The Second Test takes place at the Adelaide Oval between 1st December and 5th December: if the First Test goes into the fifth day that means just three cricket-free days seperate the two fixtures.

This is, of course, the first of the great slow-bowling venues. In 2003/4 Kumble sent down 43 first-innings overs and then witness MacGill (supported in that game by Katich) bowl 44. Even Tendulkar got in on the act, picking up Damien Martyn and Steve Waugh in the second innings.

In 2005 Vettori bowled 55 first innings overs and part-timer Wiseman bowled 32 first-innings overs. IN the only Test held there since, Australia lined up with Symonds as an all-rounder, Warne at 8 and MacGill at 10. Warne returned 33-9-80-6 in the second innings.

The last time England toured one Richard Dawson was "palpably out of his depth" (cricinfo profile) but despite England fielding a strong 4-man seam attack (Caddick, Hoggard, Harmison, White) the spinner bowled 37 overs (> 30% more more than any seamer) in the one and only Aussie innings.

Australia face a tough choice over accomodating MacGill as a second spinner especially as Stuart Clark has bowled well and as Michael Clarke is a handy second spinner and awesome player of spin. England have to work out how to accomodate Panesar, with Anderson almost certainly earmarked to miss the Test until Harmison's lack of form suggested an obvious alternative.

ps. Four years ago... Ponting scored 150+ in a 6 hours knock that included one HUGE partnership... and the number 10 almost managed a run-a-ball half-century: sounds familiar

Arent u going into the buildup for the 2nd test too quick Rachael.. the first aint over yet... defeatist mentality you are getting eh??

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Give us a chance to get the debates of the 1st test out the way first.

I can see what will happen now we will go back to the old days and play 4 bowlers and 6 batsmen Freddie and Jones Attack will be Freddie Giles Harmi and Hoggy it will be very negative

England must get their act together in this game.

If they lose in Adelaide, Australia is going to win ASHES.

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What will the Aussie team be with Ponting's back and McGrath's heel injuries?

If they were to miss out i would presume Watson and Johnson would play.

Not really. There are three more Tests after Adelaide, and England only need to win two of those three to ensure they keep the urn.

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If I were an Aussie selector I don't think I'd take any chances with McGrath at Adelaide: Clark has bowled well in the McGrath-mode.... and it makes sense to include MacGill as a second spinner... so I'd do a straight swap with a view to keeping McGrath in tip-top shape for Perth.

Whether that also means including Watson is a difficult one. If Ponting's back is bad that would be MORE likely as Ponting is the occasional seamer of the side (and the man for the conditions if the ball starts nipping around in the air). Assuming they DO want Watson and Ponting plays... I assume Martyn will make way: Clarke outplayed him at the Gabba... and Clarke is the guy most likely to bat through Giles and Panesar in tandem at Adelaide... and Clarke also offers a very good further bowling option - we've seen before that he's actually an extremely credible spin-bowling all-rounder for pitches that offer assistance.

We ought, in the interests of balance, to note that that was not the highest innings of the match. That honour went to Michael Vaughan's first innings knock of 177. No wonder there is a rumour going round that he is keen to get back to test cricket this week! I just hope that doesn't happen: England have shown some character in the fourth day at Brisbane, character which we knew they had. They should take some positives even if only from forcing the game into a fifth day from what looked at one stage like a horribly short affair. I'd keep the unit as it is, as far as possible, with the proviso that that only applies to Harmison if he looks a lot better in the nets in the intervening couple of days than he has looked at the Gabba.

This is a horrible back to back fixture as there will be as good as a full day lost in travelling and a ninety minute time difference to get over. Still, that affects everyone equally, so let's just get over it and get on with it.

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I think Stuart Clarke is good enough to open the bowling for Australia so I'd rest McGrath and bowl Clark, Lee, Watson, Warne and MacGill. For England, I'd drop Harmison because his bounce won't be effective at the Adelaide Oval. So I'd bowl Hoggard, Flintoff, Plunkett Giles and Panesar. If the England camp thinks the ball might reverse swing at Adelaide then Mahmood might get in ahead of Plunkett. Harmison will be better suited at Perth and Melbourne. His bowling career shows that he is a "horses for courses" bowler and I think he is better sitting out the Adelaide match.