The Ashes Thread

[Rusty Shackleford]

Memo to Mr Cricket: Tell your story walking pal.

 

[seany t]

One more gone, and a big one again; Hussey.

Going to be annoyingly close to a win for England I think, but we'll probably fall about 7 or 8 overs short of it. Which I guess is fair enough as the Aussies had the same scenario in the first test, but I want another win Goddamn it...

 

[canveyshrimper]

Memo to Mr Cricket: Tell your story walking pal.

I thought that **** off was more appropriate.

Come on England, let's get Clarke before lunch.

 

[canveyshrimper]

The convicts are effectively 59/4 at lunch. I still think they will hold out for a draw, but if we can get rid of Clarke & North I am not sure if the convict tail will be up for the fight.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

The convicts are effectively 59/4 at lunch. I still think they will hold out for a draw, but if we can get rid of Clarke & North I am not sure if the convict tail will be up for the fight.

Hmm... I'm going with my prediction before the start of play, which was unless we had three wickets by lunch, they'd hold out for the draw. I think they'll do that, abetted by the weather. There's also still 23 overs until the new ball, and we're not very adept at getting rid of them with the old one.

Matt

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Great commentary from Geoffrey on TMS, referring to Aggers as a 'mongrel'. Fabulous stuff.

 

[Cricko]

If this isn't a Draw then I look nothing like Brad Pitt.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

If this is a Draw then I look nothing like Brad Pitt.

Sadly, John, I fear you're going to be right about that.

:p

 

[Smiffy]

Turned it off a couple of hours ago.

Says it all really.

Still, the Aussies have to win both now...

 

[Swiss Tony]

Turned it off a couple of hours ago.

Says it all really.

Still, the Aussies have to win both now...

No just one to retain the ashes,unfortunately.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I take it we drew. I gave up watching with them 4 down.

Really poor captaincy denied England any chance of winning today.

If England were going to win, Anderson was the key bowler (he's been the man who has twice skittled them), yet Strauss hardly used him at all. As soon as he came on, he struck but England had wasted an hour and the new ball.

Instead we were stuck watching Graeme bloody Swann toil away, teasing the Aussies with his variations of full tosses and long hops, never remotely looking like taking a wicket, going at 4 runs an over for 25 overs today.

Bopara was used far too late, in his first over he induced a rash shot with his golden arm only for Strauss to drop it.

Broad was underused as well.

I couldn't understand the deep midwicket Strauss was so keen on, when if he wanted to defend a 3rd man would surely have been better.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Headingley should be interesting. It looks as if Freddy might be injured, so Harmison looks a lot closer to a recall (blistered feet notwithstanding) and Sideshow Bob might get a recall in place of Broad - the ultimate horse for course pick if ever I saw it.

Matt

 

[number11]

Headingley should be interesting. It looks as if Freddy might be injured, so Harmison looks a lot closer to a recall (blistered feet notwithstanding) and Sideshow Bob might get a recall in place of Broad - the ultimate horse for course pick if ever I saw it.

Matt

It's going to be an interesting one. I recall one of the coaches (maybe the woeful Peter Moores last year) saying that with test matches coming thick and fast we may be entering an era where fast bowlers need to be rotated and a squad of effective bowlers who can be swapped about is needed.

To be fair to him, being able to bring in Harmison and / or Sideshow does look like it would prep up our attack a bit and give some a rest. However the one concern is that the tail would then be Swann at seven, Sidebottom 8, Anderson, Harmison Onions which doesnt have any real depth.

 

[The General]

Jonathon Trott gets a recall (incase Freddy is out and we go with 6 batters!) as well as Sidebottom and Harmy in the squad. Monty is dropped from the 14.

Kev

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

It's going to be an interesting one. I recall one of the coaches (maybe the woeful Peter Moores last year) saying that with test matches coming thick and fast we may be entering an era where fast bowlers need to be rotated and a squad of effective bowlers who can be swapped about is needed.

To be fair to him, being able to bring in Harmison and / or Sideshow does look like it would prep up our attack a bit and give some a rest. However the one concern is that the tail would then be Swann at seven, Sidebottom 8, Anderson, Harmison Onions which doesnt have any real depth.

