The Ashes Thread

[Matt the Shrimp]

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.

Seconded, 100%.

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.

Two thoughts:

1. I'd be tempted to play Bell at 6, and keep Colly at 5. Bell has had plenty of success at 6.

2. Depending on the surface, I might be tempted to retain Broad and drop Swann - although perhaps that would leave us a bit one-dimensional in terms of the bowling attack. A tough call that I'd want to mull on.

Matt

 

[Uncle Leo]

Trott is another Saffer.

I'm getting a bit bored of these guys - Stephen Moore being another. The Times asked a few of their regular county cricket writers to come up with some potential names for the 2013 Ashes and there were far too many Saffer mercenaries in there.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

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

Deeply unconvinced by Strauss' captaincy to date. If he needs responsibility to thrive, tell him he's now England's main batsman and with Capey out we need him to score double.

His bowling choices, his field settings have bemused rather than impressed me.

Vaughan isn't going to get a SOS out of retirement so it doesn't really matter anyway.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Seconded, 100%.



Two thoughts:

1. I'd be tempted to play Bell at 6, and keep Colly at 5. Bell has had plenty of success at 6.

Matt

Just for info, Bell's average at different positions (obviously he has played far more cricket at some positions than others, so it's not a totally fair comparison)

2nd - 13 from 2 inns
3rd - 31 from 31 inns
4th - 47.61 from 15 inns
5th - 54.41 from 14 inns
6th - 49.00 from 19 inns
7th - 31.33 from 3 inns

 

[MrB]

Freddy out, team announced within the hour.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Tricky decision now.

I think Harmy has to come in now, we need a bowler who can get it around chest-high, and if we pick Sidearse and it doesn't swing we're kanckered.

That then leaves (IMO) a straight choice between Broad / Onions / Trott for the final 2 places. Personally, I'd be inclined to go for Trott and Onions, and try and sneak a draw.

 

[Grayson]

Prior's got injured in the warm up, unlikely to play as Collingwood is warming up with the wk gloves.

Who will they phone up to play?

 

[number11]

Tricky decision now.

I think Harmy has to come in now, we need a bowler who can get it around chest-high, and if we pick Sidearse and it doesn't swing we're kanckered.

That then leaves (IMO) a straight choice between Broad / Onions / Trott for the final 2 places. Personally, I'd be inclined to go for Trott and Onions, and try and sneak a draw.

Having read various reports into the pitch, Id be tempted to leave Swann out. He has taken some big wickets but mainly in out of the blue spells. Our spinners have not been overly effective at Headingly for a number of years. A conventional 6 batsman, (I'd still have gone for Key at 3 over Trott), Prior at seven, and 4 seamers (Harmison, Anderson, Onions, Sidearse) seems quite well balanced. Makes us weak at 8 but Id leave the batters to get the runs and the bowlers to take wickets. If Australia leave out Hauritz then we may as well match them man for man and try to outperform them.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Prior's got injured in the warm up, unlikely to play as Collingwood is warming up with the wk gloves.

Who will they phone up to play?

Well Ambrose would presumably be 'first cab off the rank' but he's busy with Warwickshire today. Likewise Foster at Southend. Bugger.

 

[number11]

Prior's got injured in the warm up, unlikely to play as Collingwood is warming up with the wk gloves.

Who will they phone up to play?

Oh dear oh dear. Guess Trott will definately be playing now. The hapless Ambrose will no doubt get the nod but is mid game. Most other county games are in the south this week, so probably Davies of Worcester (who have no game) would be the easiest option to get to the ground in good time (assuming he hasnt been out on the lash or is not at home etc!).

All sounds rather dramatic!

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Prior's got injured in the warm up, unlikely to play as Collingwood is warming up with the wk gloves.

Who will they phone up to play?

That's a f***ing disaster. Time to do rain-dances now...

:'(

 

[Pubey]

BBC says Prior is 'doubtful'. Please win the toss!

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Oh dear oh dear. Guess Trott will definately be playing now. The hapless Ambrose will no doubt get the nod but is mid game. Most other county games are in the south this week, so probably Davies of Worcester (who have no game) would be the easiest option to get to the ground in good time (assuming he hasnt been out on the lash or is not at home etc!).

All sounds rather dramatic!

Davies would be a very good shout - 593 runs @ almost 40 ain't bad for this season.

Line up now looks like the following:

Strauss
Cook
Bopara
Bell
Collingwood
Trott
Davies (wk)
Broad
Swann/Sideshow/Harmison
Onions
Anderson

Of the three, I'd pick Harmy. Oz are going with 4 quicks: Clark is playing alongside Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus.

Holy cr@p, we really didn't need Prior picking up an injury. That's a massive blow.

Matt

 

[Uncle Leo]

And now we have asked for the toss to be delayed by ten minutes to sort it all out.

Australia will surely accept after we gave them the ok to pick Manou...

 

[number11]

And now we have asked for the toss to be delayed by ten minutes to sort it all out.

Australia will surely accept after we gave them the ok to pick Manou...

You would hope so. Maybe we could ask them to delay it til tomorrow!
Sadly with Freddie out already striking a blow, I fear for us in this first session whether we are batting of bowling. Guess we are going to have to try to bat and rely on a herculean effort from Struass (and Cook) to take the sting out the game for a bit. It could be carnage though whatever we do.

 

[Grayson]

Prior has been passed fit to play. He had a back spasm apparently.

Phew!

 

[Smiffy]

Weird I thought he injured a hand. Oh well, mind games methinks...

 

[Grayson]

England win the toss and will bat. Harmison in for Flintoff. Huge need for the batsmen to stand up today, with Broad in at 7.

 

[number11]

Prior has been passed fit to play. He had a back spasm apparently.

Phew!

Looks like straight swap with Harmy in for Freddie. Not comfortable with that team: Strauss, Cook, Bop, Bell, Collingwood, Prior, Broad, Swann, Harmison, Anderson, Onions. Not much in form batting there, especially with Prior not 100%. I do like a consistent selection policy, but this seems one designed to pander to Swann and Broad....who has a unit could perhaps be better replaced for runs and wickets by Sidearse and er...the Trotts.

 

[number11]

Warne shouting off again about the umpires. Lucky escape for us, but whilst our commentators get bees in their bonnets over certain umpires (Willis and Daryl Harper springs to mind) they will bemoan a wrong decision no matter whose favour it is given.

Warne has added little to the commentary this summer and his one eyedness is sometimes like having FanZone. Get rid and get Michael Slater back or Matthew Hayden who has been pretty decent on the radio....even if he did make Sir Geoffrey walk out on commentary last test!