It's a definate option for me, he was never a no.3 but coming in at 6 could be perfect for him.

I can't see it happening I'd like to see Adil Rashid in there, I think we have a reliable top 6 batsmen, then he and Broad should be reliable enough to chip in with runs and 7 and 8.

The variety it would give to our bowling attack would be fantastic, and it would give us every chance of being able to get on top of teams in all conditions.

I'm unconvinced about Morgan from what I have seen from him, but I think he is next in line - Bopara probably is worth a go if we are replacing a batsman with a batsman though.

If England played Rashid at 7, there's a danger he'd get used in the same way the Australians have mis-handled Steve Smith in the last two Tests.

He'd be expected to make the sort of runs Prior was making at that position while being the "bowler of last resort" IMO.

I have an awful feeling the England selectors see something of Chris Schofield in Rashid and are desperate not to be seen to be rushing him into the Test team. The selection of Tredwell ahead of him to go to Bangladesh was baffling in the extreme.

The difference is that he'd be coming into a winning side rather than a team in turmoil and transition. He's already good enough to bat at 7, ultimately 6 which I don't think is the case with Broad or Bresnan, and eventually to be the primary spinner. I think there's a good opportunity to get him in now, let him get a feel for Test cricket, rather than wait for Swann to get injured and bring him in for a must-win match at the end of a series. I suppose I'm daydreaming a bit there; if Swann gets injured they'll just bring in Monty and stick with four bowlers.

I suspect the Aussie selectors have identified Smith as more of a batsman in the long term - his career First Class average is over forty - but he hasn't fired with the bat yet, and in a struggling side they can't afford that. I'm not sure Smith will ever be a front line spinner. He only had about forty First Class wickets in around twenty matches before the current series; Rashid has over 220 wickets in around sixty matches. He's a much more experienced and seasoned cricketer than Smith despite being only one year older.

The current selectors' track record suggests they'll replace Collingwood with Morgan. They've made a habit of investing time and faith in select individuals, keeping them in and around the squad for a while, having a good look at them in the ODIs & T20s, then promoting them to the Test XI, and admittedly this strategy has served us well. I'm not sure how prominently Bopara might feature in their thinking as he seems to have slipped right down the pecking order since losing his place. I wonder whether they have reservations about his character as well as his erratic run of scores in 2009?

If they do replace Collingwood with a specialist batsman it's going to leave a hell of a scrap for the seam bowling places. I reckon Anderson and (when fit) Broad will get the nod, which will mean only one of Tremlett, Bresnan and Finn can play.

What he said!

Admittedly I've only seen Smith in test cricket, and Rashid in the CC - but he looks a far more accomplished all round player to me, at this stage. I think part of my desire to see Rashid in the side at 6 is personal preference regarding how I like to see a test team setup, I think we'd particularly benefit from such a setup in the sub-continent.

Lap it up....

Heavy showers at the mo according to Athers on Sky

Hope it doesn't last, really starting to need some proper sleep now, I was looking forward to an early night!

Start will prob be delayed but should be play at some point

Looks OK

Bloody rain

All looking very dark and bleak in the background. I'm no expert on the Australian climate, but if that were England I'd have turfed everyone out and gone home by now.

Edit: Scratch that, seem to be removing the covers. Hopefully they can get 3 wickets worth of play in.

1wicket to go,lets get it wrapped up before the rain comes back.

This Steve Smith is swinging like a baseball player


And hes out

Job done ... and I was just about to go to bed.