We have plenty of players like that in England :)

Lagershandy started out as an opener, did he not?

I might be clutching at straws a little bit now but is the 'Finch as opener' experiment completely done now? What about Joe Burns?

I always thought Ussie got the rough end of the stick a bit. Always the first to be dropped etc.
Certainly when compared to the charmed run both Marsh boys got in the national team.
He actually has a good average as an opener, I think he'll go straight in as opener if Warner pulls out.

Yes he did. Think they’d be a bit loathed to put him in as an opener though.

Can’t have two shit Burns’ playing in the one match can we. His card is marked for quite some time I would think.

Agree on the Marsh bros. They were kissed on the proverbial dick in terms of opportunities. Drove me mad tbh. Khawaja is in great form and yes he does have a decent record opening but technically he gets found out at that level at times. Harsh but true.

Ol’ Finchy will never play a test again. He’s white ball only and for good reason. Far to hit and miss. Technically he definitely gets found out at that level. Gifted player but has been tried and tried with very similar results.

Remember seeing a one day game against australia maybe 2008/09 or so when Steve Smith was a leggie that could bat a bit :)

They’re world wide now Razor. White ball has really affected the way red ball is played now. Much for the worse to I might add.
I will say I think it’s given the bowlers more scope for improvement, but batters no. Have a look at Buttlers dismissal, putrid for a five day game. He wasn’t on his own though.

He was brought in as a leggie too. They soon realised he could bat better than he could bowl. Quite a story that.
I know I know. There’s more there but you lot can **** off if you think I’m going there.

But we keep playing the same player(s) who have been found out at Test level. Picking Finch might help level us up a little :D

To be honest Aki, red ball is full of average players nowadays, especially batters. At the moment though, our average players are better than yours and we have Smith, Marnus and Warner to bat and a very solid bowling lineup.
You have Root with some relatively inexperienced bats and a solid bowling lineup, but chose not to play two them who are in your best eleven. Mind boggling.

See also his T20 opener partner at Surrey, Jason Roy…..

Yep, the red ball game is certainly no longer a priority. It's very sad seeing it in such decline in favour of the short formats, where money and razzmatazz is chiefly what young cricketers seem to want. Fortunately the quality players you mention are still wanting to play in all formats.

I'd say that the Aussie attack is the best in Test cricket, only India are comparable.

Word is that Richardson will play and Warner likely to play as well.
On the England front. Stokes was firing in net practice and apparently a lot of wickets fell with the English bats (not so good). One of your lads got sconed (hit in the head) as well, apparently ok though which is good to hear.
Likelihood of Broad, Anderson, Wood and Ollie to play which means you'll want to bowl first if you dont have a recognised spinner as Adelaide does turn a bit on days 4 and 5. Root can bowl a few offies but can anyone else bowl out of your bats? Or do you think the 4 quicks and Stokes will be enough.

Broad & Anderson in the 12, Wood left out

Malan can chuck up a bit of leggie filth. Half a bowler each, him and Root possibly.

Both likely to be more economical and effective than Leachy

No one to test Warner's rib cage then.