The Ashes
 

Now that England and Australia are out of the Pyjama Cup, for us concentration on the real business of the summer can begin.

I predict England 2 - Australia 1

The Australian bowling attack if not what it was, and as good as some of their batsmen are on the nice flat tracks they have out there, on a real cricket wicket its a bit different. Since the last Ashes how many of their top boys have they lost? Hayden, Gilchrist, Langer (an especially greedy batsmen), Warne, McGrath, Martyn...

Of course they have new guys coming through who are world class, but some of these boys have not yet been tested in the pressure of war.


England Expects...

I think the Oz test squad looks ok:

Australia Test Squad | The Ashes - England v Australia 2009 | Cricinfo.com

Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Stuart Clark
Brad Haddin
Nathan Hauritz
Ben Hilfenhaus
Phillip Hughes
Michael Hussey
Mitchell Johnson
Simon Katich
Brett Lee
Andrew McDonald
Graham Manou
Marcus North
Peter Siddle
Shane Watson

I'd think the likely Test lineup would be:
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Clark
Hilfenhaus

I'm most worried about Hussey and his recent form with the bat, than any of the bowlers, though spin bowling is obviously a weakness.

Hopefully Lee won't get a start - his test figures in England are atrocious for a spearhead (averages about 45 per wicket).

I know Brett Lee's cousin (and Shane Lee's cousin I guess!)

we shouldn't pick them for the test either :)

they'd probably do a better job than average 45!

im quite upset mcgill couldnt make it..any other time, he would have been the worlds best legspinner

Mr Cricket will be playing. One of the strength's of the AUS team is that they pick their world class players even if they have a dip in form (the one exception maybe being Damien Martyn)

Lee is a strike bowler, and still quick, so I think he'll play where pitches suit raw pace. He's always been a great athlete who hasnt quite fulfilled his potential.

I look at that team and see a team who has lost a lot of leaders and a lot of stars.

__

Unfortunately the disasterous sacking of KP as captain has weakened England badly also... but if we can pull it together we have a chance against the most untested Australian team of a generation.

England team:

Strauss
Cook
Bell
Peterson
Bopara
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior
Broad
Sidebottom
Panasear

that's called being born at the wrong time. His last test series vs the windies was a disaster, at which point he retired. Macgill was a world class bowler in his prime, but unfortunately his prime almost perfectly mirrored Warne's.

---------- Post added at 03:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:36 PM ----------

That's a pretty deep batting order. Is Flintoff the only one likely to bowl a lot of overs? The line up seems a bit 'bat heavy' to me.

Collingwood would need to put his overs in with that line up, but I am basically playing Flintoff as a bowler (who can bat a bit)

I dont think he justify's his place as an allrounder, but if he is fit he is a decent bowler who can bat (same as Broad). If Flintoff isnt uo to bowling 25 overs an innings I'd bring in Jimmy Anderson and Prior and Broad each go one up the order.

I have never agreed with picking 5 mainline bowlers. 4 bowlers (and a few overs from Colly and KP) should be plenty

I think Anderson is a given - one of your batsmen will go, IMO.

My lineup is already stuffed - Shane Watson is going for scans on a knee. If this guy could stay injury free he'd have played a lot more games for Oz than he has - just so injury prone :(

Seems like Lee has bowled himself into first test contention. Now it comes down to whether we take a spinner who has zero wickets in the leadup games (and a crap load of runs against) or a 4th paceman. I'd suspect the odds are for the 4th paceman, with the spin to come from North, Clarke and Katich.

Weird when you don't take a front line spinner into a supposedly spin friendly ground, but our spin stocks are really low.

In some respects we are paying for the dominance of Warne over such a long time.

Well, a definite surprise at the selection table by Oz. I really didn't expect Hauritz to play, but kinda assumed Clark would get a run in the place of Hilfenhaus (who from all accounts bowled quite well).

Once again we've seen Ponting's poor captaincy probably let England get away from us a bit, but I'd say the honours are close to shared - England probably in a slighty better position at the end of day 1.

OK - things look bad. 2 down.

But what really gets to me is the negativity of the media and supporters. A draw is still gettable here, and yet as soon as things look bad some people seem to revel in it.