With us 1-0 up in the series and Headingley being either a road or a seamer's paradise I'd be more tempted to beef up the batting if Flintoff isn't fit.

I think Bopara's bowling has been criminally underused. He showed again yesterday that he can make things happen. He shouldn't be bowled in long spells, but he should be given an over here and there when things aren't happening. You've then also got Collingwood who can offer economy and control. Between them, their change of pace in contrast to the proper bowlers and Colly's economy offer the same attributes as Swann does.

If England are going to win, Anderson is going to skittle the Convicts out with the ball hooping about. If not, our best chance is a draw. I don't see how Swann adds much to the England side with his bowling. He is the equivalent of a long-relief mop-up pitcher in baseball. As Collingwood can perform that task, wouldn't Swann's spot be more profitably used by a batsman? If Samit Patel was taking his cricket seriously, he'd be the ideal type to chuck in, with his spin bowling. Owais Shah's spin bowling looks horribly manufactured and would add little. Micheal Vaughan was a more than handy spinner, but was sadly hounded into retirement. Capey would be another spinning option if he weren't injured.

My dream XI for Headingley

Cook
Strauss
Vaughan*
Bopara
Collingwood
Bell
Prior
Flintoff/Harmison
Broad
Anderson
Onions

That gives you Anderson and Onions if it swings, backed up by Broad who was much better yesterday after a poor start to the series and Flintoff. Collingwood and Bopara take up the slack if we can't bowl Australia out in under 80 overs.

 

[number11]

Agree about Samit Patel.....the guy averages (or at least did before this season) high 40's and is a useful left armer....such a shame he can't get into the physical and mental condition needed to demand selection. A more left field choice in that vein would be Blackwell, who is another who has never had the waist line to fit into international cricket but has a fair bit of talent.

Trott getting called up is an interesting one. If he comes in to beef up the batting then I think Broad has to go to get Sideshow or Harmison in as they are more likely to take wickets in a 4 man attack. I'd have preferred Key to come in and go straight in at 3. He has found form in the last 2 weeks with a couple of hundreds and has the character to take being thrust into an ashes in his stride. Putting him in as 3 and shifting everyone down one would look stronger to me then throwing Trott in for a baptimism of fire if Freddie is out.

If Freddie is 100% fit, Id go Strauss, Cook, Bop, Bell, Collingwood, Prior, Freddie, Swann, Harmison / Sidebottom (if Ryan if it looks more likely to be swinging then bouncey), Anderson, Onions.

If Freddie is not fit then surely at 1-0 we have to replace him with a batter and then go for best attack regardless of whether they can bat, - Id Go Strauss, Cook, Key, Bop, Bell, Collingwood, Prior, Swann, Anderson, Onions, Harmison / Sidebottom.

Looking at that, can see no place for Swann, unless England go for a high risk strategy and want to play 5 bowlers even in Freddies absence. In which case he would come in at 7.

Interesting choices for both teams though. Am looking forward to the weekend (more for the cricket than the football!).

 

[SARF]

Please not Bell please no.....

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Trott is another Saffer. He's probably a better bet than his county colleague (who again got out when well set) but his better format is the 50 over stuff where he is one of the few EnglishEngland qualified batsmen to regularly score limited overs hundreds.

I'd stick with Bopara and Broad for the rest of the series pretty much no matter what. Back their talent. They are miles ahead of their rivals in domestic cricket and the experience will do them good.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

YB - the only thing I wouldn't change is the captaincy. Strauss is my man of the series so far. I know his captaincy needs work - and you'd make Vaughan his VC and give him a specific remit to help Straussy with the tactical decisions - but being captain has brought absolutely the best out of Strauss in terms of his batting. It's as if he thrives on the responsibility.

Agree with you that if anyone's going to skittle them, it's Jimmy.

Matt

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

A more left field choice in that vein would be Blackwell, who is another who has never had the waist line to fit into international cricket but has a fair bit of talent.

My MotM in the MCC v. Champion County game. It was his batting that particularly impressed - he was seeing it like a basketball and timing it beautifully.

He also didn't look that unfit - he was just a bit chunky, that was all.

Matt