[Cricket] The Ashes 2015 ***OFFICIAL SERIES THREAD***

[Bold Seagull]

Eoin Morgan has to come in doesn't he!?

Gary Ballance recent county scores: 14 (CC) 9 (T20) 16 (T20) 1 & 29 (CC) 31 (T20)

Just not cutting the mustard and the Ashes is no place to be ironing out technical flaws. I see Bell has hit a 90 in t20 and 111 in the Championship which is good to see.

Morgan's record in tests is not all that bad despite being dropped in that ill fated tour against Pakistan in Dubai in 2012. He is in fine form and sometimes you just have to go with a bit of momentum. He's in a good place right now, and personally I'd be thinking about taking the risk on him.

Cook
Lyth
Bell
Root
Morgan
Stokes
Buttler
Moeen
Broad
Wood
Anderson

 

[TomandJerry]

We will win

 

[big nuts]

Eoin Morgan has to come in doesn't he!?

Gary Ballance recent county scores: 14 (CC) 9 (T20) 16 (T20) 1 & 29 (CC) 31 (T20)

Just not cutting the mustard and the Ashes is no place to be ironing out technical flaws. I see Bell has hit a 90 in t20 and 111 in the Championship which is good to see.

Morgan's record in tests is not all that bad despite being dropped in that ill fated tour against Pakistan in Dubai in 2012. He is in fine form and sometimes you just have to go with a bit of momentum. He's in a good place right now, and personally I'd be thinking about taking the risk on him.

Cook
Lyth
Bell
Root
Morgan
Stokes
Buttler
Moeen
Broad
Wood
Anderson

You want to drop someone average over 52 in test match cricket for a one day specialist who at no stage has ever looked comfortable in test cricket and possesses major technical flaws outside of his off stump in the longer form of the game.

Ballance will play the first two matches minimum and his place quite rightly will come under scrutiny if his low scores were to coincide with other batsman hitting form in county cricket.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I see the Aussies have got all offended by Graeme Swann's comments this week about targeting Steve Smith's weaknesses and daring to predict England might have a chance in the series. One of them has said they'll be pinning his words on the dressing room wall.

Since when did they become so precious? I don't recall England storming off in a huff every time Glenn McGrath predicted a 5-0 whitewash in Australia's favour, as he did before every single Ashes contest.

 

[tedebear]

All about motivation Edna, nothing like a sharp ended barb to stick on the dressing room wall as a reminder...We can pretend to be offended at anything! ;-)

 

[dazzer6666]

You want to drop someone average over 52 in test match cricket for a one day specialist who at no stage has ever looked comfortable in test cricket and possesses major technical flaws outside of his off stump in the longer form of the game.

Ballance will play the first two matches minimum and his place quite rightly will come under scrutiny if his low scores were to coincide with other batsman hitting form in county cricket.

This.......

 

[jakarta]

My major concerns are Bell, who hopefully has batted himself back into form in County Cricket but much more so Anderson and Broad.

Vs. the Kiwis they didn't look like a Test Side opening pace pair to me - I know Broad got at 5-for in the last Test but at a horrendous cost.

Maybe risk Anderson but replace Broad with Finn who looks like he is getting back his mojo?

Also maybe a second spinner (Rashid) by Tests 4 & 5 as wickets get dry & dusty?

 

[Pintos]

Both sides have good batting lineups, but the Aussie bowling is far superior. Nathan Lyon is hugely improved since we last played him. Unless Ali can rediscover the bowling form from last year, I think we should pick Rashid above him. Shame he wasn't given test match time in West Indies.
We also need to carry forward the recent 'no fear' approach from nz series. The optimist in me says this feels like the build up to 2005 series...

 

[big nuts]

My major concerns are Bell, who hopefully has batted himself back into form in County Cricket but much more so Anderson and Broad.

Vs. the Kiwis they didn't look like a Test Side opening pace pair to me - I know Broad got at 5-for in the last Test but at a horrendous cost.

Maybe risk Anderson but replace Broad with Finn who looks like he is getting back his mojo?

Also maybe a second spinner (Rashid) by Tests 4 & 5 as wickets get dry & dusty?

Jesus wept once again see the Ballance vs Morgan debate.

