2009 Ashes Series - England vs. Australia **Spoilers**

[pull2808]

My team would be:

Strauss
Cook
Bopara
KP
Collingwood
Freddie
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Panesar

Which is the team playing Warwickshire today

I would have almos the same but prior batting a 6 and would have rashid in for panesar. Panesar has done nothing and hasnt developed at all over the last two years. Rashid however has, that and having superior batting and fielding that panesar gets him the nod.

On a seemer friendly wicket i would sway panesar/rashid for sidebottom.

 

[lemonkettaz]

I reckon we are going for a comfortable win, say 3-1

 

[oli collett]

Aussies v the Lions is live on SS1 at the moment, Harmison's bowling really well, bit late though
24-2 with Onions just getting Ponting...

I think it's a good move having the first Test in Cardiff, it'll turn there big time and they don't really have a spinner, the stadium will be packed and vociferous and anywhere but Lords for the opener has to be a good idea.

My team would be:

Strauss
Cook
Bopara
KP
Collingwood
Freddie
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Panesar

Which is the team playing Warwickshire today

I think I'd swap Panesar with Rashid, Monty's really not been bowling well so far this season.

Also, is Sidebottom back in contention? Not sure if i'd play him ahead of Onions, he looks much better now he's back up to bowling in the mid-late 80's. Harmison certainly did look good this morning though - makes it a tough decision on the bowling front!

 

[oli collett]

Brett Lee is looking quick this morning! Been up to 93.5mph, quite impressive considering he's only just back from injury.

Having said that - Brett Lee has bowled a lot of pie when he's been over before. In the last series he had a few decent spells (particularly at the Oval) but other than that was not particularly threatening. I think Australia's most penetrating bowler will be Johnston. I'm really looking forward to seeing Johnston vs. Anderson in terms of bowling figures - Anderson's got huge promise and I'd love to see him deliver on an occasion like this. If he can get a few quick wickets early on in the innings it'll make a huge difference.

 

[Stewy]

I honestly am quite confident about this Ashes considering how poor Australia are at the moment, particularly with the bat with only really Ponting and Hussey world class imo, with Haddin and Clarke up there too. Bowling-wise they are also nowhere near the quality they have been for the last 10 years or so so I'm fairly optimistic

 

[oli collett]

I honestly am quite confident about this Ashes considering how poor Australia are at the moment, particularly with the bat with only really Ponting and Hussey world class imo, with Haddin and Clarke up there too. Bowling-wise they are also nowhere near the quality they have been for the last 10 years or so so I'm fairly optimistic

Their batting might not be as good as it was 4 years ago - but ours is hardly any better. Bopara hasn't proved himself at the top level yet and you could argue our only world class batsman are Pietersen and at a push Strauss. Cook does look in good nick though and Collingwood is due runs.

Having said that - Australia's ploy of only playing 4 specialist bowlers could well backfire. If Lee or Clark can't make it through a test match they will have to rely on their part time spinners who I feel could get taken to the cleaners.

 

[Stewy]

Bowling-wise I think they are quite weak too, Johnson and Lee are ok but it falls apart a bit after that.

 

[Yas786]

Still have my money on the Aussies to retain the Ashes...they arent as strong as they were when they walloped England 5-0 to take the Ashes back.

I reckon it will be close but still Aussies to retain the Ashes...only weak spot i can see in the Aussies is their lack of spinners or world class spinners since Warne retired.

Also Lee has taken 5 wickets against the Lions today so thats probably a welcome relief for Ponting.

 

[Stewy]

Lee did look very very good, almost unplayable, when he got the old ball to move around at 95ish mph. I was however surprised how pedestrian the rest of the team looked.

 

[Yas786]

Ashes are only a couple days away and boy England have got some great news with Brett Lee ruled out of the first 2 tests...so in theory should be pretty easy for England i would imagine to get some sort of result out the first 2 tests. And with only Hauritz as their specialist spinner i dont think Aussies are going to have it easy if anything...plus Hauritz is pretty rubbish from what i have seen of him...hes only taken 2 wickets for 260 runs last week against the Lions.

http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/content/current/story/412965.html

 

[ringo747]

Ashes are only a couple days away and boy England have got some great news with Brett Lee ruled out of the first 2 tests.

brilliant!

 

[oli collett]

Squad for the first test for those who haven't already seen it:
Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar.

I thought Harmison would at least get a place in the side, but I suppose with Broad and Flintoff already offering pace and bounce there wasn't really any need for him.

 

[ringo747]

Has Ian Bell earned his place again? Surely not

 

[Yas786]

Squad for the first test for those who haven't already seen it:
Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar.

I thought Harmison would at least get a place in the side, but I suppose with Broad and Flintoff already offering pace and bounce there wasn't really any need for him.

Probably due to the possiblity that like the last time the Ashes were being played in Aus...he started off giving 4 wides

But on a serious note, he bowled very well against the Aussies last week.

 

[Yas786]

Has Ian Bell earned his place again? Surely not

Even i was a bit surprised with that...hes hardly been in good form with the bat...didnt really bat very well against the Aussies last week either...

 

[ringo747]

I reckon Belly must be close pals with some of the selectors just. I hear Henry Blofeld is back on TMS for the first test. What a legend!

 

[oli collett]

Even i was a bit surprised with that...hes hardly been in good form with the bat...didnt really bat very well against the Aussies last week either...

He's scored a fair few runs, I think he was averaging over 50 but you're right he didn't do a lot against the Aussies last week.

I still think he's technically the best batsman in England, just hasn't been able to apply himself consistently at the top level. He does get a ridiculous amount of unfounded criticism though, and if you compare his test & ODI record against players we had 10+ years ago he would have been the first name on the teamsheet back then!

 

[lemonkettaz]

As if i'm off on holiday during the 1st test..

at least I'll get to see the morning session anyways.

Just put £10 on england to win 3-1...

 

[normanthefarmer]

Even i was a bit surprised with that...hes hardly been in good form with the bat...didnt really bat very well against the Aussies last week either...

well hes only in the squad, doubt he'll get selected for the match, but i dont understand why people are surprised by his selection. looking at his stats, his batting average is above 40 tests. The only critism is his conversion of 50's to 100's but he is a very gifted player. His form also hasn't been terrible and players always raise there game for test matches. I would prefer to see him ahead of bopara personally.

 

[ringo747]

So here we go then. The Ashes start begins! Im stuck in an office in dublin where nobody else knows what cricket is except for an english lad who is off for 3 weeks. I cannot wait to get tuned into tms and let the therapeutic commentary just while away the days! Come on england!