Road to the Ashes 2021/22

[Starfighter]

And if he doesn't play Root will do the bowling instead. Gonna be some fun figures either way.

I'm effectively saying that Lawrence's bowling is a thing which will attract them to selecting him, so he and Root can be 1/2 a spin bowler each.

 

[Pup Clarke]

@Starfighter I'd usually agree. But with Bess/Leach in the squad it's difficult to justify Lawrence's bowling being a factor. But this is an Ashes series right??? There will be meme-level decision making guaranteed

 

[Prince EWS]

@Starfighter I'd usually agree. But with Bess/Leach in the squad it's difficult to justify Lawrence's bowling being a factor. But this is an Ashes series right??? There will be meme-level decision making guaranteed

It's a big squad, the fact that they're in it doesn't mean they're going to play.

I can't see England only playing three quicks. That means either Woakes bats seven or Root and/or Lawrence are "the spinner" as the fifth bowler.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Was it Lawrence who randomly took a stack of wickets in Oz in the last Lions tour there? I'm sure one of our part timers did.

The Silverwood/Root duo seem to hate playing Leach when Stokes isn't around to balance the team, so they'll definitely look for reasons to leave him out. I'd fancy Lawrence's chances in this series slightly more than Bairstow's (with the bat) so I wouldn't hate him playing from that pov. If he took >0 wickets it'd be a bonus.

 

[GIMH]

surely we should have a subbie now where I can flame Burgey flame Burgey

 

[Starfighter]

@Starfighter I'd usually agree. But with Bess/Leach in the squad it's difficult to justify Lawrence's bowling being a factor. But this is an Ashes series right??? There will be meme-level decision making guaranteed

I think Bess is also there with view to his secondary discipline, just in the other direction. Fact is I imagine they'll find some galaxy brain way to leave Leach out in order to play four fast bowlers. That said Leach might be better off not playing considering how the pitches are here.

 

[Prince EWS]

surely we should have a subbie now where I can flame Burgey flame Burgey flame Adelaide

Agreed.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think Bess is also there with view to his secondary discipline, just in the other direction. Fact is I imagine they'll find some galaxy brain way to leave Leach out in order to play four fast bowlers. That said Leach might be better off not playing considering how the pitches are here.

Yeah I don't think it'd be particularly dumb. If your best spinner sucks (at least compared to your quicks) and you don't have a seam bowling allrounder you probably shouldn't play a specialist spinner in Australia.

Woakes possibly qualifies as a seam-bowling allrounder, and that's probably the way I'd roll. But three quicks, Leach and Root is IMO a worse attack in Aus than four quicks and Root, assuming quicks roughly the standard of the ones they've selected.

 

[Starfighter]

Yeah I don't think it'd be particularly dumb. If your best spinner sucks (at least compared to your quicks) and you don't have a seam bowling allrounder you probably shouldn't play a specialist spinner in Australia.

Woakes possibly qualifies as a seam-bowling allrounder, and that's probably the way I'd roll. But three quicks, Leach and Root is IMO a worse attack in Aus than four quicks and Root, assuming quicks roughly the standard of the ones they've selected.

How much does Leach suck though? I rate him, and Woakes is certainly not the pace bowler I'd be looking at to do better - he averaged 49.5 in 17/18, and his batting was a nonentity too. Plus Root doesn't seem too inclined to play or bowl him anyway.

 

[morgieb]

Yeah 4 seamers with Root/Lawrence bowling spin would make sense in England, but I don't think England's quicks are good enough in Australia for them to not justify picking Leach.

Alas they don't have much by the way of great options.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Leach is quality, but psychologically things could get to him. Remember this is a guy who was available but didn't play a test all summer, and if suddenly asked to be the main spinner, it could be really tough. He strikes me as a strong and resillient character, but that must really mess with your psyche

 

[Nintendo]

I think lawrence and pope could both do really well tbh. Lawrence absolutely dominated last time the lions toured and pope has been in really good form, could see him taking to the flatter ossie decks really well.

