Ashes XI Prediction Game

[Jamee999]

Well, as the English Test Summer comes to an end, I would like to stage a little game with the Cricket Chat crowd.

The game is pretty simple - just predict the two XIs that will take the field in Cardiff for the 1st Test of next summer's Ashes, along with the captains and wicket-keepers. Simple, innit? Then next summer we'll have a look at who did the best, and who did rubbish. Everybody understand?

I will go first:

ENGLAND

Strauss
Cook
Bell
Pietersen (c)
Collingwood
Prior (wk)
Flintoff
Harmison
Anderson
Jones
Panesar

AUSTRALIA

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting (c)
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin (wk)
Casson
Lee
Noffke
Clark

Remember, you're predicting - not picking who you want to get in.

 

[itduzz]

Eng batting looks weak...Broad in for Haramison,Jones or anderson

 

[Langeveldt]

Not the sides that I'd want to be taking part, but the sides I think will take part


ENGLAND

1. Strauss
2. Cook
3. Pietersen (cpt)
4. Bell
5. Collingwood
6. Flintoff
7. Bopara
8. Prior *
9. Jones
10. Harmison
11. Panesar

AUSTRALIA

1. Hayden
2. Jacques
3. Ponting (cpt)
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Symonds
7. Ronchi *
8. Lee
9. Casson
10. Clark
11. Johnson

 

[Barney Rubble]

ENGLAND

Cook
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen (c)
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior (wk)
Broad
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar


AUSTRALIA

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting (c)
M Hussey
Clarke
D Hussey
Haddin (wk)
Lee
Casson
Johnson
Clark

 

[zaremba]

This thread really does highlight the dilemmas which will face the England selectors as far as the bowling attack is concerned. Will they really leave Sidebottom out? Can they afford to play 5 bowlers, 4 of whom are rank tailenders? This highlights why Giles was so valuable. Could Swann be in with a chance?

Anyway here's my prediction

Cook
Vaughan
Bell
Penisen (c)
Collingwood
Prior (w)
Flintoff
Frontbottom
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar

Australia

Hayden
Jacques
Poontang
M Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Watson
Haddin
Harris
Lee
Clark

 

[bryce]

Both teams could look to play all-pace attacks, but i guess it depends on who is actually fit at the time. There'll be more than a few dilemma's for the Australian selectors i'd say, especially in the batting order. It would be great if Flintoff and Watson can stay fit and go head to head through the whole series.

AUSTRALIA
1.Hayden
2.M.Hussey
3.Ponting (c)
4.Clarke
5.Symonds
6.Watson
7.Haddin (wk)
8.Lee
9.Johnson
10.Clark
11.Tait
Jaques/Hodge/D.Hussey/Noffke/Casson

ENGLAND
1.Strauss
2.Cook
3.Bell
4.Pietersen (c)
5.Collingwood
6.Flintoff
7.Prior (wk)
8.Broad
9.Sidebottom
10.Harmison
11.Anderson
Key/Bopara/Jones/Hoggard/Panesar

 

[Uppercut]

England

1. Cook
2. Key
3. Bell
4. Pietersen
5. Collingwood
6. Prior
7. Flintoff
8. Harmison
9. Sidebottom
10. Anderson
11. Panesar

Australia

1. Hayden
2. Jacques
3. Ponting
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Symonds
7. Haddin (wk)
8. Lee
9. Clark
10. A spinner who is not Casson.
11. Johnson

 

[Uppercut]

Australia

Hayden
Jacques
Poontang
M Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Watson
Haddin
Harris
Lee
Clark

Longest batting lineup in history, perhaps. A player with five test 50s batting at 10.

 

[grecian]

England

Strauss
Cook
Bell
KP (captain)
Collingwood
Foster
Flintoff
Sidebottom
Jones
Harmison
Panesar

Really think Prior will drop about a dozen in India, and they'll finally go for the logical choice. Monty will play at Cardiff. If it doesn't go well can see them dropping him for a batter.

Australia

Hayden
Jacques
Ponting
M Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Watson
Haddin
Lee
Clark
Johnson

 

[Burgey]

Predictions:

Bollinger will be in for Johnson by the time the Ashes roll around next year.
Haddin will hold his place as keeper.
Jaques will be strongly challenged by Watson for the opening role, but will hold his place for the 1st test.

England will play S Jones and Sidebottom in place of Anderson and Broad or Harmy.
God knows who their keeper will be by then.

England:

Strauss
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior
Sidebottom
S Jones
Harmison
Panesar

Australia:

Jaques
Hayden
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Casson or Noffke
Clark
Bollinger

 

[bryce]

Paine maybe a dark horse

 

[Somerset]

England:
Cook
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen (captain)
Collingwood
Flintoff
Ambrose
Broad
Sidebottom
Anderson
Panesar

Also considered: Shah, Prior, Harmison


Australia:
Hayden
Jaques
Ponting (captain)
Mike Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Johnson
Clark
Casson

Also considered: Watson, Hodge, Ronchi, Noffke

Bolded the players I considered absolute certainties barring injuries.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

England

Cook
Denly
Strauss
*Pietersen
Bopara
Flintoff
+Prior
Bresnan
Harmison
Anderson
Panesar

turning to the depressingly bizarre

Australia

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
+Haddin
Lee
Hilfenhaus
Cullen
Clark

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

AUSTRALIA

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting (c)
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin (wk)
Casson
Lee
Noffke
Clark

There's no way in hell Noffke would bat at 10. He'd bat at 8. Casson's pretty good with the bat so maybe 9, but I doubt it.

 

[Perm]

England XI
Cook
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen (c)
Bopara
Foster (wk)
Flintoff
Sidebottom
Harmison
Jones
Panesar

Australia XI
Hayden
Jaques
Ponting (c)
Clarke
Hussey
Symonds
Haddin (wk)
Lee
Johnson
Clark
Bollinger

 

[GIMH]

Find it too hard to pick our bowling attack. Ah **** it, will have a go anyway

Strauss
Cook
Key
Pietersen*
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Foster
Anderson
Harmison
Panesar

Sidebottom & Jones in with a shout, can't see Broad playing another Test for a while though, if all goes to plan

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

AUSTRALIA

Shane Watson


ENGLAND

James Anderson




If Jimmy bowls to Watto in a test match I'll cry the manliest tears that have ever been cried.

 

[GIMH]

What would you want the outcome to be though?

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Half the potential fast bowling attack will be injured during the winter. A bit surprised to see two line-ups with Foster batting at 6. He's a number 8 at Test level, 7 at a stretch, but not 6 in a million years.

 

[GIMH]

Well I chose him on the basis of his keeping and stuck him at 8

I am quite scared by the prospect of Harmison batting at 8