Cricket Web’s Ashes Predictions

For those who haven’t yet heard, the Ashes is starting on Wednesday. After some dubious predictions for the World Twenty20, we felt it was a good time to prove that we really can predict the future when it’s not just a practice. Hence we have given our verdict on what’s going to happen in England this summer.

Representing England we have Martyn Corrin, Richard Dickinson and Martin Chandler, while Manjunath Reddlapalli is holding down the Aussie camp all by himself. Offering a more neutral view is James Nixon, a New Zealander, Ganesh Venkatasubramanian and Swaranjeet Singh, both Indian, and myself, Will Quinn, from Ireland.

Let’s cut to the chase- who’s going to win, and by what score?

Martyn: England, 3-0.
Richard: Australia, probably about 3-1.
Martin: The bookies, 2-2.
Manjunath: England 2-1.
James: England, 2-1.
Ganesh: Australia, 2-1.
SJS: A 2-2 draw.
Will: Australia to sneak it 2-1.

Who will take the most wickets?

Martyn: James Anderson.
Richard: Mitchell Johnson.
Martin: The Burnley Express.
Manjunath: Graeme Swann.
James: James Anderson.
Ganesh: Graeme Swann.
SJS: James Anderson.
Will: I’m going to take a punt and say Stuart Clark.

And who will score the most runs?

Martyn: Kevin Pietersen.
Richard: Kevin Pietersen.
Martin: Kevin Pietersen.
Manjunath: Andrew Strauss.
James: Michael Clarke.
Ganesh: Ricky Ponting.
SJS: Andrew Strauss.
Will: Simon Katich. Top-class batsman who seems to have slipped under the English radar.

Who will be the worst player on either team?

Martyn: Brett Lee (if he plays)
Richard: Nathan Hauritz. If he doesn’t play, then Monty Panesar. If he doesn’t play either, Paul Collingwood.
Martin: I fear it may be Ravi Bopara.
Manjunath: Monty if he plays, if not then North.
James: Ricky Ponting.
Ganesh: Brett Lee.
SJS: Flintoff.
Will: Monty Panesar, Steve Harmison or Ian Bell, depending on who gets a game.

Which tail-ender will frustrate the opposition bowlers most?

Martyn: Graeme Swann.
Richard: If Johnson doesn’t count as a tail-ender, Peter Siddle.
Martin: Graeme Swann.
Manjunath: Stuart Broad.
James: Stuart Broad.
Ganesh: Mitchell Johnson.
SJS: Mitchell Johnson.
Will: Nathan Hauritz.

Who or what will be the Ashes’ surprise package?

Martyn: Australia, in that it will be a surprise to most when they don’t win a single game.
Richard: The Swalec Stadium pitch either turning far less than expected or barely turning at all.
Martin: Matt Prior’s keeping will be fine.
Manjunath: Australia consistently struggling to take 20 wickets as well as two very close games.
James: Ricky Ponting failing to score a hundred the whole series. Australia consistently struggling to take 20 wickets with Brett Lee and Stuart Clark failing to impress.
Ganesh: Michael Clarke’s teasing left-armers will surprise the Poms.
SJS: Ponting- by doing better than expected of him.
Will: Nathan Hauritz not actually being quite as bad at bowling as expected.

Any other predictions?

Martyn: Graeme Swann to reach his maiden Test century by hitting Brett Lee for six.
Richard: Australia will surprise everyone with a squad reinforcement call-up that nobody expects.
Martin: Steve Harmison to get a recall late in the series and celebrate with a five-fer.
Manjunath: This Ashes will be bigger and better than the last one. Peter Siddle will injure himself and miss most of the series.
James: Michael Clarke to become the front-line spinner for Australia after a dismal first test performance from Nathan Hauritz
Ganesh: For all the pre-ashes hype this series will be boring, one-sided and uninteresting. Flintoff will be a big flop and he may even go the way of Andrew Symonds.
SJS: Brett Lee will lose his cool on the field with his skipper.
Will: England to complete their “abusive lover” cycle with Steve Harmison by welcoming him back into the side, only to unceremoniously drop him again when they realise he’s no good any more. Onlookers will say for the millionth time that it’s probably the last we’ll see of him, but it won’t be.