The Ashes are coming home!

[simmy]

We've had a bit of banter regarding Englishmen being good enough to get into the Aus team...but how many Indians would get in... seeing as they are a formidable batting line-up.

????

 

[Anil]

We've had a bit of banter regarding Englishmen being good enough to get into the Aus team...but how many Indians would get in... seeing as they are a formidable batting line-up.

????

except dravid and maaayybe sehwag, no one at present...

 

[simmy]

Who for?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

We've had a bit of banter regarding Englishmen being good enough to get into the Aus team...but how many Indians would get in... seeing as they are a formidable batting line-up.

????

Assuming it's done on present form, as was done with the English one...

Varinder Sehwag
Justin Langer
Ricky Ponting
Rahul Dravid
Damien Martyn
Simon Katich
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warne
Jason Gillespie
Anil Kumble/Michael Kasprowicz
Glenn McGrath

Kasper is far better than the Indian seamers, but if one was to pick two spinners Kumble would make it three for India. Can't really see any more than two Indians making the Australian team otherwise. Tendulkar for Katich of course if he is fit and playing decently means that half the top 6 would be Indian.

 

[simmy]

I completely agree!

Havent really seen a lot of Katich to be honest (hoping I wont see too much of him by September either)

Tendulkar would walk into any team if fit and in form in my opinion.

 

[Jamee999]

What about combined Australia/India/England?

 

[superkingdave]

combined anyone in the world i think you would only see 4 players max in the side other than Aussies - Murali, Flintoff, Sehwag and (lara/dravid/kallis).

 

[Jamee999]

Verinder Sehwag
Justin Langer
Ricky Ponting
Rahul Dravid
Brian Lara
Andrew Flintoff
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warne
Jason Gillespie
Murali
Glenn McGrath

???

Lara/Dravid > Martyn.

 

[superkingdave]

not at the moment in Australian eyes

 

[aussie]

I'll tell you my reasoning;

Tresco: if he has a good series, it'll mean that Australia haven't been able to get amongst the middle-order early in an innings which is where they roll teams for very little. History has shown that when the Aussies get a few early wickets, fighting back from 3 or 4-down for not many is damn near impossible. History has also shown that when the Aussies have been on the receiving end of a large opening partnership or one wicket down for lots, the opposition team has gotten quite a few runs. A good start against the Aussies is essential because teams who've done so have really put them under pressure. The Aussies under Steve Waugh had a fantastic Plan A but generally a pretty woeful Plan B. This is one area under Ponting which seems to have improved so this effect might be negated a little.

Hoggard: Early wickets. Again, good start = much higher chance of winning and given that the Aussies far prefer facing guys who hit the seam and aren't often exposed to quality swing bowling, a good series from Hoggard will do some serious damage.

Giles: If he has a good series, it'll generally mean the matches have been pushed into late 4th day/5th day when the Aussies have traditionally struggled to save/win matches. And when they're trying to be on the defensive, they're not at their best (they're used to winning, after all) and if the ball is turning, Giles could well be a key 5th day bowler. The Aussies are terrific front-runners but the longer a match drags on, the more even things become and as I said, Giles is a key bowler here.

fair enoguh Top cat, i pretty much agree with that

 

[simmy]

Don't you think that Gillespie is getting a bit too much respect here? In a WORLD XI... surely Pollock takes the nod over Gillo.

He can bat as well... Gillespie.. bless him he tries... but let's be honest!

 

[simmy]

As for the rest of that XI proposed by Jamee...it is so so strong!

 

[Jamee999]

I knew I would forget someone

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

not at the moment in Australian eyes

Lara and Dravid are certainly better than Martyn, and I doubt even Scallywag would disagree. Having said that, I rate Martyn in the top 5 best batsmen in the world currently, behind Lara, Dravid, Ponting and Kallis (not necessarily in that order).

For me, Langer, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie and McGrath would make a World XI currently, and therefore in a composite site with anyone, those 6 players would make it. In a World XI, I would add Sehwag, Lara, Dravid, Kallis and Shoaib.

 

[aussie]

Bell. Pietersen can take his place when Thorpe retires.

dont lets go forgetting Butcher now. Simply because if Thorpe does retire at the end of the Ashes England will have 2 talented but INEXPERIENCED batsmen in the middle order for a good while after thorpe goes, so a man like butcher who i feel still has something to offer england should come back in at # 3

 

[superkingdave]

hmm if it was a straight selection choice id agree but i'm taking this as a situation where these players suddenly become available to Australia, and in that situation i don't think they'd immediately drop Martyn.

 

[superkingdave]

dont lets go forgetting Butcher now. Simply because if Thorpe does retire at the end of the Ashes England will have 2 talented but INEXPERIENCED batsmen in the middle order for a good while after thorpe goes, so a man like butcher who i feel still has something to offer england should come back in at # 3

I'm hoping Butcher doesn't play for England again.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

hmm if it was a straight selection choice id agree but i'm taking this as a situation where these players suddenly become available to Australia, and in that situation i don't think they'd immediately drop Martyn.

Well that's hard to say obviously, but based on general performance Martyn misses out on a middle order spot in a World XI by one slot, imo.

 

[simmy]

Forgot about Shaoib... good idea I guess, as otherwise Flintoff is the only real pace option.

As for Butcher... no.

 

[aussie]

At last, he's admitted it.

yep i thought one-day he would