Ashes II - 2013/14 - In Australia

ghaliboy said:
It's about our 35th and 36th choice pace attack though.
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Usually you'd want to give guys some experience but when you find you've only 4 people left in the country who haven't faced England in the last 18 months, that's a bit redundant.

Is it just the English supporters/press that are getting a bit bored of playing your lot, or is the feeling mutual?
 
They've all just played about 6months of cricket in Australia. So I'd say they are pretty much 'up to speed'. Cutting and Copeland probably close to selection but Moises Henriques with the new ball?... Lol.

A lot of the other hopefuls are playing state cricket, I think that is a CA 'decision'. Which is interesting. Poor or not.
 
Utd heap said:
Looks like the Carberry opening talk has gained real momentum with that knock last night.

I'd have kept Root there personally, but not fussed with both in the side, Carberry adds the bonus of potentially being quite aggressive up top, which we had lacked lately.
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Fair enough to Carberry he's got his chance and taken it.

But I think the way the opening spot has been dealt with has been ridiculous, Compton had a hard time of it in England against NZ but was harshly dropped for Root who then gets 5 Test matches to stake his claim (where he scored a 180 and 50, regardless of all his other failures) and they cast him aside for a man whos only player international cricket against Bangledesh.

England got to the top spot through consistency of selection, regardless of poor series or form (iirc there were calls for Cook to be dropped prior to the last Ashes but they kept faith, and the rest is history) backing their players to come good and now they seem to be going for a scattergun approach throwing people in at the deep end (Woakes, Kerrigan you assume at some point or another Carberry and Rankin, too possibly Stokes)

Also, all the crap England gets about rain and the 5th day of play out in Australia and we already have lost a day. :lol:
 
England finally declare. Their bowlers will now only get 1 session to get some practice, would've thought they'd have been given a bit longer. But as usual, Cook carried on with the batters for a bit too long. Boring cnut.

Root looked good when he got in, think he's more suited to the middle order at the moment.
 
Squad Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin (wk, vice-capt), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon.

Decent 12 man squad for Aussies IMO.

Some criticism for selection of Bailey and Johnson but I think both deserve it.
When's England going to be announced?
and who'll be their backup keeper if Prior gets injured?
 
Jonny Bairstow.

And England's squad is announced already, but if you mean the 11, Michael Clarke announced it in the same press conference trying to be funny.

He's probably right.

Carberry, Cook, Trott, KP, Bell, Root, Prior/Bairstow, Swann, Broad, Anderson, Tremlett

I thought Rankin would start in place of Tremlett, though.
 
I think Steven Smith is not test quality. He's pugnacious, and good to have in a losing team, but not in a team that can win test series.
 
Good to see Joe Root in the middle order. Not an opener IMO.

Bairstow really sticks out as a sore thumb in that team.

Think Australia should play with this:

Warner, Rodgers, Watson, Clarke, Bailey, Haddin, Faulkner, Johnson, Lyon, Siddle and Harris.

Though they'll probably play Smith in place of Johnson.
 
Bairstow's two innings against SA last year makes me think he's got all the requisite skill. One of those players who suddenly get what international cricket is and start expressing themselves, IMO. Yet to happen.

I don't think Faulkner's batting is good enough to be top 7..
 
For the first time I'm worried about this series.

England's prep has been awful (although thats not been their fault) and they've got some really bad luck with injuries. Add to that they're seemingly going to make the brain dead decision to play Tremlett because he took some wickets once against Australia (despite the fact he's about half the player he was then).

Hopefully the batting fires, because I don't think this bowling attack is going to skittle the Aussies as frequently as in the summer.
 
They've gone with Rankin in the final warm-up game which may suggest he'll be chosen ahead of Tremlett. Then again, with Tremlett's injury record they may just be holding him back for the real stuff. I doubt they'd go with Finn who looks lost with all the adjustments he's made the last year or so, he needs to get back to the basics.
 
Bairstow's a better outfielder than he is a keeper. England will be seriously weakened if Prior isn't fit.
 
All this hoopla on KP getting to his 100th....but are they gonna overboard when Cook gets it in the 3rd test, and even more impressive joins a very very elite club in the 5th test of playing 100 consecutive tests, still another 53 to catch Border there though and in an era where you play far more and the whole things more demanding, but he could do it.
 
100 consecutive tests? Wow.

What's the record and the complete top 10?
 
I'm absolutely buzzing my tits off.

Reckon I'm gonna aim for a session minimum every night. If I get my essay done before the start might watch the whole of todays play.

Has ghaliboy been banned out of interest?
 
Big series this for Mitchell Johnson, probably the last chance he gets at Test level. Also interested in seeing how the 3rd seamer for England performs.

Australia should be better at home but still think England are too strong for them. England to win series 3-1.

Hopefully the 3rd umpire is more competent with the DRS stuff this time round.
 
Sachin was asked about Ashes in his press conference, he said that if Mitch Johnson is playing then Australia have a real chance.
 
Not worried about Johnson.

We all know he's quick and swings the new ball. We all know the barmy army get to him and we all know that he bowls too many bad balls.

He'll take wickets, he bowls too many unplayable in swinging missiles not to but I don't think he's the key.
 
Can't wait, i'll do atleast until Tea everyday.

This time in 2010 i was out there ready to do 3 of the 5 tests, so jealous of mates who are doing it again.

England 1-3.
 
Got so much work on until Christmas I can't really lock in and watch this series for a bit. Keep me well informed!
 
2-1 to England. Australia to win this one before being outplayed for the majority of the next four.
 
Sir A1ex said:
Let's do shifts... I won't catch more than the first few overs, but I'll be getting up around tea!

I'm just praying we don't get a repeat of Harmison's first ball from 2006... that still haunts me.
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Strauss slapping one straight to point in the first over, the last time we went, wasn't much fun either.
 
Gonna watch till lunch today then hopefully catch every ball of the rest.
 
Aussies win the toss and bat!

Lyon plays, Bailey makes his dayboo. Johnson in the side as expected.

Tremlett & Carberry in for England. Prior fit.
 
Very good first over from Anderson. And Warner smacks his first ball for four.

That was a fecking big no ball! Mohammed Aamir-esque.
 
And Cook's put a deep square leg in, 7 balls in. His captaincy...
 
Broad is a cnut of a person, but a good player. Nice delivery for the dismissal.
 
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