Road to the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia

[the big bambino]

I think warner laid that accusation to rest with his recent efforts in BD. Classifying Smith as a home track bully is just an out and out misclassification.

 

[S.Kennedy]

I think warner laid that accusation to rest with his recent efforts in BD. Classifying Smith as a home track bully is just an out and out misclassification.

His stats say differently.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Warner averages 20.97 more when playing in Australia. That is an entire number 8-9 batsman!

 

[Daemon]

I think warner laid that accusation to rest with his recent efforts in BD. Classifying Smith as a home track bully is just an out and out misclassification.

The point was less that they're bad or anything of the sort when away from home, but that their batting is clearly much superior in home conditions

 

[TheJediBrah]

First post on here
Why are England fans so despondent? I think we outclass Oz in every dept. As a new pensioner (65 this year) and a profound pessimist as far as all England's national sports teams go, I see no reason why convict butt cannot be kicked. Root, Cook and Bairstow are 3 of the best batsmen in the world right now. Spinners? Lyon > Mo. Maybe but even the most devout Aussie fan would not argue that he was a better bat. On keeping ability alone Bairstow and Wade are about equal, Australia have pace in their seam attack but not the guile of England. o why are we so half-hearted in our support?

You're a bit optimistic in calling Cook and Bairstow among the best Batsmen in the world right now.
Wade won't be playing.
The Ashes is in Australia. Pace is important, guile not as much. If the Ashes were in England and forecast for cloudy moist days then the English attack would be more dangerous.

Australia have three flat/home track bullies, Warner, Khawaja and Smith, which will go massive on specially prepared wickets. That is my main fear for England. And before anyone starts complaining, all three have massive differential home/away averages - even Smith improves 14.71 on an Aussie road.

 

[the big bambino]

His stats say differently.

Who's - Warners? Away he's patchy but that's mainly due to his ineffectiveness in the subcon. A circumstance which he has recently countered. He's far better in Oz but his record OS isn't so bad as to call him a home track bully. Usman I'd be inclined to say yes. Smith is good just about everywhere.

 

[Gnske]

I honestly think George Dobell is paid by the ECB. Embedded journalism at its worst.

It's really hard to pick a favourite. I think England's bar is higher for batting but will they be able to play to it in Aus and without Stokes. A tough one. I'd go England 2-1.

He's more of a partisan hack fanboy for the players, and if you tell him as much the words speak for themselves.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Who's - Warners? Away he's patchy but that's mainly due to his ineffectiveness in the subcon. A circumstance which he has recently countered. He's far better in Oz but his record OS isn't so bad as to call him a home track bully. Usman I'd be inclined to say yes. Smith is good just about everywhere.

Warner's average is still 41.38 away (an increase of 3.13) when we remove the Asian countries compared to 59.22 at home. There is no getting away from the fact that the gulf between his home and away average is massive.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Home and away differential of top Ashes bats,

Khawaja: 36.53!!
Warner: 20.97
Smith: 14.67
Root: 9.47
Bairstow: 8.96
M. Ali: 8.66
Cook: -2.01
Stokes: -3.47 (for sake of argument)

The top three spots are all Australian - by some margin.

 

[Burgey]

If warner and TPC averaged away as they do at home they’d be the second and third best batsmen in history.

TPC’s series in India was the best away series by an Australian batsman in a lonnnngggg time. Fmd he was in a different league.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Warner's average is still 41.38 away (an increase of 3.13) when we remove the Asian countries compared to 59.22 at home. There is no getting away from the fact that the gulf between his home and away average is massive.

Home and away differential of top Ashes bats,

Khawaja: 36.53!!
Warner: 20.97
Smith: 14.67
Root: 9.47
Bairstow: 8.96
M. Ali: 8.66
Cook: -2.01
Stokes: -3.47 (for sake of argument)

The top three spots are all Australian - by some margin.

I may be missing something, but why do we care??

They average better at home . . . How is this an amazing phenomenon? Especially since you've been posting about Australian "roads" repeatedly why do you think it's interesting that they average more at home?

Like I said, I may be missing something but I just can't figure out what your point is.

 

[Burgey]

Interesting fb preview of the England ashes squad.

ENGLAND 2017 ASHES PLAYER REVIEW!

1. Alister Cook - this **** is class slapped Australia to all parts back in 2010! Must score big runs for England to have any chance! Pressure is on you ****.

2. Mark Stoneman - I don't no much about this **** looks handy enough could be a surprise packet but to be honest can't see him doing much the Australian quicks will rattle the **** out of him!

3. James Vince - useless **** county cricketer at best can't see him reaching a half century. Dud

4. Joe Root - superstar has to make at least 400 runs this **** for England to have any chance! Good luck **** face.

5. Dawid Malan - another useless **** will not have an impact in the series.

6. Jonny Bairstow - good player this fella I expect a solid series from this ****! All the best you red headed ****.

7. Chris Woakes - solid Allrounder might do a little bit here and there can't see the **** having a major impact.

8. Moeen Ali - another good Allrounder I think he may make some lower order runs but **** me his off breaks will get slapped to all parts!

9. Stuart Broad - if this **** doesn't take bulk wickets England are ****ed! No matter what you do you will always be a ****head.

10. Craig Overton - who the ****s this **** never heard of you! All the best anyway ****

11. James Anderson - class bowler but if this **** don't strike will the new ball he is ****ed! Can't get a wicket bowling 125km without swing in Australia jimmy boy!

12. Ben Stokes - benny the king hitting dog! Hopefully comes down under he is a class act can't see England winning without this ****.

13. Gary Ballance - **** this **** has been to Australia before and couldn't lay bat on ball! Useless **** won't do **** all this series!

 

[Spark]

Australia have three flat/home track bullies, Warner, Khawaja and Smith, which will go massive on specially prepared wickets. That is my main fear for England. And before anyone starts complaining, all three have massive differential home/away averages - even Smith improves 14.71 on an Aussie road.

Smith averages 54 away?

Like okay it's not as good as his ridiculous record at home, but it's still better (just) than, say, Joe Root's career average home and away. The other two I'll give you though.

 

[OverratedSanity]

If Smith is smart he'd decide to have a couple of bad series at home and bring that home-away average difference down to acceptable levels.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Also, performances in Bangladesh being used as an example of being good overseas is a huge win for their non-minnow status.

 

[Spark]

Also, performances in Bangladesh being used as an example of being good overseas is a huge win for their non-minnow status.

Them playing good cricket at home is a bigger win tbh.

 

[stephen]

Smith isn't a home track bully, he's a first innings bully. Averages 94 in the first innings, 50 in the second innings, 47 in the third and 33 in the fourth.

Win the toss and send him in to bat and he's merely as good as Steve Waugh.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Smith isn't a home track bully, he's a first innings bully. Averages 94 in the first innings, 50 in the second innings, 47 in the third and 33 in the fourth.

Win the toss and send him in to bat and he's merely as good as Steve Waugh.

Steve Waugh averaged 94?

 

[harsh.ag]

Poms gonna get slaughtered. Expect Broad to look like a baby about to cry by the third test. Also Root to burst out in acne by Melbourne.

 

[the big bambino]

Also, performances in Bangladesh being used as an example of being good overseas is a huge win for their non-minnow status.

Warner's os problems are mostly (not completely) down to bad stats in India and Sri Lanka. He's done well in BD and UAE. That series in BD was tight, the home team really good, and I'd hate to think what would have happened without Warner, particularly as Smith failed. All I'm saying is that it shows Warner can prove he can succeed on subcon wickets which basically gives him the reputation as being poor overseas which I think is a distorted reputation.