Official - Road to Ashes 2023

[the big bambino]

Some speculation saying Stone wont be ready for the first two ashes tests. If England want to rotate the fast bowlers he may not have even been picked until the later tests anyway. Wood can play the first couple of tests so they might still get by without Archer (though not ideal). If Stokes can't bowl and England still want 5 bowlers then Woakes may surprise and be considered after all.

 

[Burgey]

Anderson's potential absence is a disaster - not because it will alter the inevitable pizzling England will receive, but because if he's not there the Poms will run out the same excuse they used in 2019. Want to see the best players available for both sides rather than injured, it blows when blokes are sitting out big series.

 

[Molehill]

Anderson's potential absence is a disaster - not because it will alter the inevitable pizzling England will receive, but because if he's not there the Poms will run out the same excuse they used in 2019. Want to see the best players available for both sides rather than injured, it blows when blokes are sitting out big series.

To be honest, this minor injury could be a good thing. If it means he doesn't bowl for the next 3 weeks then less risk of him actually missing the First Test.

As for Stone, not sure where all this talk has come from. He was nowhere near selection, probably about number 8 bowler when all are fit. Anderson, Broad, Robinson, Wood, Woakes, Potts all ahead (excluding Archer). If we have to go outside that lot then we're ****ed!!

 

[Victor Ian]

Anderson's potential absence is a disaster - not because it will alter the inevitable pizzling England will receive, but because if he's not there the Poms will run out the same excuse they used in 2019. Want to see the best players available for both sides rather than injured, it blows when blokes are sitting out big series.

oh well. Hell be even better in 2027.

 

[Burgey]

He'll take 97 wickets at 4 in the 11 months leading up to the 2027 series then strangely miss it due to [insert injury here which allows him to play either side].

 

[mackembhoy]

Ben Stokes still can't bowl says Stephen Fleming

IPL 2023 - Bowling a bit of a challenge for Ben Stokes ahead of the Ashes | ESPNcricinfo

Stokes words earlier in the year " “The one thing I did say to the medical team is just give me eight fast bowlers to choose from."

Well that's now 4 assuming he meant 8 not including himself.

Woakes, Broad, Potts and Wood and the latter won't stay fit for all 5 tests.

 

[Qlder]

So is it fair to say England is down to Robinson, Wood, Broad and Leach with no 5th bowler as Stokes not able to bowl?

Makes Cummins, Starc, Boland, Lyon, Green (and Labushagne) look pretty good ?

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

So is it fair to say England is down to Robinson, Wood, Broad and Leach with no 5th bowler as Stokes not able to bowl?

From all reports so far Anderson is expected to be fit for the Ashes so first choice attack of Anderson/Robinson/Broad/Leach will hopefully play, just unlikely to have a fifth bowler.

Wood, Woakes and Potts the backups, probably in that order.

 

[Starfighter]

Telegraph reporting Foakes has been dropped for Bairstow.

 

[Prince EWS]

If Stokes doesn't want to open and can't bowl then he probably shouldn't be selected at all. I'm not sure his captaincy really offers more than Foakes' keeping and he's been batting worse than him as well.

Absolutely no chance the selectors will see it that way though.

 

[Starfighter]

I think Stokes' captaincy has offered a lot so far. The comments on reddit are saying that various team combinations are leaking out (such as Stokes opening and Woakes as allrounder) so I'd wait till it's official to see what Stokes does.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Anderson's potential absence is a disaster - not because it will alter the inevitable pizzling England will receive, but because if he's not there the Poms will run out the same excuse they used in 2019. Want to see the best players available for both sides rather than injured, it blows when blokes are sitting out big series.

Australia were missing Bradman in 2019 so that cancels out England missing Anderson IMO

 

[Burgey]

From all reports so far Anderson is expected to be fit for the Ashes so first choice attack of Anderson/Robinson/Broad/Leach will hopefully play, just unlikely to have a fifth bowler.

Wood, Woakes and Potts the backups, probably in that order.

That attack is threadbare at best. Things looking awfully grim for the home side this northern summer.

 

[ataraxia]

I really hope Stokes opens. It'll be hilarious, and it's probably the best idea. But most importantly of all, hilarious.

 

[TheJediBrah]

In all seriousness it's an abysmal attack. No way they can go in without a 5th bowler and risk one of them breaking down and being stuck with no options. Leach is a club spinner, Anderson and Broad are good bowlers obviously but there are clearly fitness issues there and who knows what they'll actually serve up. Robinson is the safest bet out of that attack tbh

 

[ataraxia]

Australia were missing Bradman in 2019 so that cancels out England missing Anderson IMO

"Anderson is as good as Bradman" – wholeheartedly agree tbh.

 

[TheJediBrah]

"Anderson is as good as Bradman" – wholeheartedly agree tbh.

37 year old Anderson is as good as dead Bradman, correct

 

[ataraxia]

Well no, you were missing Bradman because he was dead.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Well no, you were missing Bradman because he was dead.

thanks for explaining the joke

 

[ataraxia]

You're welcome. It's a pretty bad joke though, sorry to disappoint.