Im hearing peole talk about 5-0 to Aus. A draw is VERY achievable - esp with rain on the cards tomorrow, and this is the first match.

brilliant! Aussies couldnt take 20 wickets!

we almost had you guys...

There's no exclamation mark goes down in the record books(!)

Aussies were on top most of the game sure - but some strange captaincy at the end there from Punter (bowling North at the death) and some resolute batting from our tail.

England couldn't take 10, so I'm not too disappointed

Proof that God is an Englishman.

oh well, we'll have to settle for 4-0 instead of 5-0

England was lucky to hand on. the only bright part of it was englands first day. the rest belonged to the aussies

but didnt all the doubts about these young Australians readiness for war come rushing back to the surface at the end? What was it, 11 overs Monty held out - with 2 gentl overs from Marcus North

They have a good batting line up, sure... but the weakness was always the bowling.

Get these flat track bullies on a pitch where it swings a little and you might see some difference in the Aussie batting performance. Even better get Harmy back and in amongst them. They dont like it up em!

We cant take anythinbg as a given - the Aussies pride will be badly hurt and they will want to come back strong, but the last two sessions were an absolutely huge momentum swing to England.

When the sun was shining the Aussies scored well and the England attack seemed bereft of idea's - but as John Madden says 90% of sport is half mental - maybe in the Aussie team some will be looking around a their colleaugues wondering now if the man besides them really has the stomach for a fight.

lets be honest here. cricket is the only game where you can dominate for 5 days straight and still come up with a draw.

the aussies were hard done by i think. the rules need to change

Trebles for show, doubles for dough!

You win matches by bowling a team out twice, and if you cant do it you dont win!

Harmison has been added to the english squad, supposedely as cover for Flintoff, who injured his knee. I reckon he will be straight in, even if Flintoff plays. One of the spinners for England will be gone.

I think (apart from Collingwood), the first test can be summed up mostly as poor batting from England, rather than good bowling from Oz. I'd much rather have our batting lineup than yours, and we are heading to our home ground (Lords) where England hasn't won an ashes test since 1934. Come on Thursday!!

still doesnt mean that the best team wins. just means that the worse team gets equal share. doesnt make sense to me.

that's sport. The Aussie speed skater (Steven Bradbury) proved you can win even if you aren't the best. I'd suggest that England will be relieved they escaped the first test, but well aware they were completely outclassed. Not for a minute am I suggesting that Oz played better therefore should get the match - that sounds far to American for me - the beauty/charm of cricket is that it is time limited and a draw is a valid result.

time limited? like 5 days isnt enough huh? i dont know many team sports (except maybe yaching - sydney to hobart races and its ilk) that last 5 days. at least theres a winner in the sydney to hobart yacht race!

as for mr bradbury..i remember watching that live and was stoked that he won. but thats the way the dice fell. its the same in cycling in the tour de france when you have a stack up at the very line.

test cricket is different, so you cant compare it to chance plays partly due to the length of game.

i think every test match needs a decision. i may be pushing the buttons of those traditionalists. they'd probably be turning in their grave as i speak when i say that one day and 20-20 cricket is the way of the future

To me 20-20 is just a joke. Its good fun to watch and play (and I played 20 20 as a youth cricketer so its nothing new)

But it cant be compared to test cricket.

The Ashes is the most important tour for any Australian or English cricketer. It is one of the greatest competitions in sport.

The fact that winning and not losing a cricket match are very different things are part of what makes it one of the great games. To me - watching a dogged number 10 and 11 desperately trying to preserve their wickets as the fielders circle in around then is far more exciting than watching world class cricketers wildly slog and flail at the ball like schoolboys while wearing multicoloured pyjama's

heathen!! I think we need to organise a stoning.

---------- Post added at 09:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 AM ----------

amen to this. Hats off to England here - especially after lunch on the last day - Collingwood and the tail batting 2 sessions to save a game is a great effort. They deserve the draw/not to lose the game.

Off topic - it kinda pisses me off that the NRL introduced 'golden point' extra time for club matches. I think a lot of teams are gutted - being equal after full time and getting nothing because someone kicks a field goal in extra time. I'd rather both teams got a point and moved on. A draw/tie is an acceptable result in sport.

oh come on..who doesnt enjoy shahid afridi smash the ball around a bit eh? i saw him here in dubai a few weeks ago demolish the aussies with his bowling. the crowd went absolutely beserk!

sure he's not the test cricketing type, but id rather watch him than say Atherton or Lamb.

spins..ill be in sydney in a week. when are you organising the witch hunt?

sure, 20/20 can be exciting.

