I totally agree. Letting Warner and Khawaja feast on flat local pitches achieves nothing for the long term. They’ve had more than enough chances and have shown themselves to be lacking outside Australia. Give a younger pair of openers a chance to get established in the home tests before the challenges overseas.

Stokes delivered two tests in a row with the bat, once with the ball in that long spell at end of day 2,…..not to mention World Cup final. Ussi as our number 3 should at least step up big time once a series……? .

Yep and I think what saved him was that second innings hundred against SL when Aust already 300+ runs ahead. No pressure situation. He has very rarely delivered under the pump after all the tests he’s played. In the first innings he got himself out and also dropped a few howlers in the field.

UK lost it for me with his dismissal in the 2nd innings in last test when we really needed him to grind it out. He was looking good then just wafted at a ball way outside off with his front foot nowhere near the ball. He does this too often for a consistent top order batsmen and is unlikely to change now. I’ve noticed he has never commented on tightening up his concentration – more that he works as hard as anyone and a good innings is just around the corner. So maybe he sees no reason to change and the selectors have had enough

I think the selectors are looking at more than just UK’s averages but at how he has made runs, the circumstances and how he is dismissed as well as whether he can influence a game as #3. On these measures, despite how elegant he looks , unfortunately UK has consistently failed with the odd exception. People compare him to mark waugh aesthetically but the difference is MW has played had far more match changing/turning innings. I think selectors are sick of waiting for UK to deliver and are willing to give Harris a go. Harris may be just as loose, lacking concentration and inconsistent in the field but he hasn’t quite proven himself incapable of lifting whereas UK has had many chances and not delivered. It’s been so frustrating watching and waiting for UK to deliver a key innings when under the pump – sometimes he gets through to 30-40 then throws it away with a soft waft.

Yep Ussi has superior stats but I think he would be way down the list if you needed a batsmen to grit it out for you in a crucial innings. Last test, the team just needed him to hang around and slowly accumulate runs and take the test deeper so England would bat on a wearing wicket. He was our number 3 and should be able to play to the circumstances as shown by Stokes in his slow crawl at the start of his amazing innings. Stokes knew he had plenty of time and they they couldn’t afford to let Aust have another wicket before stumps – so he just dug in. Khawaja- was needed for a similar innings the night before and what does he do – play a soft wafty drive outside off with front foot nowhere near the ball only to nick it. Should be able to expect more of a batsmen of his experience than such a weak dismissal

Mark Taylor last test made the point when replaying Ussi dismissal that by playing the ball so far in front of the body he leaves himself open to legside nick. The need to push at the ball and inability to resist it for long periods means eventually he gets out wafting outside off. Ben Stokes seemed to have disciplined himself after chasing a wide one in first innings but unfortunately Ussi has shown no way of addressing this weakness for a number of series now. Though it does make what runs he does score before nicking it , seem very elegant and effortless….until …

Yep based on recent trend he will probably get his century in a dead rubber like last Ashes in Sydney and his ton against SL after going missing most of the India series. Good way to keep average over 40 though.

I agree that Ussi looks a class player but unfortunately over a number of recent series when he needed to take command as the number 3 and senior batsmen in the side – he just has not delivered innings of substance. Plus I think his technique of pushing/feeling for the balls leave him vulnerable when the ball does something. Even his “unlucky” caught down leg side last test could due to him pushing at the ball – see how far in front of his body he tried to play that flick that leaves him open to a fine edge going through to keeper. Ussi has had many chances over a number of series to deliver and has failed to do so – someone else deserves a chance. Ussi career probably not over as he will get selected again to cash in on the flat decks back home and then fade when the team needs him overseas.

Stoke’s innings was incredible – not just for the breathtaking confidence and stroke play at the end but also for the determination on the 3rd day to hang in there till stumps scoring 2 off 50 to hopefully get into better batting conditions on 4th day and support Root. Not sure any of the Aust batsmen could have done that besides Smith. Ussi had the chance to really grind out a score to take the game right away from England – picking on him yes as he has had so many chances to deliver – if he stays in for next test nothing less than a 100 should keep him in the team.

I’ve been calling for Uzi to be dropped over the last few days in various posts but as my brain has had a chance to clear from the incredible events of the last day and calm down the what shoulda beens….I’m starting to think that Harris should go and Uzi moves to open. But it is his absolute last chance and nothing less than a ton to save his test career. No smooth 40 or careless waft will save him. The way Stokes batted at end of day 3 should be instructive to him of what is expected and while can’t really expect Uzi to knuckle down to extent of 2 off 50 balls, as a senior batsmen and number 3 , he should have capacity to knuckle down and eliminate risky shots. I’ve become more and more disappointed with the way Uzi gets himself out as well as his run of low scores. Yes his last ton was only 7 innings ago but that was against a demoralised Sri Lanka attack and before that he had a pretty poor 4 tests v India except for one innings.

