BREAKING: Now, this looks like a job for Ussie
PL reports that the magpies are back, and so is Usman
Greetings to all the Et Al family, hopefully your day is as happy as Usman’s and the Marrickville Lalors. The former is celebrating being picked for the Boxing Day Test, and the latter is still smiling after our formerly absent magpie family came home on Christmas morning.
‘Twas a Christmas miracle, I tell ya.
Usman let us in on a secret with a cheeky Instagram post using Eminem’s Without Me as a soundtrack:
Now, this looks like a job for me
So, everybody, just follow me
'Cause we need a little controversy
'Cause it feels so empty without me
Josh Inglis had been picked ahead of Khawaja for the Adelaide Test, but the veteran got his chance when Steve Smith pulled out with vertigo. Usman scored 82 and 40 batting at 4, having lost his opening spot to Travis Head earlier in the series.
Had Smith not pulled out there was a very real chance Khawaja had played his last game for Australia.
It’s not such a happy day, however, for Todd Murphy, who was called into the squad as cover for Nathan Lyon who has been left out of the XII as the selectors go for Michael Neser, Brendon Doggett and Jhye Richardson, one of whom will miss out.
I’m noting this Australian side is not as committed to the notion that you have to have a spinner in your XI as most. Lyon missed two of the last four Tests he was available for. When Lyon was injured in England, they went into the Manchester game without a frontline spinner.
There is apparently 10mm of grass on the surface, and Steve Smith says they’re expecting a lively one. The acting captain admitted there’d have been a discussion about leaving Lyon out even if he was fit, given the conditions.
“We’ve landed on a 12, we just want to take a look at the wicket tomorrow,” he said.
“We’re going to be playing four quicks and no spinner. (The pitch) has 10mm of grass, quite furry, quite green.
"I dare say it's going to offer quite a bit, particular (day one) is similar conditions to today, quite cold and overcast so I dare say there's going to be quite a bit of movement."
Travis Head, who admitted he has resisted urging from Andrew McDonald to practice his spin more in the nets, will presumably take up most of the slow bowling duties, although Marnus Labuschagne will want to help out.
Smith will bat at 4, Khawaja at 5, Alex Carey at 6, and Cam Green goes down into 7 with the unlucky Inglis is also getting bad news for Xmas.
I like the idea of Green at 7, it frees him from a little responsibility and might free up his batting.
England announced yesterday that Jofra Archer is on his way home with a side strain and that Jacob Bethell will bat at 3 despite never making a first-class century and only playing one game in the County Championship this season. Bethell has, however, played four Tests and is a regular in the one-day side. Ollie Pope misses out as expected.
England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue
Ins: Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson. Outs: Jofra Archer (side strain), Ollie Pope (omitted)
Magpies? Well, it’s odd the joy birds bring, but the family that lives in a large gum tree in the house behind ours has lightened up our lives since introducing us to their child in spring.
Mum, who is missing part of her toe, is quite the character and will come into the house to demand attention if we are not outside.
I'm not sure it matters much that Bethell hasn't scored a first-class century. The more pertinent statistic is that he has played only 26 first-class games, in which he has averaged 28. In the last year he has played only three first-class games, because of the England management's curious belief that hanging out with the Test team would be better for him than actually playing some cricket. In somewhat similar circumstances to this Test, he was called in for the final Test against India and unsurprisingly looked like someone who hadn't played in quite a while. He's the most unfortunate victim of the England management's inexplicable belief that playing cricket is bad for your cricket.
An XI-mas miracle for Uzzie