Road to the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia

[Woodster]

Tbf, that rant was the result of sitting in two hours of traffic!

 

[S.Kennedy]

David Warner is a complete idiot. He comes out with these statements that he hopes grabs him a bit of attention as a tough 'little/tiny' cricketer and a guy that speaks his mind and tries to intimidate (well, as much as a guy like that can) then when questioned about it doesn't have the courage to stand by the comments he's made! If you always end up apologising for what you say, engage your tiny little brain prior to addressing the public with utter nonsense and small man syndrome!!

''Napoleon complex''.

 

[howardj]

Four weeks (and 1 hour and 45 minutes to go)

Until it kicks off in my home town

Exciting

 

[howardj]

Aussie starting 11

WARNER
RENSHAW
SMITH
KHAWAJA
S.MARSH
HANDSCOMBE
HEAD
HAZELWOOD
STARK
LYON
CUMMINS

As a neutral I can objectively say that this starting 11 looks pretty damn strong anywhere in the world.

Handscombe your keeper?

I wouldn't have Travis Head or SMarsh ahead of Cartwright who has a FC average of 50

I'd go

Renshaw
Warner
Usman
Smith
Handscombe
Cartwright
Neville
Starc
Cummins
Hazlewood
Lyon

No tricks, no gimmicks...our best six bats (in my opinion), best gloveman, and best four leather slingers.

 

[Burgey]

Renshaw needs Shield runs imo. His Bangladesh output was pretty meh and he didn’t look good in the ODD games. I would persist with him because I rate him, think he’s got what it takes and has a great temperament, but I can see the selectors punting him because of some eye catching effort by a random who scores a lot faster than him, and #intent.

 

[mr_mister]

Maxwell has hit 259 runs @ 37 since his test recall, probably deserves to keep his spot considering how long Marsh toiled away in his spot with hardly anything to justify it(I guess his bowling is useful but not world beating)



I think the selectors saying 6 is up for grabs to the highest domestic run scorer early in the shield season is a bit of a death knell for Maxwell, cant see him outscoring some of his peers in this setting


still think he has the guts/chutzpa for international cricket though which I can't say about every domestic stalwart

 

[howardj]

Yes, I agree.

I wouldn't mind Maxwell or Cartwright

Just not guys like Head or Stoinis at this stage (who both average in the 30s in FC cricket). To me, those guys would be a 'hunch' selection in the same way that Maddinson was last year.

I think we should try to get away from that, particularly given our batting frailties of recent times.

 

[adub]

I'd also throw Moz in the mix, but I know it's not likely. Perfectly happy to retain either Maxy or Cartwright at 6 for a bit. 7 is where a change is more urgent.

 

[mr_mister]

I see it more as the selectors throwing a bone to the shield batsmen, basically saying we will reward and recognise domestic form for once

 

[adub]

I see it more as the selectors throwing a bone to the shield batsmen, basically saying we will reward and recognise domestic form for once

so lying their arses off again...

 

[Starfighter]

I'll believe it when it happens. Not holding my breath.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Stuart Broad: I don't have to hate Australia, it's cricket ... not a war

Stuart Broad: Glenn McGrath can help me win the Ashes! | Daily Mail Online

 

[Daemon]

"We’ve got our instructions,” says Stuart Broad. “I think we’ve got to stay awake all through to Abu Dhabi, then stay awake for two hours towards Perth, then sleep for six. Then we’ll be woken up for the last three hours.” That way, the plan is, jet lag will not be an issue."

Lol. From sinking 53 cans to this.

 

[FBU]

Reminds me Anderson flew 10,700 miles from Adelaide after the 2nd Test in 2010 for the birth of his child, turned around and flew back to Perth for the 3rd Test. 41 hours in the air. Jet lag!

 

[Spark]

Lol. From sinking 53 cans to this.

To be fair, when I flew back from Switzerland, I did something that was almost exactly like this. It made the layover in Dubai kind of rough, but it meant I actually felt fine upon landing in Australia, which was blessing.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Have you read Broad's comments on Stokes,

even if he’s not there, his leadership is so ingrained within the group it will still be in Australia, pushing the side on

It is certainly a different type of spin on the situation!

 

[Woodster]

I see it more as the selectors throwing a bone to the shield batsmen, basically saying we will reward and recognise domestic form for once

so lying their arses off again...

Ed Cowan's got to be worth a shout then based on domestic form?

 

[Tangles]

Cowan being dropped for Hughes, an opener, so that Mad dog can open does make me wonder if Renshaw is in trouble. It fits the #intent meme for them to want a hyper aggressive opener over a grafter. If Smiths backing works and Mad dog scores I can see Smith and Boof pushing the selectors for Renshaws spot.

 

[Starfighter]

We already have one hyper aggressive opener. We really do not need another, not matter what our (no)brains trust thinks.

Plus Maddinson doesn't have the defence as was showed by his last stint.

 

[Burgey]

Wouldn’t surprise me if Hughes opens for NSW anyway