So you want to drop someone who has 287 wickets at under 30 and has a track record of producing match winning spells time after time for England. His also a useful lower order hitter averaging 22 although I concede his batting has taken a nose dive (pun intended) since his injury.

Finn whilst undoubted potential is even more expensive than Broad, and has had all kinds of run up and technical flaws over the past 3 years.

Why do people put such credence on performances with the White ball it's totally different to test cricket.

The team pretty much picks itself with Ali & Ballance probably being the two at most risk, but they've done more than enough over the past 12 months to warrant their place for the first two matches.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I would think if Ballance is dropped, Hales is the next pick rather than Morgan.

Also if Ali is dropped, I suspect they would look to replace with an off spinner and that is more likely to be Tredwell, who is playing for Kent again.

 

[big nuts]

I would think if Ballance is dropped, Hales is the next pick rather than Morgan.

Also if Ali is dropped, I suspect they would look to replace with an off spinner and that is more likely to be Tredwell, who is playing for Kent again.

James Taylor would probably be the likely replacement although Hales, Morgan & Bairstow will also be mentioned.

 

[Bold Seagull]

You want to drop someone average over 52 in test match cricket for a one day specialist who at no stage has ever looked comfortable in test cricket and possesses major technical flaws outside of his off stump in the longer form of the game.

Ballance will play the first two matches minimum and his place quite rightly will come under scrutiny if his low scores were to coincide with other batsman hitting form in county cricket.

Firstly, Ballance's average is over a very small number of tests in which he enjoyed a bumper summer against Sri Lanka and a limp India in 2014. His other big score was against the West Indies. You can't just say he has to be in because he averages 50 when he's barely faced a first rate seam attack yet, and when he did against NZ he was a walking wicket and looked terribly out of sorts. So did Bell, but Bell's dismissals have been varied because of a lack of form where as Ballance is getting out to the same type of delivery repeatedly.

It would undoubtedly be a massive call, and Ballance is someone who did look the business last year, but Morgan didn't do as bad as people think in test cricket with a top score of 130, and another 100 against India. Until that ill fated tour to Dubai against Pakistan (where the whole team collapsed at the start of the rot) he averaged 39 batting at no.6.

Both of them have issues outside off stump, but Morgan has definitely improved since his last test in 2012. If Ballance had gone back to Yorkshire following the NZ tests and like Bell got a couple of big scores, I wouldn't even be suggesting it to be honest. However, he's gone back and looks shot to pieces for some reason. Sometimes you have to ignore stats, and reputation and the past, sometimes you just have to go with a gut reaction of who is in form, and who might pull a few surprises.

However, I wouldn't be upset if Ballance plays which he probably will. He does obviously have the potential to be a superb no.3, however you'd be mad not to think Bayliss and Farbrace are discussing this right now.

 

[Gwylan]

I would think if Ballance is dropped, Hales is the next pick rather than Morgan.

Also if Ali is dropped, I suspect they would look to replace with an off spinner and that is more likely to be Tredwell, who is playing for Kent again.

I'd say Morgan is way down the list of possible replacements - he's looked at sea in test cricket.

I'm not so sure about Tredwell though: I reckon Rashid is higher up the pecking order - the selectors like a spinner who can bat (which is why Ali got the gig in the first place),

What's most worrying for me is that Mitchell Johnson is playing at Canterbury today in a shoot-out with Harris for the third seamer spot. If Australia can afford to leave out Johnson (who ripped us apart just 18 months ago) then we're really in trouble this summer

 

[Bold Seagull]

I'd say Morgan is way down the list of possible replacements - he's looked at sea in test cricket.

I'm not so sure about Tredwell though: I reckon Rashid is higher up the pecking order - the selectors like a spinner who can bat (which is why Ali got the gig in the first place),

What's most worrying for me is that Mitchell Johnson is playing at Canterbury today in a shoot-out with Harris for the third seamer spot. If Australia can afford to leave out Johnson (who ripped us apart just 18 months ago) then we're really in trouble this summer

Morgan was 23 when he made his debut, in his 16 test matches he got 2 x 100's and 3 x 50's and as I said before Pakistan in Dubai averaged 39 at no.6 which is more than Cook has average over the past couple of years!

