The Ashes 2006/07: The Melbourne Test Thread - Day One

[Rachael]

Preview here.

[darksideofthemoon]

I am expecting one change Read for Jones. I don't expect Panesar to be dropped for Dalrymple.

Read is in for Jones according to the BBC

[Ernest]

100.000 spectators are expected for this game - what a crowd for what really is a dead rubber.

I hope England win because it will set the stage for the final Test - Australia won't want a final series win of 3-2, England will want to make it just that.

So dead rubber or not - this match has a lot of importance.

[sambino239]

According to Sky Reads back will he be now given a good run of tests to see if hes up to the job ?, Botham thinks Jones has been blown away mentally, what was Fletcher saying about Jones being stronger mentally ?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by sambino239

According to Sky Reads back will he be now given a good run of tests to see if hes up to the job ?,

What does up to the job mean?, we all know Read is the better keeper, but he is no better than Jones with the bat.
Really it should not be up to keeper to make runs, the top and middle order should have done that before the keeper comes out to bat.

Originally Posted by sambino239

Botham thinks Jones has been blown away mentally, what was Fletcher saying about Jones being stronger mentally ?

Jones has gone mentally IMO also, he used to score runs when first selected, now he should bat lower than Panesar.

Whoever they select it should be the end of the Read/Jones debate for a while, I just hope if Read is selected - he will be told he wil get a decent run, otherwise he will be playing under pressure.

[Vrock]

England have won the toss and Freddie has elected to bat.

Good choice.

Originally Posted by Ernest

Jones has gone mentally IMO also, he used to score runs when first selected, now he should bat lower than Panesar.

Panesar should be batting just after KP so Jones could easily bat after Monty.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Vrock

England have won the toss and Freddie has elected to bat.[..]Good choice.

Let's see at lunch - I think I would be a coward in Flintoff's shoes, and hope to lose the toss .

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Let's see at lunch - I think I would be a coward in Flintoff's shoes, and hope to lose the toss .

I can't say I disagree Ernest. Freddie can't exactly be hyper confident of how England are going to perform in this match (with either bat or ball, although we do know Read will be perfect with the gloves ).

I would love to have Boris Johnson as England captain come to think of it. He wouldn't talk any crap about how the players are performing really well for most of a test match and just losing it at one point. He'd say it how it is and just admit that we've played really badly (as a side, we have had a few good individual performances).

[south beds mikey]

I agree boys, may have been a good one to lose!! I think he had to bat though, his captaincy is under a bit of pressure (slightly unfairly IMO) and if he put them in and they rack up 500 then its crucifixion time for him.

Up all night for every day of this test again and just about to have my first beer of the day; talk about dedication!!Hope I'll get some reward for sheer persistence .

Come on England; JUSTIFY MY LOVE.

Any definate team news?

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by south beds mikey

Any definate team news?

The Aussies are unchanged and England have swapped Jones for Read.