Road to the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia

[Starfighter]

It could be worse. Woakes isn't the worst name to fill Stokes' spot but he won't provide the same striking ability. I suppose Overton can bat a bit too.

Good job on leaving out Finn though.

 

[CricAddict]

Just attempted to pick an xi without stokes. Came up with this... ffs ben what have you done to us

Cook
Stoneman
Vince
Root
Bairstow
Ali
Foakes
Woakes
Overton
Broad
Anderson

Am sure this point would have been made already by someone, but will miss Stokes, Foakes, Woakes.

 

[Top_Cat]

Hard to say because a few weeks ago no one would have thought Vince was close to being in the pecking order. He was barely even a chicken.

Will be more of a walking duck tbbh.

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

Will be more of a walking duck tbbh.

Yeah, but Ballance! Arrrgggghhhh

 

[Gnske]

Stoinis, Paine in Australia's Ashes frame - ESPNcricinfo

At last, good people in the frame for the Ashes.

Stoinis would be Voges 2.0, at the least a Bradman.

 

[Tom Flint]

Combined team in aus conditions (imo)

Cook
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Cummins
Starc
Hazelwood
Lyon

Combined team in england

Cook
Warner
Root
Smith
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Starc
Broad
Hazelwood
Anderson

Both 7-4 in favour of the home team, shows the sides are equal in standard but cant see either winning an away away ashes in the next few series

 

[S.Kennedy]

A 'war', ehh, at least according to pint-sized Warner? Why do Australian players always come out with this absolute drivel, every Ashes?

 

[Burgey]

SOK with a broken finger and out for six weeks apparently.

 

[quincywagstaff]

Warner’s comments are interesting as over the past couple of years he’s made a conscious effort to be less abrasive effort than he was known for and this seems a signal that he’s back to his old ways.

I’m guessing though that it’s more bark than bite (especially with the stricter penalties for on-field behavior) and this is all about making the English side feel under siege before the series starts (peppered by bouncers from express pace attack, verbals flying everywhere etc..)

 

[Burgey]

Was this Warner’s I/v with Jim Maxwell yesterday or was it some other comments he made? I heard the radio interview and don’t recall him being particularly bellicose about the series.

 

[Gnske]

Disappointing from Warner. I liked him when he was a boring c***.

 

[S.Kennedy]

The Ashes: England should expect 'war' - David Warner - BBC Sport

 

[Spark]

Oh man that's seriously cringe

 

[Starfighter]

I think the subtle approach these days is how it is and how it goes.

David, you couldn't do subtle if your life depended on it.

 

[Burgey]

I listened to that interview when it was played, and the only thing I found particularly annoying was the war analogy (something so many sportspeople are guilty of). Rest of it was largely him spouting the sorts of platitudes sports people do all the time

 

[Gnske]

I wish I could earn enough money to be able to sprout the platitudes and cliches that sports people do and be able to live with myself.

 

[Riggins]

They have to. If they say anything remotely interesting or honest they get absolutely crucified. It's not worth it.

 

[Tom Flint]

Dont really see a problem with what warner said tbh. It just makes me want us to beat them even more, which just adds to making it more enjoyable to watch. And the hatred comment he said he tries to make himself hate them to motivate him more, not that he actually hates them. Even if he did i wouldnt care.. its a massive series the more they dislike eachother the better imo

 

[S.Kennedy]

I do not remember Bradman or Keith Miller talking like that.

 

[Furball]

Miller actually fought in a war though, which obviously gave him a sense of perspective about a sporting contest.