 

[honestbharani]

They should start with Anderson, Broad, Woakes and Wood with Root and Malan as backup bowling offies and leggies respectively. But there is still a slot open at 6, so I would pick Lawrence, unless they are confident enough to bat Woakes at 7. I actually would.

What they would pick -

Burns
Hameed
Malan
Root (c)
Bairstow
Pope
Buttler (wk) (vc)
Woakes
Broad
Wood
Anderson


What I would pick -

Burns
Crawley
Malan
Root (c)
Bairstow
Buttler (wk) (vc)
Woakes
Leach
Wood
Broad / Robinson
Anderson


Also, Anderson's song and dance about the bouncer is not exactly gonna help him down under. There will be many bouncers.

 

[Gob]

Where is the Aust domestic season thread to discuss the mighty Travis Head

 

[Nintendo]

1.Cardboard cutout
2.Cardboard cutout/puc
3.Marnoos
4.Smith
5.Green
6.Head/puc
7.Paine
8.Starc/Ness
9.Cummdog
10.Lyon
11.Haze

team pics itself aside from the openers. With marnus's recent form and smith's elbow injury could be very trying times for the younger guys. If those 2 can't carry there weight (which they probably will, england's attack is fairly average in these conditions), then the younguns will have to stand up hard.

If smith sits out injured and we play
1.Warner
2.Puc/xxxxx
3.Marnus
4.Green
5.Head
6.??????
7.Paine

with the same bowling do england have a chance of going 2/3-2 and drawing the series?

 

[grecian]

Yeah 4 seamers with Root/Lawrence bowling spin would make sense in England, but I don't think England's quicks are good enough in Australia for them to not justify picking Leach.

Alas they don't have much by the way of great options.

It doesn't make any sense in England, I know it's a meme that English pitches are some kinda swinging seaming nightmare, but they really aren't. English spinners have done pretty well there for over a decade. Our selection this year was appalling.

In Oz, much more justifiable to not pick a spinner TBH, not sure I would, but I'm expecting Silverwood too.

I just think whomever we play we won't take 20 wickets often.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Was it Lawrence who randomly took a stack of wickets in Oz in the last Lions tour there? I'm sure one of our part timers did.

The Silverwood/Root duo seem to hate playing Leach when Stokes isn't around to balance the team, so they'll definitely look for reasons to leave him out. I'd fancy Lawrence's chances in this series slightly more than Bairstow's (with the bat) so I wouldn't hate him playing from that pov. If he took >0 wickets it'd be a bonus.

Looking at cricinfo Lawrence topped the runs and the wickets (well, jointly with COverton) on the last Loins tour of Oz, so if that counts for anything he should be a shoo in.

I personally think Leach is in slight danger of becoming overrated on CW. Yes, he's a decent performer, but he's not Bishan Bedi. 18 wickets @ a tick under 29 in India looks a reasonable return but on the same decks Ashwin took 32 at 14.71 and Axar bagged 27 at 10.59.

And yes, they got to bowl at England rather than India, but it's perhaps interesting the services of both were deemed superfluous in the return leg up here.

If we're faced with the Adelaide and SCG decks of old there's clearly a case for a specialist twirler in those tests, but I don't think we should play one just for the sake of it, especially if it leaves us with just three seamers or else a potential 8-9-10-11 of Robinson, Wood, Leach and Anderson.

 

[grecian]

I dunno that Leach is massively over-rated, he's not a World-beater but he's proven consistently to be our best spinner since Swann retired, and has been consistently dicked around by selectors.

 

[Burgey]

Pucovski concussed again - hit in the head at training. Give it up, son. Got a real problem playing the short ball, obviously.

Luckless Pucovksi recovering from another concussion | cricket.com.au

The Australia and Victoria opener has been considered the favourite to partner David Warner in the…

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The age of Ward is upon us.

 

[Daemon]

Poor kid.