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Official - Road to Ashes 2023

Spark

Global Moderator
You can usually write the Lords Test as a win for Oz.
This was true until 09 but since then our record there has been pretty mixed. Some good results but some absolute howlers too (2009 and 2013 come to mind)

EDIT: Actually only one good result in 2015
 

GIMH

Norwood's on Fire
This was true until 09 but since then our record there has been pretty mixed. Some good results but some absolute howlers too (2009 and 2013 come to mind)

EDIT: Actually only one good result in 2015
Rain gifted you guys a draw there in 19, which Burgey conveniently overlooks at all times :ph34r:
 

Ashes81

State Vice-Captain
Complete opposite. It's movement off the pitch that has caused Australian batsmen the most trouble in England.
The overhead conditions in England , particularly in the north, don't just impact the amount of swing a bowler gets but also the amount of seam movement.

Headingley is probably the worst for this. I've seen countless times the ball do all sorts off the pitch in one session when it's overcast. Then the sun comes out and the pitch suddenly becomes much more docile.
 

Isura

U19 Captain
Personally I think any of Pope, Root, Stokes or Bairstow are all possible shouts to have a crack at opening. I'd probably favour Pope as Ashes81 has mentioned purely cos he's generally in early anyway. But I dont have particularly strong views on who it should be.......just so long as its Bairstow in and Crawley out and they leave Foakes right where he is.
Why don't they just use Broad or whoever is the default nightwatchman as opener going forward.
 

halba

International 12th Man
England XI

Crawley retains his place- specialist opener.

Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Brook
Root
Bairstow (w/k)
Stokes/Woakes
Broad
Robinson
Anderson
Leach

Aus XI

Khawaja
Harris(warner out of form)
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Neser
Cummins
Hazlewood/Boland/Starc
Lyon


We bat up to no.8- Neser. Eng also bat up to no.8 in broad.

Note M. Starc isnt suited to dukes ball in England. His record is poor. Neser should play all the games if fit.
 

Line and Length

Cricketer Of The Year
England XI

Crawley retains his place- specialist opener.

Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Brook
Root
Bairstow (w/k)
Stokes/Woakes
Broad
Robinson
Anderson
Leach

Aus XI

Khawaja
Harris(warner out of form)
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Neser
Cummins
Hazlewood/Boland/Starc
Lyon


We bat up to no.8- Neser. Eng also bat up to no.8 in broad.

Note M. Starc isnt suited to dukes ball in England. His record is poor. Neser should play all the games if fit.
No Foakes? That's a harsh call.
 

halba

International 12th Man
No Foakes? That's a harsh call.
Note, in the media there is pressure on his place. Bairstow is keeping in county and Is a pro keeper. Bairstow is way better bat and possibly their best in these conditions
Also Crawley they can't drop, you need a specialist opener so that the other guys don't have to face the new ball.

Note Stokes has a knee injury and in doubt. Pope will captain if he's ruled out.
 
Last edited:

Fuller Pilch

Hall of Fame Member
England XI

Crawley retains his place- specialist opener.

Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Brook
Root
Bairstow (w/k)
Stokes/Woakes
Broad
Robinson
Anderson
Leach

Aus XI

Khawaja
Harris(warner out of form)
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Neser
Cummins
Hazlewood/Boland/Starc
Lyon


We bat up to no.8- Neser. Eng also bat up to no.8 in broad.

Note M. Starc isnt suited to dukes ball in England. His record is poor. Neser should play all the games if fit.
Keeping is important to BMac, so I expect Foakes to play.

Also apart from injury there is 0% chance that Woakes will be picked ahead of Stokes.

Finally Robinson is decent with the bat, while Broad is poor.
 

ashley bach

Cricketer Of The Year
Australia have named their team for the first test, Bazball already looking in strife.

Hayden
Ponsford
Bradman
Smith
Ponting
Waugh
Border
Gillchrist
Warne
Lillee
McGrath
 

FBU

International Debutant
/
No Foakes? That's a harsh call.
The match before the Ashes against Ireland

Crawley Duckett Pope Root Brook Stokes Foakes Robinson Broad Leach Anderson

- then 1st Test to fit in Bairstow and Archer
will Stokes do his share of the bowling or share it with Brook? :unsure: Bowled 8 overs, got out Williamson in NZ.
will Archer be back from the IPL in time or play at Lords in the 2nd Test onwards?
will Bairstow take Crawley's place after the 1st Test? Bairstow should try opening at Yorks instead of the wicketkeeping.
 

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