***Official*** Super Series

[Barney Rubble]

Hell it's hardly a surprise. If Strauss can't make an extremely long list for Test player of the year in the ICC awards...

True - 7 hundreds in 19 Tests is certainly worthy of a nomination. Although the voting period was 1 August 2004 to 31 July 2005 - his two hundreds against NZ came before those dates, and his two against Oz came after, so maybe that's what counted against him.

Pietersen's a shoo-in for the Emerging Player award, though - he's up against Bell, Karthik, Rana, Aftab Ahmed, De Villiers (only other one who might pip him), and Gambhir.

He's also nominated for the ODI player award - but he probably won't get that one.

 

[twctopcat]

Yep, I do. Flintoff and Harmison are going to turn up and say "by the way guys, if you want to know how to dismiss each Aussie batsman.......", and Gilchrist's not showed any signs of solving his Flintoffitis at all yet - they could be very one-sided indeed.

Exactly, Gilchrist is going to see Flintoff steaming in and think, jeez, not this guy again.....Mcgrath is going to have bowl out of his skin because, as good as he is, i can't see Warne ripping through the batting like he did this summer against the likes of Lara, Dravid etc.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Exactly, Gilchrist is going to see Flintoff steaming in and think, jeez, not this guy again.....Mcgrath is going to have bowl out of his skin because, as good as he is, i can't see Warne ripping through the batting like he did this summer against the likes of Lara, Dravid etc.

My thoughts precisely. Australia have just been outplayed four times in a row by a side who, despite the fact that they play extremely well as a team, have four world-class players at an absolute maximum (Flintoff, Harmison, Vaughan, Trescothick). The rest are either up and coming (Pietersen, Strauss, S Jones), or play well because they are part of the team strategy (Giles, Hoggard).

When faced with an entire XI of world-class performers, and a captain who is almost in the same league as Vaughan (far better than Ponting whichever way you look at it), added to the fact that two (possibly three) of the opposition are going to know exactly where to bowl to all of them and have done so for the past two months, you really have to say that Australia could struggle, even on home pitches. Warne and McGrath really will have to bowl out of their skin - especially if Tait and Lee are as wild as they have been at times this summer.

 

[aussie]

My thoughts precisely. Australia have just been outplayed four times in a row by a side who, despite the fact that they play extremely well as a team, have four world-class players at an absolute maximum (Flintoff, Harmison, Vaughan, Trescothick). The rest are either up and coming (Pietersen, Strauss, S Jones), or play well because they are part of the team strategy (Giles, Hoggard).

When faced with an entire XI of world-class performers, and a captain who is almost in the same league as Vaughan (far better than Ponting whichever way you look at it), added to the fact that two (possibly three) of the opposition are going to know exactly where to bowl to all of them and have done so for the past two months, you really have to say that Australia could struggle, even on home pitches. Warne and McGrath really will have to bowl out of their skin - especially if Tait and Lee are as wild as they have been at times this summer.

true but one big difference is that the World Xi wo't have that same team spirit thing that England have their just going into the match flat, so that could be crucial but doesn't matter who wins.....

 

[Tom Halsey]

Does anyone else think that the test is going to be a walkover?? The ODIs could well follow suit.

Yes. As good as the Aussies are, I can't see anything other than a hammering. I have a feeling McGrath is going to struggle, Warne might get a few but won't be as threatening as he's been all summer and the English guys are going to tell the others how to get them out.

 

[Barney Rubble]

true but one big difference is that the World Xi wo't have that same team spirit thing that England have their just going into the match flat, so that could be crucial but doesn't matter who wins.....

For one match, team spirit won't matter. For a five-match series when you're 1-0 down after one game, that's when it matters.

The World XI are a far stronger side than Australia at the moment - therefore, they will probably win. End of.

 

[greg]

Yep, I do. Flintoff and Harmison are going to turn up and say "by the way guys, if you want to know how to dismiss each Aussie batsman.......", and Gilchrist's not showed any signs of solving his Flintoffitis at all yet - they could be very one-sided indeed.

But will Smith give Flintoff two gullies? ;-)

 

[superkingdave]

I think Australia might win it tbh

 

[Barney Rubble]

But will Smith give Flintoff two gullies? ;-)

Knowing Smith's history with the Aussies, he'll probably give him six slips, three gullies, and tell the bowler to go to short leg and sledge like hell before the ball gets to the other end.

 

[aussie]

For one match, team spirit won't matter. For a five-match series when you're 1-0 down after one game, that's when it matters.

The World XI are a far stronger side than Australia at the moment - therefore, they will probably win. End of.

i won't be so sure, lets just see what happens...

 

[marc71178]

true but one big difference is that the World Xi wo't have that same team spirit thing that England have their just going into the match flat, so that could be crucial but doesn't matter who wins.....

It could go either way.

Just about every player in that side has been part of a side that has been beaten heavily by Australia in the past.

That might mean that they come together as a superb unit because they want to finally have some success.

 

[twctopcat]

But will Smith give Flintoff two gullies? ;-)

Smith will do whatever the **** Freddy tells him to do.

 

[twctopcat]

God this series is gonna be good, the test will be something else. I don't want to be an aussie bowler. Sehwag and Smith, then Dravid, then lara, then SRT, then Kallis, then Freddy, then Boucher, then Pollock with prob Murali and harmison coming after them. Will tendulkar play or will they put Akhtar in as an extra bowler?? With Murali that is pretty much one end tied up then rotate Pollock/Freddy/Harmison.
Does anyone know if it will be on sky??

 

[superkingdave]

yes its on sky, some late nights/early starts for me i think

 

[marc71178]

Hasn't Tendulkar withdrawn though?

 

[twctopcat]

He has been asked to confirm his availability or lack of by September 21st.

And here's a thought, SRT to get the record breaking ton in the test?? Would be pretty special, though i imagine he would prefer to do it in an Indian shirt.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Personally I don't think Pollock play, it's been nearly 2 years since he took a 5-fer (or better). His record over the past couple of years is good but not great. His fairly negative bowling and Kallis' patented 2 foot outside off bowling wouldn't be much of a spectacle either.

 

[twctopcat]

Good point. To be honest i would play a fit Akhtar over Pollock and bring in Inzi over SRT even if the elbow is alright.
However Pollock's yard outside off routine could work wonders against a restless Clarke and Martyn....

 

[aussie]

Personally I don't think Pollock play, it's been nearly 2 years since he took a 5-fer (or better). His record over the past couple of years is good but not great. His fairly negative bowling and Kallis' patented 2 foot outside off bowling wouldn't be much of a spectacle either.

regardless of that i'm pretty sure Polly will play in front of Harmison in a 5 man attack comprising of Pollock/Akhtar/Flintoff/Murali/Vettori

 

[irfan]

ive heard that the icc are planning to make the super series an event held every 5 years where the best take on the rest.
jus wondering if england happen to take on ROW, what the ROW lineup be like??
min wud be (based on current form)

1. J Langer
2. G Smith (VC)
3. R Ponting (just shades dravid, can be more explosive) (C)
4. S Tendulkar (elbow fully fit otherwise INZY)
5. B Lara
6. J Kallis
7. A Gilchrist (wk)
8. S Warne
9. S Akhtar
10. M Muralitharan
11. G McGrath