It was a brutal spell... obviously I loved it...

Thoughts on Root's catch? Given by ump but did it bounce into grass before he caught it?

More Controversy Corner musings for today....

More fortuitous good luck for Sharks (or bunker ineptness/rorting)?

It looked that the ball clearly hit Graham's arm with the deflection. How can the bunker get it so wrong with the game on the line near full time and no chance for opposition.

Apparently tv and game attendances are way down millions of supporters. Is it any wonder....just a another example.

Get a campaign going dman to get 'em out!

Reflecting on things overnight. We definitely need to signing a 9, but we have multiple options for fullback, wing, 6, 7 and centre at the club, I'm not seeing the same urgency there.

I've noticed Meaney is improving rapidly on the wing and is a quick learner. While he would need to improve his tackle technique, Meaney at centre with Okunbor on the wing is an exciting attacking option... Obviously not round 1 2020.,.. but if we need to drop him or any reason, or he is coming back from injury, try a few games in the centres in reserve grade. if he can learn the defensive side, speed is an asset in attack and defence...

Why I say Meaney & Okunbor is an exciting combination is both can easily beat a 1-on-1 tackle, especially close to the line, both are good in the air... so an obvious target for bombs. Meaney has the speed to get to grubber kicks, and finally speed the centres forces defences to make decisions...

Obviously he hasn't had much experience tackling in the front line, but he is a quick learner, and seems to be growing... notice how he runs harder these days, and seems more natural playing on the wing, after a mere handful of games.

Other options in the centres are Harper, Averillo and perhaps :Leumelu (Not sure if he is going).

Montoya and Holland have also shown some improvement, while not long term options, are not as bad as many claim... especially recently..

The stark reality is we need to fight fire with fire and Mitch Stark has to be in this test. Show him at practice aiming some bumpers at a watermelon attached to the net...they would be schiting

Not out...surely the benefit of doubt ...which was immense...has to go with the batsman. The ball appeared to bounce after being slowed down by the short leg. Cheating pommy ba*tards (or is that politically incorrect). On same correctness issue I really liked what Alan Jones said about the NZ PM..Certainly she is a sniffer of the highest order and for once agree what Jones had to say.

I note that was a random figure and how it was derived is not specified..surely it has to be allied to attendances. If true I doubt the reasons Weidler gives are anything really to do with it. It all comes down to money. I am sure Channel 9 Free to air ratings are still high...Foxtel is definitely increasingly too pricey for many

 Cheating pommy ba*tards - is correct in all possible ways IMO....

Seriously if I hear one more person complaining about booing, I will follow them around the street and boo them...
Have we forgotten the treatment Broad copped last time he was here...
Have we forgotten the type of stuff dished out to Hadlee and Botham...

And it's only booing you fvcking snowflake bastards... Do you reckon the players are crying about it...

#doublestandards...

Yeah ... and bring it on in the bumper war...

I hope Smithy plays, and the keep Labs...

Replace Sids with Starc and/or Pattinson ... and give the poms a real taste of quick bowling...

John Snow, did it, Lillie and Thompson did it, the West Indies did it for about a decade, it is part of the game...

Poms might have the fastest quick, but we have 3 or 4 of them,,,, hell if it looks green give the Goat a rest and go with 4 quicks + labs... I can guarantee we will be watching...

Mind you Botham deserved it and got off lightly .... 

Interestingly a spell of outright pepper has changed the dynamics of the series... 
Some people don't understand its value and want to bowl "get them out balls" whatever that's sposed to mean..,

The Poms needed something....

Aside from Smithy our batting needs fixing... in particular the openers need to aim up... more important than ever with good fast bowling...  

Surely Bancroft can't get picked again, no confidence and looks likely to get out every ball.
Ditto Warner but he can stand on his record for one more test.
Harris should get a go as he should have been picked earlier.
Labuschane (?) probably if Smith out or maybe even in place of Wade.
Starc (Pattinson) has to go in if only to try to wipe the smile off the Poms faces.

Our batting was always going to be our achilles heel and don't forget Jimmy Anderson missed virtually the whole first test.
If not for Smith we would have been out for a lot less and under pressure.

A bit ordinary Steve.
Sniffer??? Of what?
I do not think it would have been the first time you agreed with Jones.
Ideology aside what do you really think? 

This is the squad:-

Ashes squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins (vc), Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head (vc), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, James Pattinson, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

My team for the next test.

1. Marcus Harris
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Steve Smith
4. Marnus Labuschagne
5. Travis Head
6. Matthew Wade,
7. Tim Paine 
8 Pat Cummins 
9 James Pattinson / Mitchell Starc
10. Josh Hazlewood,
11. Nathan Lyon

Fix the batting, I'm sure our bowlers can do the job...

Looks OK but still brittle.
As are the POMS.
Need the openers to get a start and Wade to be the Ben Stokes at 6.
Head is a tough guy and break out.
Problem if Smith out though.

From The Mole :

Canterbury has signed Aaron Schoupp, a former Australian under-15s and NSW under-16s centre, to a three year deal.

The speedy centre is 18 and is held in high regard, with several clubs chasing his signature before the Bulldogs won out.

She is a a shrewd self promoter...call me cynical if you like.

I don't think they would drop Warner but do think Starc needs to come in

Bancroft is out for mine, and a rocket needs to be shoved up Warners ass... Warners new found batting responsibly attitude negates all that made him a match winner...

The pins aren't as far away as many think from a win.. Andersons injury 3 overs in has been forgotten...

Nailed it Noddy...

Jones certainly didn't nail it with his comments about tafe being the only VET provider that could be trusted to deliver quality outcomes this week...

No need drop warner yet.. just tell him to play like warner...

Schoupp schoupp de do wa do da schoupp...
mustnt be any good if Villi didn't earmark him...

Start, Patto, common and goat is ideal for this test...

Cummo* there's nothin common about him...

I think SouthPark may have put it something along the lines of 'huffing their own farts'...