The Lords championship tension grows

as the game draws closer, we really don't know with any degree of certainty what to expect.

It's a level playing field with no outright favorite, both teams are gun shy test cricket playing at a neutral venue.

Perhaps the result is going to be made by one or more individual players imposing their class and for mine that could be either Jansen, Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne and David Bedingham.

Winning the toss is critical to the end result.

For the Ozzies Josh Hazelwood looms large.

With that squad my money is on Australia thrashing the Proteas

Not much to choose from and you might be right about the Ozzies. Two things in their favor, they know how to win and they have captaincy, we have Bavuma.

About the squad, who would you have chosen?

I would have left out - e is poor i test cricekt and include Potgieter and start the four batsmen selected by 70% of the participants, Th at means no Bavuma and has beens like Ngidi. However, the [;ayers ;ile {Psyrtdo id not sa cv;ass bowler anymore. The problm is Cicket SA can select squads based on merit and is struck high by the quota system.

Well we'll see, won't be long now.

I'm with you about Ngidi just never performed as a wicket taking strike bowler. Also we don't have a single leading batsman like a Kallis or an AB. Gosh we've already talked ourselves out of it hahahahha

Think the Ozzie pace in Cummins, Hazelwood and Starc is as good as the Windies of the '90s.