Pressure on Watto after Marsh's second ton

geez i hope not. Voges must play!

Yes unfortunately. He'll move into straight into coaching.

I quite like listening to BBC county commentators banging on about their favourite ex-players and that stuff. It's all very village and relaxing. Makes a change from someone like Chappelli doing it who mainly seems to sound bitter these days.

Surely M Marsh is in the box seat to oust Wato for the alrounder spot. Geeez I hope the selectors don't pick both and leave out Voges. The selectors find it very hard to drop Wato but on this occasion they have to go with the guy in form being Marsh. Yes they are playing against pop gun teams however Marsh can't do any more to get picked. I would have preferred a hard hit out against a strong county team leading in. Hope Ryano knee isn't too bad and he can stay on tour, looks like he misses out for Cardiff now.

169 from 188. Second ton in a row.... see ya Watto and don't let the door hit you on the way out. With a fit M Marsh I wouldn't even have Watto as the next to come in. In current form surely S Marsh is ahead of him too when it comes to filling in any of the top 5 specialist batting roles. If Voges is dropped to keep this bloke in the side I'll do my nut!

Mitch Marsh out for 169. Now has an average of 32. Improved his average by 2 runs during that innings. It's not the first time Marsh has made a big score. He scored a double hundred against India A last year. Good signs for Marsh. Looks like he has an ability to turn a 100 into a big one.

I'm with you (including the wicket keeping preference)

That's a bit harsh...if accurate.

Do you think that, if Harris doesn't play in this series due to injury and/or form, then that's it for his international career?

It's the County teams mgt that direct that. They want the games to go four days to maximise revenue. In some ways, they shouldn't really be classified at first class matches as they are not competitive in a real sense. The counties are 'tanking' by selecting the attacks they do.

The Kent match was sold out apart from the last day. The first day of the match in Chelmsford is sold out. Saturday there are no tix apart from members available. I know this as I've looked into going. In other words, plenty of tickets are sold out for that day. The commentators at Kent were talking about how much of a boost a tour match from the Aussies is for the yearly coffers. You were implying that it was the ECB intest to be accommodating to the Aussies which is not the case. If they are accommodating anyone, it's the counties that host the tour matches as understandably they want them to make as much money as possible from these matches. One of the commentators at Essex implied that Ravi was directed to let the Aussies bat first by the mgt of Essex which would back that as they'd want the match to go four days and that's the best way to ensure it.

It's accomodating because all of the batsmen have had plenty of time in the middle and got runs under their belts so will be full of confidence, if they weren't already. I don't know what the attendance is, but I'd be amazed if it was anything approaching full, being that it's being played predominantly during the week, but any money through the tills would be welcomed by the counties. That makes sense to maximise the revenues, but it's still harsh on the county teams, if not the counties coffers.

What rot. How is it accommodating to serve up really poor quality attacks? Ravi Bopara was told by the mgt of Essex to let the Aussies bat. These touring matches against the Aussies really do stock up the County team's coffers and everybody knows that. The matches either sell out or get so close to capacity that it doesn't matter. That's why they've been allowed to bat first in both games, so that the games will go four days and the money flows. It's different over in Aus. People don't go and watch the English team in touring matches so much as they are frequently played at test match venues so people save their time and money and go to the test instead. The commentators at both matches have openly talked about this being the main reason why the Aussies get to bat first.

CT, no I don't think so, I just think that the ECB try and be as accomodating as possible to the touring teams, often to the detriment of the actual England team. With regards to first use of the pitch, I've only heard of it once before and that also involved Essex, who let England bat first in a warm up match a few years ago. I've never known of it in a touring match though. Nudge, you're spot on, great for the Aussies, probably not quite so good for England with all the batsmen in good order, although I'd like to think that England may cause Australia more problems than Kent or Essex have. (Cue a witticism from Don or one of his minions.)

Warner Rogers Smith Voges Clarke M.Marsh Haddin Johnson Starc Hazlewood Lyon With Harris injured, the team pretty much picks itself, I like Marsh, In him I see a player of incredible talent who has tremendous confidence and self belief and he doesnt seem to be overwhelmed by the occasion, he's everything Watson isnt. And id have Voges at 4, he bats at 4 for WA and MDX and Clarkes favoured position is 5, no brainer there, im expecting a big series from stokes, I think england have Imported a quality player there lol

So this will most likely be 1st test side then Warner Rogers Smith Clarke Voges M Marsh Haddin (i would go Neville) Johnson Starc Hazelwood Lyon

Is Behrendorff fit? If he is then he would be my pick, otherwise probably Pattinson.

No way is he behind Watson. Agree he is behind Marsh but still Rogers will get at least first two tests.

That's a horrifying thought, but it's not even implausible.

Rarely, you and I are on the same page Don. Yes, Harris should be sent home. And I'd probably pick Pattinson and he is a proven performer and has a little bit of experience in English conditions. Bats very well too.