Next up on the Ashes agenda is a two day tour match: Sat 9 - Sun 10 Dec, Western Australia v England XI, at the W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth.

I've no idea who WA will field (though it would be nice if Rogers got an outing). The first XI could in theory include the following: Justin Langer (Captain), Chris Rogers, Mike Hussey, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist and Brad Hogg... but I guess most are unlikely to start. I've yet to find out much about the remainder of their Pura Cup players... the likes of Marcus North, Shawn Gillies, Aaron Heal, Steve Magoffin, Brett Dorey, Ben Edmondson and Adam Voges... and the full squad list goes well beyond those names.

See http://www.waca.com.au/cricket/warriors/warriors.asp

England will presumably be resting Collingwood, Pietersen and Hoggard and providing Joyce, Read, Plunkett, Mahmood and Panesar with a game. Strauss and Cook will presumably play given that they still need time in the middle... but the balance of the side is difficult to predict at this stage.

I'd probably send out the following:

Strauss (as captain)
Cook
Bell
Joyce
Flintoff (as batsman, instructed to leave the field when not batting)
Jones (as batsman)
Read (keeping)
Plunkett
Mahmood
Harmison
Panesar

That side looks incapable of beating Surrey over 4 days but I guess they might pass muster in a 2 day match.

I'd certainly experiment with the side, and agree with you, even the Jones as specialist bat.

I must be mad...

Time for Fletcher - is it me, or does anyone else always type Fletcher as "Flecther" first time?! - to be innovative.

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Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi

The morale of the England team must be very very low after the Adelaide disaster and this match will show the form of the left-out players like Monty, Mahmood, Joyce.

Rachael you could not put Strauss in as captain in the same team as the ENGLAND CAPTAIN - could not be done, and won't be done.
Change is needed I agree - but not at any cost.

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Ern

I agree Ern, I'd have gone for Strauss before the series started but once Flintoff was picked as captain then he should remain as captain for the series. To strip him of it now but would be silly and a damaging blow to the man.

Why play Read when he hasn't a hope in hell of making the side for the 3rd test?
Why not play Giles when he is guaranteed a spot and needs match practice?

If Anderson is going to get another (test) match he also needs the practice - if he doesn't play in the two-dayer and then is selected for the test I shall be most irate.

Since it's unlikely Fletcher hasn't already decided his 11 men for the Perth test the majority of that 11 should all play, with the exception of Hoggard and Collingwood (the only two who deserve a rest) and, I agree with you, Flintoff in a batting capacity only. Playing squad members who Fletcher knows aren't going to be in the test team (ahead of those that are) is a waste of valuable time on the field for those who most assuredly need the practice.

He's a useless captain with all he has to do and you know it Ern; we said he wouldn't cope with all he has to do and he hasn't coped. Still, you'll come up with some genius to explain it away, but to the rest of us it's as clear as day.

LOL the players have not played for him - well look at the newbies and the crocks who would want to captain these.Strauss sucks without Trescothick.
Flintoff has led by example - he has put his back into his job,pity the other team members had not the same commitmemt.

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Ern

No-one who actually knew what they were talking about EVER suggested Strauss was a great batsman... but such folk don't say that of Tresco or Flintoff either... and despite a coupe of poor hook shots, Strauss surely remains the best backfoot player this country has produced since Thorpe.

Flintoff's "leading by example" has been no more evident than Strauss' leading by example: the guy has outbowled Harmison and Anderson... but is still well short of his best with the ball... and his batting has been eclipsed by just about everyone - his eventual dismissal in this latest innings had an air of inevitability as he struggled with just about every second-rate , well wide delivery he faced (displaying a lack of composure that was truly astonishing).

With three matches to go I'm still expecting Strauss to emerge with more credit than Flintoff.

Players who play on he back foot IMO are normally poor players of pace, Strauss nor Flintoff (as a batsman) will never compare to Thorpe.
We are talking captains here really, you picked Strauss to captain Flintoff, that would be a first - but that aside, Strauss looked far more comfortoble batting with Trescothick - than Cook, I can only put that down to he is not handling the pressure of being the senior opening batsman.

Fair comment - but Flintoff has showed a little more bottle, he bowled at Australia in their second innings despite some sort of niggle.

I don't think Flintoff is 100% fit - I do know as a captain he only made one mistake at Adelaide - and that was declaring on 550 on that pitch, a mistake other would also have made, but I doubt Ponting would have.
Strauss has a lot to prove batting with Cook - can he guide Cook? - Can he make regular opening partnerships with him?, these question have got to be answered iMO before we even talk of him being Captain.

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Ern