The Ashes - 2010-2011 Thread

[canveyshrimper]

This lot aren't as bad as the side they fielded in the wake of Packer in the 70', in Ponting, Haddin & as much as I dislike Mr ****ing Cricket they've three world class players. However what I am pleased to see is the convict selectors in complete and utter disarray, their selections are muddled and panic stricken. They've recalled Johnson & Hilfenhaus for Perth and called up Steve Smith and a left arm spiiner called Beer, which I'm surprised about, as on the times I've been in Australia I'm yet to encounter anything that resembles beer.

With North being dropped Haddin will bat at 6, with I think Smith at 7, plus the 4 pace bowlers , I can't see them playing two spinners at the WACA unless it's become a bunsen of late. Their batting is weakened by this move IMO and will only help England, whose only worry is who will replace Broad.

 

[number11]

I think the Australian selectors are slowly getting the team better, more out of desperatioin than panic, but that is why I felt getting our noses in front was essential as they can only get better.

Agree with Canvey, it looks like they will play Smith and Haddin and 7 and 6, no doubt Johnson at 8, Harris, Siddle and Hilfenhaus to follow. Thats not too bad a bowling line up. As ever, the key will be early wickets.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

You can only beat what's put in front of you, so well done England and Cookie in particular.

It's great seeing the shoe on the other foot, but there's still a long way to go so I won't be counting any raccoon dog hides just yet.

 

[canveyshrimper]

You can only beat what's put in front of you, so well done England and Cookie in particular.

It's great seeing the shoe on the other foot, but there's still a long way to go so I won't be counting any raccoon dog hides just yet.

That's true, therefore I'm a bit wary given that England don't have a great record at the WACA.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

That's true, therefore I'm a bit wary given that England don't have a great record at the WACA.

I think we'll see a more conservative Australia at Perth. They'll be well aware that to attack England and lose will see the Ashes done and dusted before Xmas, wouldn't be surprised to see them looking to bat for a long period with as little risk as possible before trying to force 20 wickets in 9 sessions. My heart says England to squeeze a win, but my head says draw.

 

[canveyshrimper]

I think we'll see a more conservative Australia at Perth. They'll be well aware that to attack England and lose will see the Ashes done and dusted before Xmas, wouldn't be surprised to see them looking to bat for a long period with as little risk as possible before trying to force 20 wickets in 9 sessions. My heart says England to squeeze a win, but my head says draw.

I agree with you about the Aussies, but in Perth the weather is normally good, added to which there's generally a positive result there. I'm really not sure after Brisbane & Adelaide whether the convicts believe they can take 20 English wickets, we'll see.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

Just read Justin Langer's blog and he seems to think that Broad's absence will have the same effect on us as did McGrath's in 2005. Think he's clutching at straws here, Broad seemed to me to be providing the plug to run scoring whilst Anderson, Finn and Swann did the real damage. Of the four bowlers, I'd have rated him as the least valuable in terms of taking 20 wickets; unlike McGrath five years ago.

Even with Tremlett as the perceived weak link, our line up still looks tastier to me than Johnson, Siddler, Harris, Smith/Beer, Hilfenhaus.

Also for those who listem on TMS, Broad has signed up to do some punditry at Perth, promises to be a decent insight into the current set up.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think we'll see a more conservative Australia at Perth. They'll be well aware that to attack England and lose will see the Ashes done and dusted before Xmas, wouldn't be surprised to see them looking to bat for a long period with as little risk as possible before trying to force 20 wickets in 9 sessions. My heart says England to squeeze a win, but my head says draw.

The Convicts look like they'll be going in with 5 batsmen, which isn't a conservative move. On a bat first track* my tactic would always be to try and bat 2 days and pile on the runs!

They also look like they are panicking like we did back in the 80s and early 90s.


*Don't know whether Perth is at the moment. It's worth noting that they've picked 2 spinners in their squad, including the home boy. Obviously the English handle Beer a lot better than Aussies do. Despite the 2 spinners there's a lot of talk about it being quicker again, I take that sort of talk with a pinch of salt. There'll be a lot of Convict mind games going on......

Just read Justin Langer's blog and he seems to think that Broad's absence will have the same effect on us as did McGrath's in 2005. Think he's clutching at straws here, Broad seemed to me to be providing the plug to run scoring whilst Anderson, Finn and Swann did the real damage. Of the four bowlers, I'd have rated him as the least valuable in terms of taking 20 wickets; unlike McGrath five years ago.

Even with Tremlett as the perceived weak link, our line up still looks tastier to me than Johnson, Siddler, Harris, Smith/Beer, Hilfenhaus.

Also for those who listem on TMS, Broad has signed up to do some punditry at Perth, promises to be a decent insight into the current set up.

..... see!

I think Broad will be a huge loss. He's someone who starts slowly in series but works out weaknesses in batsmen as it progresses. If the WACA is bouncy, he'd have been just the type of bowler to exploit it. England won the 2009 Ashes on the back of Broad skittling them at the Oval (his 5 wickets in that innings were Watson, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke and Haddin - 5 of the top 6 for Perth), the English pitch most similar to the WACA. He has the potential to run through a team - Swann doesn't (except if it's a team of left-handers like the WIndies, or a team of dubious test quality - like er, the WIndies again). Then there's also his batting to consider. Even so, the team isn't built around him like the great Australian team was around McGrath.

Basically Langer is showing that he's a disgrace. He's standing behind the fence, about 50cm underheight, making ridiculous comments.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

The Convicts look like they'll be going in with 5 batsmen, which isn't a conservative move. On a bat first track* my tactic would always be to try and bat 2 days and pile on the runs!

