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*Official* Road to the 2010/11 Ashes
- Thread starter archie mac
- Start date
robelinda
International Vice-Captain
vcs
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There was actually a chance of losing on the last day even with the huge cushion of runs they had. India were taking wickets only through scoreboard pressure and Kumble's persistence, there really wasn't much else.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Don't know about that. Was certainly the flattest pitches I've seen in general, although the quality of bowling (aside from Kumble, really, and it's not like he was making the ball spit) also had an effect.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Yeah I love Swanneh but I don't think he'll be a huge factor in the Ashes. He could definitely contribute and take England home on the fifth day if they get in such a position so he could be the difference in the series (which makes me saying that he won't be a major factor a bit odd, I know) but he's not going to dig them out of any holes or run through sides early like he has been.
sifter132
School Boy/Girl Cricketer
He'll be even less of a factor if we replace the sitting duck lefties North and Hussey with a couple of right handers eg. Ferguson and Smith. Swann only got 4 right handers wickets last Ashes: Stuart Clark out at bat/pad (bad decision), Haddin holed out to deep midwicket, Clarke yorked himself coming down the pitch to him, and the ball of the century to Ponting. That's it. 4 right handers in 5 Tests.
morgieb
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My views on how the players stand....
Watson < Strauss. Yes, Watto has been good, but Strauss is still probably better ats.
Katich > Cook. Cook's pretty average, Katich despite his conversion problems is still pretty good.
Ponting > Trott. Trott's not bad but you still have to back Punter.
Clarke > Pietersen. Would look stupid 2 years ago, now Clarke's gone leaps and bounds, whereas Pietersen has been rubbish for a while.
Hussey = Collingwood. Neither are doing much tbh.
North < Bell. Ding Dong's stepped up a lot recently, heaven knows why Norff's still in the side.
Haddin > Prior. Haddin's grossly under-rated, although neither seem to do much wrong.
Hauritz < Swann. Doesn't need explaining, although neither will be a big factor in Australia.
Johnson > Broad. Both mix awesome spells with off-periods. At least Johnson sometimes takes wickets in his off-periods, though.
Bollinger > Anderson. Because the ball doesn't swing much in Australia.
Hilfenhaus > Finn. Finn's not proven quality yet, Hilf to an extent is.
Not sure where Morgan will play, might need to get rid of Cook or Collingwood.
Watson < Strauss. Yes, Watto has been good, but Strauss is still probably better ats.
Katich > Cook. Cook's pretty average, Katich despite his conversion problems is still pretty good.
Ponting > Trott. Trott's not bad but you still have to back Punter.
Clarke > Pietersen. Would look stupid 2 years ago, now Clarke's gone leaps and bounds, whereas Pietersen has been rubbish for a while.
Hussey = Collingwood. Neither are doing much tbh.
North < Bell. Ding Dong's stepped up a lot recently, heaven knows why Norff's still in the side.
Haddin > Prior. Haddin's grossly under-rated, although neither seem to do much wrong.
Hauritz < Swann. Doesn't need explaining, although neither will be a big factor in Australia.
Johnson > Broad. Both mix awesome spells with off-periods. At least Johnson sometimes takes wickets in his off-periods, though.
Bollinger > Anderson. Because the ball doesn't swing much in Australia.
Hilfenhaus > Finn. Finn's not proven quality yet, Hilf to an extent is.
Not sure where Morgan will play, might need to get rid of Cook or Collingwood.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
He shouldn't play.
Johnners
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Major ugh @ some of the XI's mentioned here
Do these people srsly watch/follow cricket? There's a few who mentioned "dropping Katich, usher the young blood in asap!" As for Ferguson, am a huge fan, but he hasn't played any cricket, let alone 4/5 day stuff for quite some time (due to injury), nevermind his issues re: converting. Same applies to Smith on a bowling front, no way is he a better spinner than Hauritz. Oh, and of course after a very small poor patch (4 tests ffs) there's a few claiming Clarke's spot should be under the microscope...
And people think the Selectors have no clue....
Do these people srsly watch/follow cricket? There's a few who mentioned "dropping Katich, usher the young blood in asap!" As for Ferguson, am a huge fan, but he hasn't played any cricket, let alone 4/5 day stuff for quite some time (due to injury), nevermind his issues re: converting. Same applies to Smith on a bowling front, no way is he a better spinner than Hauritz. Oh, and of course after a very small poor patch (4 tests ffs) there's a few claiming Clarke's spot should be under the microscope...
And people think the Selectors have no clue....
Jayzamann
International Regular
Utilising the stubbornness of a few to get drunk for free. Amicable
Spark
Global Moderator
Oh, okay, so my rant yesterday was misguided. Whilst I know there are some that say Clarke should be dropped (has everyone already forgot the 77 at Headingley, which is exactly the same score as posted by Smith, which is an innings everyone will remember?), I didn't think the foolishness extended to Katich as well.
Holy **** me some of those teams are dire. Do people not think these things through? If I see another person say Cameron White should be shoe-in'd to the captaincy...
Spark
Global Moderator
Nah they are TBH. I'd keep North before doing what some of them suggest, at least North has a few test runs under his belt.
