Ponting's Ashes XI

[Zinzan]

Thoughts on Punter's dream Ashes team selected from players he played with or against?
Features | Ponting's Ashes XI | ESPN Cricinfo

The XI

Hayden
Cook
Langer
Pietersen
S Waugh
M Hussey
Gilchrist
Flintoff
Gillespie
Warne
McGrath


Fairly predictable, although interesting he went for Langer in his own no. 3 slot. Also was surprised he opted for Gillespie ahead of Anderson. His rationale seemed to be based on Dizzy's value as a lower order batsman, which I thought a touch strange.

 

[Howe_zat]

Anderson hasn't had the best time of it vs Ponting tbf, 2010-11 being the exception.

Would have been a bit much to pick himself

 

[TNT]

Thoughts on Punter's dream Ashes team selected from players he played with or against?



Fairly predictable, although interesting he went for Langer in his own no. 3 slot. Also was surprised he opted for Gillespie ahead of Anderson. His rationale seemed to be based on Dizzy's value as a lower order batsman, which I thought a touch strange.

That's a no brainer really.

 

[Spikey]

ricky played with steve smith so that's a big omission.

 

[Jnr.]

Surprised Michael Vaughan wasn't in at three, with Langer and Hayden to open.

 

[Zinzan]

That's a no brainer really.

Anderson hasn't had the best time of it vs Ponting tbf, 2010-11 being the exception.

In Ponting's Ashes career, mid '97 to end of 2010; Anderson has 34 wickets @ 42, so yeah, was reading too much into that 10/11 series. Gillespie 61 wickets @ 29 is probably about right, although Stuart Clark's 30 wickets @ 20 is pretty damn impressive.

Would have been a bit much to pick himself

Yeah, I meant we know it's his spot. Btw, Trott did play just play the 5 tests and averaged >100 in Ponting's time, but Langer probably is the 2nd choice.

 

[harsh.ag]

Wow. Didn't think he would rank Cook ahead of Langer. Big compliment.

 

[Zinzan]

Wow. Didn't think he would rank Cook ahead of Langer. Big compliment.

We don't know that he did. He could rank Langer the higher of the two, but think he's a better fit for no. 3 in the side.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Wow. Didn't think he would rank Cook ahead of Langer. Big compliment.

He probably just found himself without any Englishman in the side apart from KP so bunged in Cook and Flintoff as afterthoughts in attempt to add a tad Anglo/Australian balance.

 

[Zinzan]

^ Or that....

 

[harsh.ag]

We don't know that he did. He could rank Langer the higher of the two, but think he's a better fit for no. 3 in the side.

Yeah could be. Seemed weird that he would break the Hayden-Langer partnership otherwise though. Someone like Clarke or Vaughan could be at 3.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Langer actually batted at 3 a few times though didn't he?

 

[harsh.ag]

He probably just found himself without any Englishman in the side apart from KP so bunged in Cook and Flintoff as afterthoughts in attempt to add a tad Anglo/Australian balance.

Yeah, this sounds like something he would do

 

[Jnr.]

Langer actually batted at 3 a few times though didn't he?

Don't recall him doing so in Ashes cricket.

 

[BackFootPunch]

Langer actually batted at 3 a few times though didn't he?

Just checked and he batted at 3 in the 98/99 series for 400+ runs at nearly 50.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

To be honest nobody could have argued had he had himself in and picked an entire team of Aussies. Flintoff would be the first English choice but a case could be made for Langer to open instead of Cook and an Aussie in place of KP and if he had gone for Lee over Flintoff to have his old attack who could argue given how good they were?

 

[OverratedSanity]

I knew McGrath liked Lord's but this still blew my mind:

Glenn McGrath has a bowling average of 11.50 at Lord's - the second-best for any bowler with more than 25 wickets at a single ground

And the rest of the list is mostly gujys from the 19th century.

 

[OverratedSanity]

To be honest nobody could have argued had he had himself in and picked an entire team of Aussies. Flintoff would be the first English choice but a case could be made for Langer to open instead of Cook and an Aussie in place of KP and if he had gone for Lee over Flintoff to have his old attack who could argue given how good they were?

Would have been pretty awesome if he'd just listed the entire 06-07 Australian XI

 

[harsh.ag]

Lee was a bit meh during Ashes though. Would much rather have Flintoff or Jones

 

[Jono]

out of interest, what is Clarke's Ashes record?