They also look like they are panicking like we did back in the 80s and early 90s.


*Don't know whether Perth is at the moment. It's worth noting that they've picked 2 spinners in their squad, including the home boy. Obviously the English handle Beer a lot better than Aussies do. Despite the 2 spinners there's a lot of talk about it being quicker again, I take that sort of talk with a pinch of salt. There'll be a lot of Convict mind games going on......




..... see!

I think Broad will be a huge loss. He's someone who starts slowly in series but works out weaknesses in batsmen as it progresses. If the WACA is bouncy, he'd have been just the type of bowler to exploit it. England won the 2009 Ashes on the back of Broad skittling them at the Oval (his 5 wickets in that innings were Watson, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke and Haddin - 5 of the top 6 for Perth), the English pitch most similar to the WACA. He has the potential to run through a team - Swann doesn't (except if it's a team of left-handers like the WIndies, or a team of dubious test quality - like er, the WIndies again). Then there's also his batting to consider. Even so, the team isn't built around him like the great Australian team was around McGrath.

Basically Langer is showing that he's a disgrace. He's standing behind the fence, about 50cm underheight, making ridiculous comments.

I think you've misunderstood me, I think we'll see an end to Australia trying to force a heavy scoring run rate (3.5-4 per over) at all costs. And Haddin and Smith at 6&7 hardly leaves them with only 5 batsmen. I think they'll play for a draw first, and a win if they sniff a chance; they wont want the Ashes lost before Xmas.

Interestingly they've pretty much hinted today that the Siddler is missing out and Beer and Smith will both play. If they're preparing a spin friendly track then IMO it'll be their undoing, as Swann is superior to both of theirs, and for me is more than capable of ripping through sides; West Indian or not.

 

[number11]

I think you've misunderstood me, I think we'll see an end to Australia trying to force a heavy scoring run rate (3.5-4 per over) at all costs. And Haddin and Smith at 6&7 hardly leaves them with only 5 batsmen. I think they'll play for a draw first, and a win if they sniff a chance; they wont want the Ashes lost before Xmas.

Interestingly they've pretty much hinted today that the Siddler is missing out and Beer and Smith will both play. If they're preparing a spin friendly track then IMO it'll be their undoing, as Swann is superior to both of theirs, and for me is more than capable of ripping through sides; West Indian or not.

I'd read as well that reports are suggesting Beer will get the nod over Siddle. Shows more signs of panic from them if their best paceman from the 1st test gets dropped after one poor test, and the two who were dropped for having poor tests get put back in without showing any form in shield cricket. Together with the pick of Beer (on his 'home' ground despite having played only 3 matches there) really is like the England of old when we would pluck people like Dawson out of obscurity and then throw them back there when they inevitably failed. Id be far more concerned if they have gone in with 4 pacemen (Johnson, Hilf, Siddle who looked dangerous in parts in 09 and in other series, plus the impressive Harris) rather than a spinner without any great track record and who doesnt seem any better than Doherty, plus Smith's part time leg spin.

Loved the news of Hauritz yard sale.......shows the farce in selection and cracks opening up. I really hope they don't rally in this test and that we can knock the fight out of them by dominating the first couple of days and really keep them down.

As for Langer.....he is a disgrace and shouldnt be allowed anywhere near british media outlets. I reckon he still ****s over footage of Hayden, Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne and is yet to realise how pathetic bravado sounds when your team is not being underpinned by some greats of the game.

 

[number11]

Has anyone seen the footage of Strauss's wicket in the tour game? I hear he was bowlling chinamen........i can't find anything on youtube so if anyone can please post a link!

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/9278372.stm

There you go 'number 11.' you may need to paste it into your search engine as I'm useless on computers.

 

[number11]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/9278372.stm

There you go 'number 11.' you may need to paste it into your search engine as I'm useless on computers.

Thanks for that! He must have got a bit of turn (or at least got it to 'straighten') if that was going to hit from that angle! The Aussie batsman should hang his head in shame. Not as good as when Athers got Wasim Akram in a test though!

 

[Funky Kong]

Interestingly a lot is being made of the WAG's venturing out into England's colony. I think the positive's outweigh the negatives. Due to the public scrutiny, England will be keen to make sure that this does not become an issue. They have gone 6 weeks without seeing their families and that is more than enough in my opinion. If the players feel that seeing their spouse will affect performance then they can deal with that themselves and should be responsible enough to handle it. They should also be responsible enough to not stay up all night having good times the night before an Ashes test.

The England management confirmed that they had spend a lot of time discussing it and I fully support them. Andy Flower has been quality since donning the England shirt and when he belted out the national anthem in the first test that was phenomenal.

As for Strauss, I don't think he can claim to be an all-rounder like Mr Pieterson decided to do after getting the wicket of Michael Clarke in the last test.

Come on England!

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

Rumour has it, Ponting took a look at Beer in the nets and said 'no way.' It appears the Siddler has been spared the chop and the Aussie may go in seamer heavy. Getting nervous about this one, so desperately want us to humiliate the dogs. Remember chaps it a 2.30am start as opposed to midnight.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Rumour has it, Ponting took a look at Beer in the nets and said 'no way.' It appears the Siddler has been spared the chop and the Aussie may go in seamer heavy. Getting nervous about this one, so desperately want us to humiliate the dogs. Remember chaps it a 2.30am start as opposed to midnight.

Yippee, I get a lie in.

 

[Shrimpersarmy]

Pitch looks very green, here's hoping for a few early wickets

 

[Shrimpersarmy]

Fantastic catch by Colly...Cheerio Punter!

 

[Grayson]

That was special. Another great start.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

That was outrageous.