He's 28 now, a hungry determined more experienced player. Whether for the Ashes, he is definitely worth another look in test cricket sometime soon.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

You'd have to be certifiable to consider leaving Broad out. His record over a huge period, against the strongest opposition speaks for itself. You know he'll take no wickets for two innings, then six in an hour, in the next - that's how he goes.

 

[KZNSeagull]

I would get Rashid in there somewhere as another option but I would leave the rest of the one day side to concentrate on one-dayers and keep the Test side separate. Smacking NZ bowlers for six in one day games is not quite the same as having Johnson and co trying to knock your head off for 6 hours a day.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Why do people put such credence on performances with the White ball it's totally different to test cricket.

Of course it is, but when you've had such a dramatic seismic change as we've seen in the one day team, you'd be mad not to try to transfer some of that across. Thankfully he isn't being mentioned very much, but the same thing was said when KP was introduced into the side for his Test debut in the Ashes in 2005. A one day specialist no less!

You also can't argue that suddenly Mark Wood looks even more of a player with his performances with the white ball following a good couple of tests v NZ.

I do agree with most of what you are saying, but sometimes you need a little sprinkle of magic dust, and that comes from going with your gut. I think Farbrace did that with this ODI side, the selectors wanted a certain set of players, but he in insisted on a few left field picks and they paid off.

 

[big nuts]

Firstly, Ballance's average is over a very small number of tests in which he enjoyed a bumper summer against Sri Lanka and a limp India in 2014. His other big score was against the West Indies. You can't just say he has to be in because he averages 50 when he's barely faced a first rate seam attack yet, and when he did against NZ he was a walking wicket and looked terribly out of sorts. So did Bell, but Bell's dismissals have been varied because of a lack of form where as Ballance is getting out to the same type of delivery repeatedly.

It would undoubtedly be a massive call, and Ballance is someone who did look the business last year, but Morgan didn't do as bad as people think in test cricket with a top score of 130, and another 100 against India. Until that ill fated tour to Dubai against Pakistan (where the whole team collapsed at the start of the rot) he averaged 39 batting at no.6.

Both of them have issues outside off stump, but Morgan has definitely improved since his last test in 2012. If Ballance had gone back to Yorkshire following the NZ tests and like Bell got a couple of big scores, I wouldn't even be suggesting it to be honest. However, he's gone back and looks shot to pieces for some reason. Sometimes you have to ignore stats, and reputation and the past, sometimes you just have to go with a gut reaction of who is in form, and who might pull a few surprises.

However, I wouldn't be upset if Ballance plays which he probably will. He does obviously have the potential to be a superb no.3, however you'd be mad not to think Bayliss and Farbrace are discussing this right now.

Ballance has played 13 tests that's a decent sample size. His also got a reputation of being tough mentally something that he and the England team will need in spades this summer.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I would get Rashid in there somewhere as another option but I would leave the rest of the one day side to concentrate on one-dayers and keep the Test side separate. Smacking NZ bowlers for six in one day games is not quite the same as having Johnson and co trying to knock your head off for 6 hours a day.

You wouldn't drop Root or Buttler from the test side to concentrate on the ODI's though right!!??

 

[big nuts]

Of course it is, but when you've had such a dramatic seismic change as we've seen in the one day team, you'd be mad not to try to transfer some of that across. Thankfully he isn't being mentioned very much, but the same thing was said when KP was introduced into the side for his Test debut in the Ashes in 2005. A one day specialist no less!

You also can't argue that suddenly Mark Wood looks even more of a player with his performances with the white ball following a good couple of tests v NZ.

I do agree with most of what you are saying, but sometimes you need a little sprinkle of magic dust, and that comes from going with your gut. I think Farbrace did that with this ODI side, the selectors wanted a certain set of players, but he in insisted on a few left field picks and they paid off.

KP made more of a irrefutable case for selection than Morgan as his run of scores and the manner in which he scored them over the winter in South Africa and then the summer series vs Australia meant he was a certain pick. Harsh on Graeme Thorpe at the time but Bell in tests and KP in odi's had shown such promise the selectors went with the freshness of youth who hadn't been on the receiving end of Australia's dominance previously.