The Ashes are coming home!

[age_master]

i just hope i dont have to listen to Nasser too much through the series

 

[simmy]

Nasser is the most honest commentator around and was as a captain also. I had the horror of listening to Darren Lehman during the Twenty20 match... he ended up very embarassed.

According to cricinfo.. Lee is out for a while. Who steps up?

 

[tooextracool]

So, if Australia aren't the "best team in the world", one would have to wonder who are.

somerset surely.
they beat australia with a second string bowling attack(ie without caddick).

 

[tooextracool]

On the 2001 tour, Australia lost to Middlesex and Hampshire, and tied with Northants. They then won the Ashes 4-1. I don't think it wil have too much of an impact on the series, though it will be a wakeup call and I hope Ponting has a few stern words for his bowlers. Still, all signs point to this series being the closest in years.

the loss to hampshire was a complete farce though, i think australia went in with about 4 batters, shane warne came in at 5.

 

[age_master]

According to cricinfo.. Lee is out for a while. Who steps up?

Jason Gillespie?

 

[Richard]

I'm talking about the only thing that matters this summer - the Ashes.

The ODIs mightn't be as important as the Tests but to say they don't matter is utterly ludicrous.

 

[Richard]

At last, he's admitted it.

Err, what?
When "in the blue hell" have I "denied" that McGrath can bowl fantastic deliveries (on seaming and\or uneven pitches)?
You really, really do need to learn to pay attention.

 

[Richard]

You really don't like Flintoff do you.

I don't like him, no - nor do I dislike him. Why would I do either?
But I don't feel he's much of a bowler.

 

[Richard]

Lara/Dravid > Martyn.

Martyn\Katich > Ponting.

 

[Richard]

yep i thought one-day he would

It's something I've not, once, said otherwise to.

 

[Richard]

On the 2001 tour, Australia lost to Middlesex and Hampshire, and tied with Northants. They then won the Ashes 4-1. I don't think it wil have too much of an impact on the series, though it will be a wakeup call and I hope Ponting has a few stern words for his bowlers. Still, all signs point to this series being the closest in years.

I quite agree... it might very well be a mere 3-0 this time.

 

[Richard]

Does it REALLY need to be pointed out to you that the two guys who scored the bulk of the runs for Somerset aren't Somerset locals and are in fact established Test players, one of whom averages 55+ and the other is one of the bestter ODI players of all time?? On their day, NO-ONE would have been able to contain them. Somerset, as a team, may not be up to the level of the Aussies per se but the two players who did the most to win the game most certainly are. Just pointing out that 'Australia were beaten by a county' side is extremely misleading.

Indeed a quite remarkable coincidence (Sanath's form has been woeful so far this year - extraordinary that he should manage to grab this moment) that the two of them should have matters fall into place at such a point.
Fact is, while this defeat should be embarrassing, unlike the Twenty20 one, it still ain't one of any meaning.

 

[Richard]

I've great sympathy for Butch. His Test career has effectively ended not through any fault of his own but by getting injured and seeing the replacements doing too well. The train is going to leave without him.

What is encouragng is that we can leave someone with his recent record out and not notice that he's gone. Five years ago, missing someone like him (although *he* wasn't like him five years ago) would have been a blow, but standards are higher now.

At least he (and I) will always have Headingley 2001 to remember. For one day, he was the best batsman in the world. Lots of players never manage that.

Frankly I'd still far prefer see him return upon Thorpe's retirement than Pietersen, bearing in mind that we're touring Pakistan and India, and Pietersen has already demonstrated fallibility in one-day batting against the wonderful Michael Clarke; he's never, ever faced spin of the Saqlain\Harbhajan\Kumble on turning pitches quality and being South African\English I think we can fairly safely say he's not going to be especially accomplished against it at present.
I highly doubt Butcher will play in the Australia Tests, though as long as he gets back to fitness soon and scores runs from the start of his comeback I'd still prefer him to be first reserve in the almost certain event that one of Trescothick, Strauss, Vaughan, Bell, Thorpe and Flintoff is injured.
Assuming, that is, Bell makes it through The Ashes. Undoubtedly he has the skill and temperament - but everyone is prone to both form-slumps and being overawed.

 

[Richard]

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!

Gillespie's a very fine blocker - even if he has been trying to expand of late.
Pollock is an all-round batsman, however.

 

[Richard]

Varinder Sehwag

Verinder Sehwag

I mean, I know he's good, but come on...

 

[Richard]

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

I regret to inform you that it's pretty likely you will have done.
Can't see any of the England bowlers causing him too many problems.

 

[Richard]

http://content.cricinfo.com/natwestseries/content/story/211066.html

Finally someone talking sense!

Most of those snippets from that paper-round told us something I think we've known since September 21st 2004.

 

[iamdavid]

I'm not expecting big things from Flintoff during the test leg of the tour.
I just think the Australian's have identified him as a dangerman from a long way out and they've really done their homework on him, he's over-reliant on boundaries and they'll look to suffocate him by pushing him onto the back foot and not giving him any balls to drive, I personally doubt his ability to cope with the sort of pressure he's going to face with the bat.
With the ball I reckon he'll be useful as a bit of an indimidator and his consistency of length will tie the Australians down for periods, but I dont really see him being a consistent wicket-taking threat.

 

[Swervy]

I'm not expecting big things from Flintoff during the test leg of the tour.
I just think the Australian's have identified him as a dangerman from a long way out and they've really done their homework on him, he's over-reliant on boundaries and they'll look to suffocate him by pushing him onto the back foot and not giving him any balls to drive, I personally doubt his ability to cope with the sort of pressure he's going to face with the bat.
With the ball I reckon he'll be useful as a bit of an indimidator and his consistency of length will tie the Australians down for periods, but I dont really see him being a consistent wicket-taking threat.

have you seen Flintoff deal with shorter bowling as well!!!?????

 

[Richard]

Hypothetically, if Pieterson does have a very successful ODI series, England have to bite the bullet and stick him in the side. Otherwise, he would be thrust in when the going is a bit harder, and the Aussies would have their tails up and any mental advantage that could have been carried from the ODI's would be forfeited. Much like the Hollioakes of 1997. Make the most of the advantage while they have it, and don't use the players who succeed as back-up for those who haven't this series.

The likely outcome of the 7 ODIs between England and Australia is an emphatic Australian win, probably 6-1 or 5-2 at best.
I don't think there'll be any psychological advantage - to either side - from them.
Nor do I think Pietersen would have any wind taken out of his sails by not playing in the first 2 Tests.
Not to mention the fact that I don't feel Pietersen should be first-reserve for the Tests.
Nor do I feel it is possible to justify putting Pietersen in the Test-side if Vaughan, Bell, Thorpe and Flintoff are fit on July 21st.