England elect to bowl in third Ashes Test
PERTH: England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and chose to bowl on the opening day of the third Ashes Test against Australia at the WACA ground on Thursday.
Strauss's decision is based on the state of the pitch, which has a healthy covering of grass and is expected to offer help to the fast bowlers early, with Ricky Ponting also declaring he would have bowled first if he won the toss.
Australia have elected to go into the match with an all-pace attack and made four changes from the side that lost the second Test at the Adelaide Oval by an innings and 71 runs to go 1-0 down in the five-Test series.
Local spinner Michael Beer, whom Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said earlier in the week was certain to make his Test debut, was named as 12th man.
The last time Australia played four specialist fast bowlers was at the same venue in 2008, when they were beaten by India by 72 runs.
The injured Simon Katich has been replaced at the top of the order by Phil Hughes, while leg-spinning all-rounder Steven Smith replaces the axed Marcus North at number six in the batting order.
Pace duo Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson, dropped after the first Test draw at the Gabba, have been recalled with seamer Doug Bollinger and left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty dropped.
England made just one forced change, with towering pace bowler Chris Tremlett preferred over Tim Bresnan as a replacement for Stuart Broad, who has been ruled out of the rest of the series with an abdominal strain.
Australia have won the past five Ashes Tests at the WACA and England have won just one of 11 Tests here, that lone win coming back in 1978.
However, the home side are without a win in their past five Tests.
All five days of the match are sold out, with spectators gathering outside the ground from 3:30 am on Thursday morning.
Australia: Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Michael Beer (12th man).
England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Eoin Morgan (12th man)
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Billy Doctrove (WIN)
TV Umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
Strauss's decision is based on the state of the pitch, which has a healthy covering of grass and is expected to offer help to the fast bowlers early, with Ricky Ponting also declaring he would have bowled first if he won the toss.
Australia have elected to go into the match with an all-pace attack and made four changes from the side that lost the second Test at the Adelaide Oval by an innings and 71 runs to go 1-0 down in the five-Test series.
Local spinner Michael Beer, whom Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said earlier in the week was certain to make his Test debut, was named as 12th man.
The last time Australia played four specialist fast bowlers was at the same venue in 2008, when they were beaten by India by 72 runs.
The injured Simon Katich has been replaced at the top of the order by Phil Hughes, while leg-spinning all-rounder Steven Smith replaces the axed Marcus North at number six in the batting order.
Pace duo Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson, dropped after the first Test draw at the Gabba, have been recalled with seamer Doug Bollinger and left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty dropped.
England made just one forced change, with towering pace bowler Chris Tremlett preferred over Tim Bresnan as a replacement for Stuart Broad, who has been ruled out of the rest of the series with an abdominal strain.
Australia have won the past five Ashes Tests at the WACA and England have won just one of 11 Tests here, that lone win coming back in 1978.
However, the home side are without a win in their past five Tests.
All five days of the match are sold out, with spectators gathering outside the ground from 3:30 am on Thursday morning.
Australia: Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Michael Beer (12th man).
England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, Eoin Morgan (12th man)
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Billy Doctrove (WIN)
TV Umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK) Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)
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