The Third Test in the Ashes Series - WACA (14 December)

[Professer E]

Langer... FMD... No wonder we're carp, when are we going to get fair dinkum and get smart people without BS agendas around the team?

[ElwoodBlues1]

Langer... FMD... No wonder we're carp, when are we going to get fair dinkum and get smart people without BS agendas around the team?

Langer will probably be the next coach after Lehman gives it away..

[Professer E]

I realise that public speaking is not a harbinger of coaching ability but that bloke is the poorest speaker I have ever heard.  His rationale concerning the selection of Mitch Marsh was rambling gibberish.

[LP]

Langer... FMD... No wonder we're carp, when are we going to get fair dinkum and get smart people without BS agendas around the team?

The problem remains that top level sports administration is just like suburban or regional sports administration, it's the domain of the old boy!

AFL, Cricket, NRL and Soccer in Australia could easily be labelled semi-professional due to the way administrative appointments are handled.

Too many "Old Boys" with a finger in the pie!

[flyboy77]

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/...ype=series

[DJC]

He's a Marsh though. Seriously though, I think Justin Langer is having a big influence on selection lately, hence Agar into the squad for sydney

As Gerard Whately pointed out, Agar is the incumbent second spinner having had the role the last time we played two spinners.  There's not a huge difference between the performances of all of the contending spinners and probably not enough to displace Agar.

[flyboy77]

And he's a very decent bat too....

[laj]

True, then why let him rehab at Test level if he is clearly incapable of what he was in the past.

Surely he should be proving he can get back to his best at a lower level?

Because he was batting very well at Shield level, 141 and a 95 amongst others, and they just wanted someone to relieve the bowlers. He did get picked on his batting form and I think that has been justified.

[laj]

I'd have gone with Swepson if they're going to play a 2nd spinner. Poms have never liked leggies so it was a good time to play Swepson. A left arm orthodox bowler like Agar is bread and butter to England.

[laj]

Not sure I agree on true fast bowling....Steyn has had it all over our blokes IMO, anyone who bowls outswingers on the money at 145-150km is going to worry you..Morkel and Philander we have covered but not DS.
We have been fortunate this present era has had few genuine quick opposing bowlers......I think the Saffies success in Aus is down to Steyn who can reverse swing the ball like no one else and takes the big wickets but lucky for us he is on the way out. England cleaned up the Saffies in England so I dont think that speaks well of the SA form and I would expect us to win unless we get an injury to one main quick...pity Pattinson cant get on the park...dont see Bird, Sayers etc providing much back up, prefer to see Jason Behrendorff on tour than Bird..
I'd stick with Khawaja at 3......

Maybe but we have 3 quicks and we've never been too bad against Steyn, especially, surprisingly when we've faced him in South Africa. He averages 27.5 against us and has a good strike rate but we take him for 3.6 runs an over on average too. He plays better against us in Australia than he does at home. It's strange how they beat us here but we beat them there.  At bats and bowlers seem to revel playing there. Their pitches suit us.