***Official*** Australia in England (The Ashes)

[jordyh]

Surely playing him is a risk though. If something happens to it then he could be out for the whole series

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Don't know what everybody is speculating about really. Alcott has shown time and time again that he will not play someone if he thinks they are an injury risk. If McGrath plays and breaks down, it won't be because he trod on a cricket ball last week, I assure you.

Anyway, it's obviously great news for Australia if McGrath and Lee are fit. I'm not going to assume they'll play yet, since Alcott as I said quite often keeps players back for precautionary reasons, but if they do play and are fully fit then Australia will be back to full strength.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Super-hyped? Interesting way of putting it...

Given how many posts there have been here in the last few days claiming that England "will start favourites" or "have a much more potent bowling attack" or that the Australians are simply overrated, I think that's fair enough. Bit like... every other Ashes series for the last decade really.

Note that I recognise the vast majority of England fans on here are reasonable and are waiting until the series progresses a bit further before passing judgement, but not all of them.

Anyway, looking forward to tonight. It will be very interesting to see how Australia react, particularly their batsmen. And, of course, this test will go a fair way towards deciding the Ashes.

 

[howardj]

Don't know what everybody is speculating about really. Alcott has shown time and time again that he will not play someone if he thinks they are an injury risk. If McGrath plays and breaks down, it won't be because he trod on a cricket ball last week, I assure you.

.

I think, given that he's a very senior player, the decision will be left ultimately up to him. Alcott will make a recommendation, but I bet McGrath makes the final call. Things just work differently if you're one of the very senior guys in the team.

 

[howardj]

Who is everyone tipping a big game from in this Test? I'm tipping a Ponting double ton.

 

[aussie]

Who is everyone tipping a big game from in this Test? I'm tipping a Ponting double ton.

i second that for sure would love to see Ponting score double live at the ground in the next couple of days....

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Who is everyone tipping a big game from in this Test? I'm tipping a Ponting double ton.

I think one of Ponting, Hayden or Martyn will score a century. Ponting's not a bad call though, because I think he's really in pretty decent form. Not his heights of 18 months ago, but good form nonetheless. We saw in the ODIs that a few of Australia's senior batsmen failed until the end and then came good and eventually won Australia the series with two comfortable chases. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a similar thing happen in this series. Hayden keeps getting himself out stupidly, but he played really well in the second innings at Lords and if he can do that again he's a fair candidate for some runs. Either way I expect him to make a good score before the series is out and keep his place in the team. Martyn is just class and has been in great form for a long time now, and he's due some runs in this series too.

I'd also expect that if Australia bat first they will win the test. If England bat first and McGrath isn't playing (assuming the wicket is like we expect it to be... hard and bouncy, turning later), it could be a close one. In the end the result will hinge on Australia's senior batsmen and how they deal with Flintoff, Harmison and potentially Jones and Hoggard if they get friendly conditions.

 

[howardj]

When Ponting gets 'in', he always looks like one of those batsman who you watch and think: "how on earth are they going to get this guy out"? Kallis and Dravid I would also put in this category. By contrast, it always appears to me that guys like Hayden, Clarke and Gilchrist could get out next ball, no matter what score they are on at the time. But, when Ponting's up for it....it's goodnight nurse.

 

[Knopfler]

Ponting's not a bad call though, because I think he's really in pretty decent form

Have to disagree with that. However I can imagine him hitting some form if he gets himself set.

I am also going to make a big call.....Hayden will not score another test century.

Someone, regardless who bats first, will score a century. Trescothick, Martyn or Ponting.

There is no doubt that England had a much more potent bowling attack last test, which is why we need McGrath back (and Lee to stay). Kaspa and Dizzy were not moving the ball a millimetre.

 

[Slow Love™]

Just heard Lee and McGrath on the radio here in Aus. Lee seems to be 100 % as expected.

