Ashes, Third Test, Edgbaston, July 29-Aug 2

[Arthur Crabtree]

Apparently England haven't won a third Ashes Test since 1981!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pity they couldn't have called Bairstow up before he scored 10,000 runs against Durham

He's going to bugger up my CC FL chances.

[hopeforthebest]

Apparently England haven't won a third Ashes Test since 1981!

Must be time to again then.

[Alviro Patterson]

Seems that 3 is not the magic number for England

[hopeforthebest]

If the BBC weather prediction is correct, Edgbaston will provide typical wet weather. That's the weather our bowlers and our batsmen are more used to

[Arthur Crabtree]

Some cloud cover would give the series a new factor of influence.

[Durhamfootman]

for some reason I thought the 3rd test was at OT

clearly I'm not giving this ashes series the attention it deserves

[Alviro Patterson]

Apparently England haven't won a third Ashes Test since 1981!

Must be time to again then.

and where else than fortress Edgbaston

[bigfluffylemon]

Third tests have been draws back to 2000, then losses.

Bairstow called up, Ballance dropped. Bairstow certainly deserves his recall, after a truly outstanding county season, so hopefully he can transfer some form to England.

This involves a rejig of the batting order, with Bell and Root up to 3 and 4. This is something of a risk. Bell has been tried at three a few times and never prospered, whereas at five and six he has been prolific. Ditto Root, whose stellar run of form has come since he was moved to 5.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Good move, stick somene who is really struggling for runs up to number 3! As they've decided to move Root away from 5 (which alot of people will question), they should have put him up to 3, he's the man in form, less pressure for me at 20/1 instead of 30/3 which he normally gets, and he's more likely to steady the innings than Bell is right now. Plus he can score runs and take more of the pressure off a man who is clearly feeling the pressure. If Bell can get a 100 odd for 2 position for once he might stand a better chance of scoring runs.

[from_the_stands]

Good move, stick somene who is really struggling for runs up to number 3! As they've decided to move Root away from 5 (which alot of people will question), they should have put him up to 3, he's the man in form, less pressure for me at 20/1 instead of 30/3 which he normally gets, and he's more likely to steady the innings than Bell is right now. Plus he can score runs and take more of the pressure off a man who is clearly feeling the pressure. If Bell can get a 100 odd for 2 position for once he might stand a better chance of scoring runs.

I reckon Bell is in big trouble at 3. If Lyth falls early (or Cook, for that matter), Bell will be up against a fresh Oz attack with all guns blazing. He looks like a rabbit in the headlights, and if the tash doesn't get him, Josh or Starcy will. I'd have gone for James Taylor instead of Bell, he should have scored a ton against the Aussies in the World Cup, and anything remotely short from the bowlers will sail miles over his head. Bairstow is a good addition... maybe.

[Aidan11]

Now is a good time to break out 3rd test duck.

[hopeforthebest]

Good move, stick somene who is really struggling for runs up to number 3! As they've decided to move Root away from 5 (which alot of people will question), they should have put him up to 3, he's the man in form, less pressure for me at 20/1 instead of 30/3 which he normally gets, and he's more likely to steady the innings than Bell is right now. Plus he can score runs and take more of the pressure off a man who is clearly feeling the pressure. If Bell can get a 100 odd for 2 position for once he might stand a better chance of scoring runs.

I reckon Bell is in big trouble at 3. If Lyth falls early (or Cook, for that matter), Bell will be up against a fresh Oz attack with all guns blazing. He looks like a rabbit in the headlights, and if the tash doesn't get him, Josh or Starcy will. I'd have gone for James Taylor instead of Bell, he should have scored a ton against the Aussies in the World Cup, and anything remotely short from the bowlers will sail miles over his head. Bairstow is a good addition... maybe.

I would imagine it's less pressure to come in one down for 15 than two down for 25 all the time. Bell plays at 3 for his county and is probably the best option for batting at 3 from this squad.
All this "rabbit in headlights" talk is BS, most of his dismissals have been early in his innings before he's got his feet moving, an occupational hazard for top order batsmen against top bowlers with a new ball.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Third tests have been draws back to 2000, then losses.

Lost the last three times in Perth, which were third Tests.

[Aidan11]

Next time we should announce six tests but there wont be a 3rd test - just 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th.