Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

3rd Investec Test: England v Australia at Birmingham on Jul 29-Aug 2, 2015
(11:00 local | 10:00 GMT)

Is Chris Rogers okay? Will he be able to play in the third Test? If not, will Shaun Marsh take his place?

That seems to be only question mark surrounding the Aussies....

As for England, surely patience with Bell has worn thin...he reminds me of Carl Hooper in so many ways. Since he hit a century in Antigua in the first innings of the first Test of that series, Bell has had 12 innings where he passed 50 only once. How much longer can England afford to carry Bell?

But if Bell goes, who comes in? Will he be any better?

Are there any other question marks surrounding the England team?

Good job our boys get a longer rest this time.

Despite the defeat I can't see any changes. Ballance probably the most vulnerable but we'd have to shuffle the pack. Bell will probably keep his place too. Lyth didn't have a good game but not much worse than everyone else.

We effectively have three walking wickets at present.

If only there was a middle order batsman around averaging over 100 this season....

Taylor should be next in line, as England A's star bat over the past five year.

I'd love Straussy to say "To hell with it...we'll bring back KP".

Go on Strauss. Be the bigger man.

Ha! Admit he made a mistake?

England still paying for Downton's appointment of (the now axed) data-peta in my view. As well as his handling of the whitewash fallout.

Even so, England will come back from this defeat, and play better. But I can't see them winning this one. Not without a big toss. Australia are the better side, and there's more to come from Mitch2.

Rogers would be a big loss for them.

Memo to England:

Don't allow Mike Atherton in the dressing room for a pep talk ever again.

The ex players they've asked into the dressing room are all in the media (Botham, Hussain, Willis, they've even asked David Lloyd- what next, Nick Knight?). I wonder if it's a pr charm offensive?

Wonder if they've ever had Boycott in.


He may be an arse but he knows what he's talking about.

I think they ask the ex players in, ostensibly to pass on their wisdom, and then hypnotise them and reprogramme their thoughts. Listening to the commentators talking about Cook (and the press), it's like listening to BBC reporters talk about the queen. Everything is spun into fawning, humiliating approval. A we-are-not-worthiness. In their interviews Agnew daren't show any troublesome insubordination in case Steely has a word with Cameron and gets TMS closed down.

Boycott is too batty to be controlled. He's going to be sold off and then closed down.

Bit worrying having Botham in.

"Come on lads we'll talk in the pub and if anyone is fit enough to walk home under their own steam at the end of the night there'll be trouble".

Bring in Sidebottom, he destroyed Warwickshire, taking 11 wickets, at Edgbaston on a couple of weeks ago.

Looks like Ballance will be on his way http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricke ... aston.html