3rd test

[NEIL RUNKEL]

They have decided upon Bell and we all hope he bat’s a lot better than he has done in his last two innings. It will be interesting to see the bowling selections but I suggest this may be left until the last minute when they have seen how much grass is on the wicket and what sort of weather conditions are expected. If it is a dry wicket with not a lot of grass on it we may have both spinners playing, however I suggest the weather conditions will take precedence and harmy will replace onions. It looks as though it might be cloudy on Thursday which will give Ricky Ponting a difficult decision as he is likely to win the toss and will want to bat but cloudy conditions will suit the English bowlers. Whatever the weather, whoever wins the toss they must bat first as the weather looks very unreliable for the whole period of the test. There will be great pressure on our number three to perform in this test and it is time that Andrew Flintoff scored some runs, we know he can bowl but his batting still looks fragile. He looked less comfortable at Lord’s than broad. I still have my doubts about broad as there continue to be too many four ball's, always remembering that if the ball is swinging a half volley can be a wicket taking ball. Unfortunately winning the toss continues to matter too much interest cricket let’s hope it’s different in this test match.

[Gordon McIvor Wilson]

Hi Badger, welcome back, good news you're sharpening up your critical Aussie faculties to savage the home team comments!

[The Badger]

Ok I am back for test and I have to say I am very disappointed with the post by Neil. I have to question two points. Firstly, how can you seriously say Ponting is likely to win the toss? He has exactly the same chance as the England captain, whom is no more or less likely to win it himself.

Secondly, why would the toss winner choose to bat? History shows us that from the last 16 tests there, with 13 results and 3 draws, that no less than 12 of those 13 results have been won by the team FIELDING first. So if Ponting wins the toss and chooses to bat, I will firstly, eat my shorts, and secondly, take out a mortgage to lay Australia. And then write to the Prime Minister of Australia to have Ponting removed as captain. Then after that I will apply for British citizenship and start cheering for the poms.

Apart from all that, the wicket is not ready, it is jelly as the groundsman has had too much rain to prepare it!

Sorry Neil, no offence but I feel not enough thought went into it mate.

[Gordon McIvor Wilson]

Glad to see that the tireless scribes on the Sport Exchange are toiling away in the wee small hours. Informed comment from Herr von Runkel is always worth reading, coming as it does straight from the horses' mouths in The Long Room. Hope we get the active trading stuff we had in the first two Tests, as the match gets under way later this week from sunny Brum.