Tait chosen to replace Gillespie::Official::..

[Ernest]

Shaun Tate has been chosen to make his debut at Trent Bridge on Thursday, ay the expence of Gilly and Kaspa.

Not a good thing for England I don't think. he is young and fast and will be keen, and lets be honest he has to be better that Gilly.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...ia/4175648.stm

Originally Posted by Ponting

Ponting said: "He knows we want him and need him to run in, bowl fast and try to get wickets for us. That is the way he will be used in this Test match.
"He might not have the best control in the world but when he gets it right he has that ability to be very dangerous

So as I see it this is the move that could decide the Ashes, or at least who goes to the Oval 1 nil up.

England top order will either punish him if he bowls wayward, or he will get his line right.

How much difference will Tait make, any predictions?, could he be a game winner?, or will England be glad he was picked over Kaspa?.

[Victor Frankenstein]

a difficult one, but on the plus side, if tait does well then the wicket is suited to his bowling and therefore we should actually bowl better too as we have 3 bowlers that bowl like him only better (in theory anyway ).

I would have prefered to face kaspa if it was me, simply because at least they know how he bowls, tait is a complete unknown and could get 5 for nothing or could go for a hundred, England have a habit of giving people successful bowling debuts though, i think it's because we have so few natural cricketers and more like heavily coached cricketers, so takes far longer for us to adapt to new situations.

[Ernest]

I agree over the bowling Victor, in theory if it is good for tait, then it should suit our trio.

But it's the batting at the top of Englands order that bothers me, Lee has managed to bother them, (no early reverse swing or not), so id Tait is as pacy, he could cause problems.

The other 3 main Aussie pace bowlers, we knew and could deal with, well each in turn .

[Trescothick]

I'm very pleased that he has been chosen over Kaspa for Englands sake... He may come trumps however I personally believe Kaspa looked good, his figures don't tell the whole story, 80-3 is good tho anyway... Altho it looks like he'll get the nod anyway with McGrath out injured

[Ernest]

Myself, I don't thing playing against the unknown 90mph bowler, in the fourth test in an Ahes series is that good.

I take your point over Kaspa, but these quicker bowlers if they do get it on line, can be dangerous.

And Bell-Strauss and Vaughan have heaps to prove yet.

[Kirsty Harris]

I think the introduction of Tait adds another dimension to an already exciting test match - I think it's a smart move by Australia to select a young, keen and largley unfamiler (to England's players) bowler. It will present another challenge for Englands batsmen.

I hope he does well....just not too well!!!

[Zainub]

I think this is great for England. I expect Tait to struggle.

[Six & Out]

An uncapped player in this cauldron of a series midway through? I hope he handles pressure well because I guarantee England will go after him. Odd statement from Ponting saying "he's not always in control but bowls wicket taking deliveries". Well, if he doesn't take wickets then Australia will again be down to 3 bowlers.

The Aussies are feeling it. Warne telling the groundsman to shut his mouth (touchy), saying the pressure is on England (sure it is.... like the Aussie team in a position to lose the Ashes isn't under pressure!) and Ponting making odd comments. Plus McGrath is again showing his age by not being 100% fit and might not play. Also Langer and Tait involved in having words when Tait hit Langer at net practice.

Pressure is a great leveller and Australia simply aren't used to being under the cosh. Plus Buchanan is an idiot and seems incapable of keeping his mouth shut. He's hilarious IMO.

[Cricket Girl]

Yes, Buchanan is hilarious. I don't think he's a good coach at all, more a manager. He obviously hasn't eventhought about reverse swing and its impact and doesn't even seem to know how it works. The way he and all the Australians keep going on about 'executing' plans really makes me laugh as well.

[Trescothick]

Originally Posted by Zainub

I think this is great for England. I expect Tait to struggle.

Yep, me too.. Hopefully Tresco will still be in for the first change bowling because his strength is he punishes bad balls so he can give Tait a run for his money by scoring off any loose delivery and defending against his good ones in line.