Let’s keep Roger Lowrey’s Ashes initiative alive by offering up bragging rights to the person who can come closest to naming the teams that will line up for the Second Test at Lord’s – yes, both teams!
The same rules of entry and adjudication will apply:
- Enter the competition by replying to this post providing eleven names in batting order and nominating a twelfth man for both teams.
- The winner will be the entrant who names the correct eleven or the most correct players for both teams in the event nobody gets the whole eleven.
- If a tie breaker is required, it will be the entry closest to the correct batting order for both teams. This includes who takes strike being listed first, so get your openers in order.
- If a further tie breaker is required, it will be the one who correctly names the twelfth men.
- The competition closes the nanosecond the team is announced. The winner will be announced shortly afterwards.
- The decision of the judges (Almanac Eds) will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.
Will the Aussies name an unchanged line-up following their win in the First Test? Or will Cameron Bancroft get the chop? Can Starc and/or Hazlewood get a run and, if so, at whose expense?
What about the Poms? Can Moeen Ali retain his place? Will Jofra Archer replace Jimmy Anderson? Should Woakes bat further up the list? Will the English selectors listen to Bernard Whimpress and install Eoin Morgan as Captain?
Don’t forget to take into account form from this weekend’s Tour match.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you really enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
One off financial contribution – CLICK HERE
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE
Australia:
Bancroft
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Siddle
Starc
Lyon
12th: Pattinson
England:
Burns
Roy
Root
Denly
Stokes
Bairstow
Leach
Woakes
S Curran
Broad
Archer
12th: Buttler
Smith – 10 other blokes.
Australia would, i feel, be unlikely to tinker with a winning combination. It is an energetic bowling attack although there is a case for resting Pattinson and playing Starc. But, he was not overbowled at Edgbaston and as Ian Healy opined if the Aussies win at Lords they have one hand on The Ashes. Why change a winning formula when you are on the cusp of winning the ultimate prize in Test cricket?
The interesting dilemma is the batting order: Pattinson, Cummins and Siddle can all bat as displayed at Edgbaston.. But Pattinson might be slightly better and i have batting him at 8: he is nearly in the all-round category. With Smith in Bradmanesque form surely he must bat at three and Khawaja drop down to four. Smith at four worked out in the First Test but to have the best player in the world trying to manipulate the strike with the tail is not ideal.
If we are a shaky 2 for 10 the likes of Head and Wade can, in my humble opinion, be relied upon to stabilise and rebuild the innings.
Australian XI-
Warner
Bancroft
Smith
Khawaja
Head
Wade
Paine
Pattinson
Cummins
Siddle
Lyon
M Marsh 12th man
England XI
Burns
Roy
Root
Stokes
Butler
Bairstow
T Curran
Woakes
Archer
Broad
Leach
Ali 12th man
The changes are Archer in for the injured Anderson and Moeen Ali out. I note Curran and Leach were both in the team that defeated Ireland so they get another chance against real opposition (sorry Ireland). I hope its the right Curran brother!
ENGLAND
R.BURNS
J.ROY
J.ROOT
B.STOKES
J.BUTTLER
J.BAIRSTOWE
S,CURRAN
C.WOAKES.
J.ARCHER
S.BROAD.
J.EACH
T.ROLAND -JONES OR leach NAMED 12TH MAN ON THE MORNING
AUSTRALIA:
WARNER
BANCROFT (lucky)
KHAWAJA
SMITH
HEAD
WADE
PAINE
PATTINSON
CUMMINS
SIDDLE
LYON
HAZLEWOOD or SIDDLE named 12th man on the morning
Australia:
Bancroft (I would prefer Harris but Langer loves his WA boy)
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Pattinson
Starc
Lyon
Siddle – 12th man
England:
Burns
Roy
Root
Denly
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Woakes
Broad
Archer
Leach
Ali – 12th man
Australia: Bancroft, Warner, Khawaja, Smith, Head, Wade, Paine, Cummins, Siddle, Lyon, Hazlewood, with Starc as 12th man.
England: Burns, Roy, Denly, Root, Buttler, Bairstow, Stokes, Woakes, Broad, Leach, Archer, with Curran as 12th man.
I tend to believe the ‘don’t change a winning line-up’ approach. Would’ve given Pattinson a second Test, but I suppose it’s a like for like.
Prefer Harris to Bancroft.
Ummm,
Surely there must be consideration to those who selected their teams prior to the official squads being released. Ahem, mine were selected before England had even made an announcement.