First thread - Who will be the top run scorer and wicket taker?

[flibbertyjibber]

Trott and Anderson

 

[Neil Pickup]

lyon n warner

Which way round...?

Pretty sold on Clarke for reasons mentioned earlier. Worried about Jimmy lasting the series having seen him distinctly sub-par in Kiwiland, Broad and Finn won't hold it together over five tests, and Swann has question marks over fitness too. Saying that, it's not like an Aussie will play all five, so Swanny's my shout.

 

[Howe_zat]

Michael Klinger

 

[Valer]

Ryan Harris. I could totally see him playing 5 tests in a row...

Trott for the runs.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Ryan Harris.

In fairness, he was bowling fine before the freak stress fracture in Melbourne 2010-11 - and had taken a 6-fer in the previous innings in Perth, no less - it's fair to say that if he's worked on his durability enough to hold up for a whole Shield season in all formats, then he could play through five admittedly more intense Tests after an extended rest.

At this stage (were I the Illuminati cricketing selector) it would be Siddle, Harris, Pattinson and Lyon. Bird first cab off the rank, Hilf second. SOK the logical but unlikely backup tweaker.

After this diatribe, a quick question - is Cummins fully fit? Any chance of him getting a gig in the preceding ODIs or Twenty20s? Would be nice to gauge his progress if nothing else.

 

[Valer]

In fairness, he was bowling fine before the freak stress fracture in Melbourne 2010-11 - and had taken a 6-fer in the previous innings in Perth, no less - it's fair to say that if he's worked on his durability enough to hold up for a whole Shield season in all formats, then he could play through five admittedly more intense Tests after an extended rest.

At this stage (were I the Illuminati cricketing selector) it would be Siddle, Harris, Pattinson and Lyon. Bird first cab off the rank, Hilf second. SOK the logical but unlikely backup tweaker.

After this diatribe, a quick question - is Cummins fully fit? Any chance of him getting a gig in the preceding ODIs or Twenty20s? Would be nice to gauge his progress if nothing else.

To be honest unless he stay fit I'm very pessimistic about the ashes. I think / hope he'll play most /all of it.

I'd consider bird for Siddle order swap ( I really don't rate siddle still) but that really wouldn't mesh with current policy & be somewhat injury prone. Pretty much agree otherwise...

 

[theegyptian]

Not Cook would be my guess.

 

[MW1304]

Bell and Johnson.

 

[mightymariner]

Trott and Finn.

 

[wpdavid]

Anderson if only because he's likelier than the Aus boys to play in all 5 tests. Swann's main problem is that I don't see him bowling on many Day 4 or 5 pitches in this series.

As for the batting, it's hard to look beyond Clarke. Cook would be a better bet in the return series. Maybe KP as England's top scorer.

 

[Bahnz]

Anderson and Cook.

 

[benchmark00]

Why did Jono call this 'first thread' when it clearly wasn't? I don't understand?

 

[Prince EWS]

Why did Jono call this 'first thread' when it clearly wasn't? I don't understand?

It was the first/only thread when he created it; other threads got moved in here from CC afterwards.

 

[benchmark00]

Crabb ruining jokes old school style.

 

[Maximas]

Matt Prior to score the most runs and Swanny to take the wickets - provided his elbow causes him no grief in the lead-up or the series itself.

 

[South]

Trott and Bird

 

[Coronis]

Clarke will score the most runs, and Anderson will take the most wickets, since we'll have about 8 bowlers throughout the series.

 

[Julian87]

Ed Cowan
nathan lyon

 

[adub]

Phil Hughes and Jackson Bird.

 

[Burgey]

Ian Bell

James Pattinson.