Another good start to the final pre-series match in Hobart. Australia 'A' bowled out for 230 by our second string bowling attack. Khawaja & Ferguson, the two young batsmen in the Aussies Ashes squad, both out cheaply, as was Philip Hughes following some short stuff from Tremlett. Even Panesar held a "spectacular catch" according to the BBC report! England 22/1 at close of play with Strauss out for 10.

Excellent job done by the back up bowlers, prized out a few potential test players cheaply too. Tremlett, Bresnan and Shazhad all seemed to cause the Aussies problems.

It was indeed a cracking catch from Monty Rhodes!
Excellent opening bowling spell from Shahzad too...pace, aggression, a bit of swing at times...he looks the most likely to step up to me if anything should happen to the first string seamers.

And Strauss gone cheaply again...if that were Cook people would be going sick about it

Eh?? He got a century in his last visit to the crease

Good display today, Bell and Colly in the runs along with Cook and Trott, KP the only disapopintment. The aussies test batsmen had a shocker yesterday too!

augers well, everyone seems to be in form

Actually I don't like it. Aussie batsmen not scoring, England bowling well - I can see day one at tea now - Aus 212-1

Bresnan knocking on the door with runs and wickets.

Team for the first test is already picked IMO, but always good to give the selectors a reminder. He's the sort of nagging, line and length bowler who can prosper when the shine goes off the new ball and the pitch flattens out a bit.

I agree, Finn is the player least certain of his place, should he not perform then Bresnan has put himself into contention.

I think Bresnan should be in anyway. He is better with the bat and is a little different to the other seamers. I don't understand how Steven Finn is ahead of Bresnan in the pecking order anyway?? What has he done to deserve to be??


Pleased to see the runs flowing from different sources too. Strauss, Cook, Colly and Bell all having good knocks of late. Runs from elsewhere will hopefully lift a little pressure from KP and maybe he can relax a bit and do his stuff

Finn has 32 wickets in 8 tests @ 23
Bresnan has 14 wickets in 5 tests @ 35

Maybe that's why he's in ahead of him??

Cracking win again fo England, the warm up could not really have gone any better! That's why I am worried, England can't lose, Aussies are rubbish. Like I said earlier I can see day on at tea Aus 200-1

I can understand a little Yorkshire bias concerning Bresnan, but as a more neutral Lancastrian I have to say its Finn over your man for me.....In fact its Tremlett & Shazad over him too!!

Bresnan is a good, steady bowler, but that's about it. At Ashes level he'll be pretty ineffective, whilst Finn, even for his inexperience, does look a wicket taker.

The only way that Bresnan will get a game is if we are either struggling with the bat in the top order, or if we reach the final test needing a draw to retain the Ashes and we look to just pile up runs on the scoreboard, similar to when Collingwood was brought in for Jones in 2005.

Fair point

I'm not knocking Finn as he can only play what's in front of him, but all his Tests so far have been against Bangladesh and the rather flaky Pakistanis. He'll surely start the series but, whilst it's good to see Bresnan going well in the last match, I reckon Tremlett will be more in the forefront of the selectors' minds if they feel Finn needs a rest.

I think the thing with Finn is the selectors think his height will be crucial in the wickets out there. I am not totally convinced by him as yet and agree that Tremlett is more like to replace him than Bresnan.

Not strictly related to the Ashes, but one of our players has finally found himself a new county: www.britoval.com/news/kevin-piet ... gns-surrey

Not strictly related to the Ashes, but one of our players has finally found himself a new county: www.britoval.com/news/kevin-piet ... gns-surrey

Bresnan has played against the, not much better than Bangladesh and/or Pakistan, West Indies and against Bangladesh.

Usman Khawaja has been called up by the Ozzies as cover for Michael Clarke too. Didnt see anything in his performance last week to strike fear into us. Weather in Brisbane has been a bit wet too apparently and they are expecting a fair bit of swing.

I honestly think if we win the 1st test then we will win the series fairly comprehensively. They do seem to be in a state verging on turmoil, though nothing compared to what we've been through in the past.

Given the conditions in Brisbane might the Aussies consider going with four seamers, play Marcus North at six and use him and Michael Clarke as their spin option?

Most likely option I think although I doubt Clarke will do any bowling with his dodgy back, North is a decent option though.

Fair point, and one which I'd overlooked as it happens, although I wasn't actually suggesting Bresnan plays ahead of Finn (or even that the selectors might think so), merely that it was good to see him picking up a few wickets and showing some form should he be needed for a Test.

100% agree. It's all looking good unless we get an injury to a batsman or Prior considering Morgan and Davies havent played a minute yet.

Anyone staying up tomorrow night? Think I will do the first session.

I think the first Test is crucial, if the Aussies win it then it gives them a huge physcological lift bt if we win it then the pressure is really on them.

I think it could be a drawn series with England retaining the Ashes.

As long as Anderson doesn't feel like copying Harmison, I'll stay up and watch as much as possible.

I still can't help but feeling well nervous though. Everything seems to be going [itoo[/i well so far.