However, McGrath said he felt absolutely fine and there was no pain in his ankle at all. Should he wake up fine, which he is very confident of, he'll be right to play. So it seems like Pidgeon is much more likely to play than to not play

IMO, as a mind-game, the announcement that McGrath might well play doesn't really give Australia any real benefits. I don't think anybody actually expects it will happen, and all it really does is say to the English "we are in fact sh*t-scared of having to use our other bowling options". If he is actually legitimately fit, OK then.

I'm not sure about Lee either - I hope he's fit. And yes, I hope that if Ponting wins the toss, we'll bat. I think that probably will be his idea though anyway, with what could certainly be called a vulnerable bowling attack.

 

[shaka]

Lee passed his fitness test so im guessing he will play, the McGrath thing is being used to keep England guessing. England are waiting for the decision before naming their own squad, and so they can ask Flintoff about the old trafford pitch.

 

[honestbharani]

I am gonna go against the tide here and back Vaughan to get a good score in this ground. Just a gut feeling.

 

[Woody_cloudofsm]

I am also going to make a big call.....Hayden will not score another test century.

Knopfler it is a big call mate but i dun tend to totally disagree with you, hayden in india in 2001 was the best we have ever seen, against harbajhans potence he was the lone australian batsman to really stand out played beutifully however it is fair to say that he has peaked paset his best a long time ago, not the dominant figure we once saw. However it is all im his mind he still looks good when he hits the ball down the ground gloriously. Mike Hussey is 30 years of age and has been waiting in the wings for so long he is a class act and handled the english batsman better than anyone in the onedayers and he will be breathing heavily down haydos's neck. I would love to see the big left handed queenslander play to his potential when he gets his next back maybe today or 2morrow. But remind me to shout out to you mate if haydos has a even further extended run of form he will get dropped before he gets a chance to gets 3 figures again make or break for hayden in the next 3 tests.

 

[Woody_cloudofsm]

As for this test match let me say that if simon katich plays he will score a hundred just for gods say dont play a backward defensive stroke to giles get on the front foot as much as possible.

 

[King_Ponting]

hayden will score less than 30 this test..... and will as a direct result of that get dropped before the end of the ashes.

 

[Top_Cat]

I'm going to make a HUGE call here. I know at this early stage of his career it might be looked upon as folly but here goes........

*deep breath*

Shane Warne will take in excess of 600 Test wickets.

 

[luckyeddie]

Nice! wana see both playing in the 3rd test...if they both returned then super-hyped England is sure going down....McGrath doing wonders with the ball & Lee with ball and bat...^_^

Where did you get THAT idea from?

Are the Australian press hyping England's chances, because other than the moron newspapers, the UK press are keeping their feet firmly on the ground (at least the versions I get in Ireland are).

 

[luckyeddie]

If he plays then it wasn't a ligament tear, and Alcott is a lying toad!!!

It's called a smokescreen. If you are without your most deadly weapon, at least make the opposition THINK you've still got it in order to disrupt or cast a shadow over THEIR preparations. Keep 'em guessing.

(Well, I've just convinced myself, anyway).

 

[luckyeddie]

Don't know what everybody is speculating about really. Alcott has shown time and time again that he will not play someone if he thinks they are an injury risk. If McGrath plays and breaks down, it won't be because he trod on a cricket ball last week, I assure you.

Anyway, it's obviously great news for Australia if McGrath and Lee are fit. I'm not going to assume they'll play yet, since Alcott as I said quite often keeps players back for precautionary reasons, but if they do play and are fully fit then Australia will be back to full strength.

If any of the current Australian tour party said it was raining, I'd go outside to check - and make sure I'd got plenty of sunscreen on.

 

[howardj]

hayden will score less than 30 this test..... and will as a direct result of that get dropped before the end of the ashes.

I'd probably disagree with you there mate. Don't think there is any chance of Hayden getting dropped before this series ends. However, if he fails to produce for the rest of this series, then his career will be terminated.