Off Topic The Ashes 3rd Test - Edgbaston

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The hyperbole that surrounds top level international sport makes it what it is. But as we approach the crucial third Investec Ashes Test at Edgbaston, the reality in the England camp is somewhere between the glee of the 169-run defeat in Cardiff and the gloom of the 405-run reverse at Lord’s the following week.

As Joe Root, England’s leading batsmen over an individually glorious last 12 months, pointed out at the start of the week, this is now effectively a three-match series where England need to win two of the remaining contests.

The series is evenly, tantalisingly poised as the Ashes fanfare arrives in the second city, the scene of England’s thrilling two-run win a decade ago, which remains the smallest winning margin in an Ashes Test.

After the flat pitch in London, both sides are hoping for grass on the wicket to put batsmen under pressure – Australia vice-captain Steven Smith scored 215 in the first innings at Lord's – and assist their differing bowling attacks.

A truly exciting match, with the history and intrigue only offered by the Ashes, awaits in Birmingham.

When? Wednesday, 29 July
Where? Edgbaston
Start? 11am

Keep up with the action
Live on Sky Sports from 10am
Live on BBC Test Match Special from 10am
Live updates on @EnglandCricket on twitter and England Cricket Facebook Daily reports, interviews and features on ECB.co.uk

The squads
England
Alastair Cook (Essex, captain); Joe Root (Yorkshire, vice-captain) Moeen Ali (Worcestershire); James Anderson (Lancashire); Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire); Ian Bell (Warwickshire); Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire); Jos Buttler (Lancashire); Steven Finn (Middlesex); Adam Lyth (Yorkshire); Adil Rashid (Yorkshire); Ben Stokes (Durham); Mark Wood (Durham).

Australia
Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith (vice-captain), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Key battles
Stuart Broad vs David Warner

Chris Rogers, who has happily recovered from his worrying dizzy spell at Lord’s to retain his place at the top of the order, may have more runs than anyone else in the last two Ashes series, but his partner David Warner remains the man who can take the game away from England. The bristling, confident New South Wales man stays true to his Twenty20 roots and capitalises on any loose deliveries in devastating fashion. Averaging 47 at a strike rate of 74 in 40 Tests, the squat left-hander must be stifled.

Controlling scoring rates was on the mind of opening bowler Stuart Broad in the build-up, eloquently explaining how failing to restrict the visitors’ run rate – it was 3.79 in the first innings and 5.18 in the second – ultimately cost them the Lord’s Test. The 29 year-old, on the verge of 300 Test wickets for his country, has been the pick of England’s pacemen so far and has set the target of winning the new-ball battle against Australia’s top order. It’s his and James Anderson’s job to do that and, stung by a defeat in that area last time out, they are determined to bounce back.

Ian Bell vs Josh Hazlewood

England have lost early top-order wickets in recent matches, prompting Gary Ballance to be replaced by Yorkshire teammate Jonny Bairstow, and Ian Bell and Joe Root to move one place up the order. Bell has been out of form but his enviable record of nearly 7,500 Test runs, 22 centuries and four Ashes series victories will stand up in history. England need Bell’s solidity and sublime timing at his home ground Edgbaston, a place where the 33-year-old is yet to make a Test hundred.

Josh Hazlewood, whose skidding ball clattered into Bell’s middle stump in the first innings at Lord’s, has been a revelation in his short Test career. The 24-year-old has claimed 34 wickets in seven matches, each coming at less than 20 runs each. With 10 England victims already this series, how Bell plays the opening bowler’s swinging deliveries will be vitally important.

Quotes from the captains
Alastair Cook: "Lord’s was obviously tough, especially on the back of Cardiff, where we played so well.
"We talked about backing up a good performance with another and we could not manage to do it. That has now gone, we have obviously had a few days off, and I think the mood in the camp is fantastic. In the professional sportsman way, you have to look forward to the next thing.

"The lads have been talking about the opportunity we have got ahead of ourselves now. We have come to Edgbaston, a fantastic ground where, if we play some good cricket, the crowd really get behind us.”

Michael Clarke: “Like all the batters, if Bairstow gets on top, he’s an aggressive player. He’s been batting well so he’s full of confidence.

“I would hope that the attack he’s about to face is a little bit different to what he’s faced in county cricket though.

“Hopefully that wicket has got as much grass on it as it did yesterday. I think you will see plenty of wickets fall - in both teams - if that is the case.”

Previous meetings at Edgbaston
30 July, 2009: draw
4 August, 2005: England won by two runs
5 July, 2001: Australia won by an innings and 118 runs
5 June, 1997: England won by nine wickets
5 August, 1993: Australia won by eight wickets

Did you know?
England have lost one of their last 10 Tests at Edgbaston (W6, D3). Their overall win percentage of 51 per cent in Birmingham is their highest at a home ground they have played at least 10 Tests at.

But England have not won the third Test in a Ashes series since 1981.

Stuart Broad needs four wickets to become the fifth player to take 300 Test wickets for England. Edgbaston will be his 82nd Test. New-ball partner took James Anderson 81 to reach the same tally.

Mitchell Johnson needs one wicket to reach 300 Test wickets too. Johnson has 1,999 runs – he is on the cusp of becoming the 12th player to score 2,000+ runs and take at least 300 wickets in Tests.

Anderson claimed a five-for the last time England played Australia at Edgbaston in 2009, one of 17 five-wicket hauls in his Test career.

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Erm, yeah right. You won't mind if I delete this thread do you Aussie?

 

See ya Warner! Lol.

 

Woo hoo! You beauty, Clarke gone 34/3. Great start.