOT what is needed.

 

[pasty]

Listening to TMS online and I swear I just heard some chaps singing GOSBTS

 

[SirDouglasLoft]

Well done Prior

 

[The Wizard]

f*** off Prior.