And it can be steamy in India too. It doesn't tend to be steamy in the Australian Test venues, just dry (and occasionally windy - well, a gently scirocco anyway).
I mean a March Test match in Cairns might be pretty steamy, but they're not playing there.

Hoggard disappeared to all parts in the first Test, until the 122nd over (alright NE?).
I think Lewis might well bowl better than Hoggard. I just don't think he is quick enough at Test level, and particularly not in Australia.

In England I would love to see him play instead of Hoggard, as I think he is a better bowler, and I can't for the life of me work out what the selectors have against him, other than that he does not play for one of the "right" counties.

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Red-it, Red-it, Read it and wept

Agreed - Flintoff is only being disussed as a #6 7 or 8 because of the make up of the squad.

I think England are better than they showed at the Gabba, I also believe Englands ineptitude flattered Australia, they won't mind - why should they?.
The make up of the Australia side is also intersting, all the pitched won't suit Mcgrath, so Englands weak bating might get a look in.

I think this is the weakest squad to leave England for ages, made poorer by the fact that Trescothick had to go home, and Harmison is bowling like he did in South Africa.

John if you remember Harmison did not improve at all in South Africa - that's why I can't see him improving that much in Australia - Hoggard and Flintoff carried the England side that tour, and lost a Test also.
Playing Joyce is like playing Cook in Australia - unknown - so i agree Giles will have to play rather than Panesar, who might be a better bowler that Giles - and that's not proven, he looks like Bedi, but he does not bowl like Bedi.

I think England have to go for broke and play Mahmood - his Test stats thus far are quite good, if England stick to the same attack as at the Gabba, they can kiss the Ashes goodby, also at Adelaide I would not play two spinners for two reasons.
1) England's spinners are not good enough to play at the same time.

2) I think at Adelaide they will be expecting England to play two spinners, and will prepare a different type of pitch, the Gabba was different to normal Test pitches.

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Ern

Message has been fixed

I had in mind either
6. Flintoff 7.Jones 8.Giles 9.Hoggard 10. Harmison 11. Panesar
Or
6.Joyce 7.Jones 8.Flintoff 9.Hoggard 10.Harmison 11.Panesar
With Flintoff and Hoggard opening up the attack in both cases.
I don't see the point in playing Anderson or Mahmood.
It might be an interesting experiment to open with Mahmood but I can't see it working.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

The problem is at the moment England don't have a strong tail that can add some extra runs at the end of the innings, but bowlers are there to bowl not bat. Put the best suited bowlers to the conditions.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

I can see where you are coming from here - but Joyce and Cook in the same side against Australia - in Australia is one rookie to many IMO.
Well Fletcher has ruined Anderson making him 12 man for series after series, he needs overs under his belt to get his confidence back - right conditions he is still deadly.
Mahmood is a different matter - he has 15 Test wickets at about 33, and a strike rate I think of under 50, people confuse his horrible one day form with his Test form - miles different, he can seem to be bowling ordinary - then pluck wickets out of the blue, like Andy caddick used to do.
England need to try something different - they looked very ordinary at the Gabba.

What are the conditions in Australia these days?, in fact the English pitches don't run true to reputation any more, the Oval has lost pace, lords in unpredictable - Old Trafford is never the same for 3 matches in a row.
So England IMO should stick to pace and one spinner.

Mahmood can also bat - his recent form with the bat see's him better than Giles (in the warm ups).

Because a ground is supposed to be spin friendly IMO does not mean it will be.

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Ern

Both playing Mahmood or Joyce are risks. The only difference for me is I have seen Mahmood bowl and I am far from impressed. He does seem to have pace but so does Brett Lee and he isn't that great.
The alternative is to bowl Flintoff, Hoggard, Harmison, Giles and Pansear. The advantage to this is Giles experience at this level and he can hold a bat.

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"Checkout the big brain on Brett" Pulp Fiction

Mahmood can bat a bit but he would get smashed around if he plays in the second test. He is not a test standard bowler, one day he will be but not yet.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.