Adelaide: Preview

Well here we go again. And we’ve got an exact replica of Brisbane, except England are going to have a chance at batting first and scoring a kagillion runs having won the toss and elected to bat. Monty Panesar has not been called up and named an unchanged side. Likewise, McGrath has passed fitness for Australia, who also name an unchanged side.

That means Steve Harmison keeps his place despite speculation that he may have been dropped following his performance at Brisbane. He gave quite an amusing interview before this match got underway. I’ll paraphrase.

Yes, I know things went badly. I’ve worked hard and I’ve sorted things out. And I wish all the people who have become an expert fast bowler, expert on me and expert on how to win an Ashes test would shut up.

This bit I won’t paraphrase:

“Yep, I’ve worked me nuts off.”

Awesome. So we’ll see in the next day or so. I hope he’s on fire. (Not in the bad way.)

Meanwhile, the anthems are being sung, Cricket Australia are no doubt handing out seditatives to the Barmy Army, and I’m still yawning my head off having only got up 10 minutes ago. I need a beer.