Instructive that Khawaja never been considered for at least vice captaincy despite his experience and supposed cricket nous esp compared to head and Cummins

Yeah it’s been instructive to see how Lab is trying to eliminate risky shots when under pressure to see out a good spell whereas Ussi just can’t seem to help himself. Ussi looks in pretty decent form hitting nice shots, it seems it is a maintaining concentration issue as no matter how comfortable he looks, in recent innings you feel a soft waft at the ball isn’t far away. I thought Ussi could be an opener option if we are happy with 30-40s (which based on series to date, both teams would take) but if we want more than that, then his concentration issues remain a concern.

Marnus may not be elegant as Ussi nor currently have a 40+ average, but for my mind he has more of the solid technique, fight and ability to concentrate for long periods needed for #3. Ussi of late, is playing too many loose shots and getting out too softly. He has had many chances over a few series to make the position his and has rarely delivered. Keeping him at 3 to cash in on flat home pitches against lesser opposition will just cause the same problem down the track when he is needed to stand up to stronger opposition. Was very disappointed in his dismissal in second innings just wafting at one wide of off. Yes Stokes played a worse shot to get out but he looks to have learnt and dug in last night when another wicket before stumps would have put Aust right on top. Not sure if Ussi would have had the concentration to do the same.

I’ve noted this elsewhere but I don’t think Usi was unlucky to get out that way. His technique brings it into play. The side on shot of the snicko shows how far in front of his body his hands and bat were in playing that flick. Just begging for a fine edge and because contact is so far out in front of him and just outside the line of his hips/leg, there is no backup to prevent it going too fine to keeper. I’m sure some of the other really good top order batsmen play those shots a lot later under the eyes or don’t flick at it outside line of their bodies. Happy to be corrected. When Uzi lose concentration he also tends to push out in front of him on offside to – hence a lot of his edged dismissals lately.

UK averages low 20s outside Australia and his consistent failure to convert his starts is why someone else should be given a go.

Marnus to replace UK at 3 when Smith returns. Much better technique and concentration against moving ball than UK who had another soft dismissal last night. Hard hands way in front of body exposed himself to edging one of the less threatening deliveries of the night.

The worst possible way implies khawaja was unlucky. I think it was a lazy shot with hands so far in front of body and feet stuck on crease that unnecessarily exposed him to the risk of edging it. No pad or body closer to the line to intercept the fine nick. Not good enough Uzi…too loose and too many chances now.

Also seems that the English batsmen found a way to counteract Lyon. On the last day, both Buttler and Stokes were playing back to him a lot more and Lyon looked a lot less threatening (also compared to Leech). Let’s hope the GOAT can find a way to respond and keep the wickets ticking over. Stokes is the quality all rounder the selector were hoping Mitch Marsh would turn out to be.

I’m not sure about swapping Siddle for Patto. Besides his expensive first over or two at Lords, Siddle bowled very well and while Hazelwood had a brilliant first spell, later in the innings and in the second innings he seemed to lose that nip off the wicket and was much less threatening. I think Siddle will do just as good a job as Hazelwood and you get a much better batsmen which we may well need without Smithy.

A lot to expect from inexperienced batsmen. Pressure should be on senior batsman like Usman to really lead from the front. His usual 30-50 to just retain his spot in the side isn’t good enough now.

I’m hoping Uzi will finally step up as the senior batsman and deliver a big innings. Needs a big ton that the other batsmen can construct their 30-50s around.

If you drop Bancroft and Smith is out , then our slips cordon could be Warner at 1st then Khawaja at 2nd. Confidence booster for whatever bowling lineup we choose! Khawaja’ s catching is a lot like his batting – ordinary mistakes interspersed with an occasional blinder.

I bet the GOAT would love having Wade keeping to his spin again – not.

Thanks for that. I have similar gut feel about UK. There have been a lot of test batsmen with similar or lesser average than UK but seem to produce more critical innings under pressure. UK average at home (50+) is considerably better than his one away (23) so most of his good innings are when Australia are usually on top playing on our usual roads and so less pressure than when we need him when battling overseas. I thought his great 2 innings to save UAE test was a turning point but unfortunately wasn’t.