As much as I didnt enjoy it, Yuvraj giving Stuart Broad six of the best was absolutely thrilling to watch (and remember thinking "for fuck's sake Freddie, dont say anything else to piss him off more!"

But it doesnt come close to the real thing in terms of what it means and as sporting spectacle.

Well, the Aussies have a hell of a fight on their hands to save this... if the weather holds out I cant see any way they can win this, or hold on for a drawer.

i havent been watching but ive been listening to updates on the radio.

we fell into a heap.

im just wondering why the english didnt ask the aussies to follow-on. it seems strange to me. is it because the pitch is deteriorating and they wanted to get a few more runs on the board instead of batting on the final day?

Straussy made the decision based on the weather... today was perfect batting conditions and tomorrow is forecast to be overcast. Time will tell if a brilliant decison, or another example of over conservative tactics.

I've added new quote to my signature, and am tempted to temporarily use a photo of the Doctor as my avatar!

Last week aftr day 4 people were talking about a 5-0 defeat, about England fcing humiliation... the Aussies know now they are in a fight, a really tough fight... and the weakness in their team is the one I suspected of it right from the start, they just dont have the bowling attack that they did a few years ago.

I hope English fans dont get carried away... Punter is one of the batsmen of his generation, and Clarke and Hussey are great players - this is still a batting line up to fear, but I dont reckon your boys are talking about 4-0 right now.

Well, I've been away for the last week. I started watching day 5 with a tiny sliver of hope that last 10 balls. As soon as Haddin was out, then the Aussies faint flicker of a chance at victory disappeared.

Johnson showed that he is handy with the bat but this test has again highlighted the weakness of our bowling line up. Johnson will hold his place (as he is a fantastic bowler), but is obviously in a bit of a slump. I wouldn't be surprised with North making way for either Watson or McDonald. Both played well in the just completed tour match. I also would not be surprised if Clark comes in for North and Haddin batted at 6. At least that would strengthed our weak bowling.

Hauritz showed he is an able bowler at Test level - he is no Warne, but then few can say they are?

---------- Post added at 09:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:32 AM ----------

Also, I'm thinking England might be stronger without Pieterson. My viewing of his batting in the first couple of tests made me think his injury wasn't helping him. It will also be interesting to see how Flintoff goes through the rest of the series.

Everyone talks about Johnson did against South Africa, but his bowling action just isnt right... I certainly hope they pick him over Clark... because Clark is a bowler I fear a lot more.

__

And I cant say KP wont be missed, because whatever baggage comes with him he is simply the best batsmen in English cricket. Would have prefered to see Rob Key in to replace him than Bell though. If KP had been fit I wonder if Bopara would have been dropped and Key would have been the natural replacement at 3.

The Aussies can bat, we all know that. They need to prove they can take 20 English wickets now.

News reports are suggesting Watson will come in for Hughes. I'd find it weird if they do it - having an allrounder open in internationals is not that common. I wonder if his technique is good enough for the rigours of opening the batting.

I suspect Clark will come in for Siddle and Johnson will bowl first change rather than with the new ball. I see Watson as a way to strengthen the bowling as well. Only 7 or so hours until the line ups are officially announced.

haha - I wouldnt call Watson and allrounder after seeing him bowl today! I'd be more worried about facing Punter's off spin.

Match interestingly poised... draw still looks like the most likely result.

England just put the 300 up, 6 down.

Oz are in serious trouble - really need to bat through day 5 to save this one.

An interestingly poised match... it looks like there can only be one winner, but England will have to rip through the rest of the Aussies very quickly this morning!

aussies are having serious bowling issues not being able to finish off the english tail.

it seems like even the once formidable batting line up is falling to bits. aussies at 2-88 with another day to go on a turning wicket. i can only see a draw or an english victory.

oh how things have changed.

3 tests

0 times Ausralia have taken English wickets

Its two decent batting line ups and poor bowling line ups matching up.