Five Bowlers

[John]

I am surprised Australia chose four bowlers when they got a game to win.
I would like to know what the discussion is? These people are experts how do they go about discussing the side?
It would nice to know the logic ? Four bowlers hasn't looked enough so why not pick five if you need to win? and let the batting take care of itself?
And how did England deceide not to replace S. Jones with a fully fledged bowler? (Englands best bowler).

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by John

I am surprised Australia chose four bowlers when they got a game to win.

What would a fifth bowler have added today? Tait barely bowled anyway.... at least not until the last 30 minutes.... and had he not managed to get the ball reversing the new ball would have been taken and he'd have delivered something like 10 overs out of 90.

With a guy like Warne bowling 30+ overs a day from day 1.... there's milage in the old adage that if four bowlers can't do it, five will not.

Less true for England... for whom Giles only tends to be effective if the others are doing well (as wickets falling regularly discourages even the likes of Hayden and Gilchrist from taking risks)... but guys like Warne.. or Murali.. or Kumble... and maybe Kaneria.... make 4 bowlers fine.

ps. helps if one of the four is McGrath :-)

[John]

Originally Posted by Rachael

With a guy like Warne bowling 30+ overs a day from day 1.... there's milage in the old adage that if four bowlers can't do it, five will not.

If you have to win the game I would of thought five bowlers is necesarry when the opposition has shown it is quiet capable of taking on four.
England have shown what five bowlers can do. You don't give the opposition a rest.
England have had lots of rest. Australia have had one of their bowlers fail in every Test. Gillespie bowled rubbish in three Tests giving the English batsmen three bowlers to deal with. In the first Test it was a remarkable spell by McGrath that did it. I don't think you could rely on that again.
You needed five bowlers to turn to especially on flat track. And McGill with stacks of experience 150 + Test wickets.