* * * The Ashes - Official Thread * * *

[Iggle Piggle]

The whole point now is to stop a mid-innings collapse in the remaining tests. With Aus having to win two out of three, I think we'll opt to have a strong batting line-up rather than the best bowling combo.

Having said that...maybe it's revenge time for 2006/7...

I'd argue that with Strauss, Trott, Pieterson and Cook all having hit ton plus scores and Bell especially looking in good nick with 2 fiftys there is more than enough in form batting especially against that attack. It's possible the Aussies might engineer a result wicket but I'd rather keep them down with a more hostile attack than risk letting their batting off the hook.

Swann, as good as he has been bowling, shouldn't be relied on take more than a couple of first innings wickets. He is mostly there to hold an end at that stage. We need the quickies to take the majority of wickets. Whoever is the most dangerous bowler should be put in in my view. One thing I have noticed is that Bresnan took more wickets than Shezad in the last warm up game. He might be more dangerous than I am giving him credit for.

 

[jakarta]

Tremlett is the man for me (bloody hell I have just said that about an ex-Pants and current Slurrey player)

On the other hand all three back-ups are all going to play in the next Tour Match so game on!

I am personally hoping for a draw at Perth so I can watch us retain the Ashes at the MCG - a little bit selfish I suppose....

 

[Billy the Fish]

Albion shirt in this picture, is it anyone on here?

 

[Beach Hut]

Hell hath no fury than an Aussie team humiliated on home soil, be warned England and no complacency just stay focused and we can win the series.

 

[Basil Fawlty]

The Aussies are in absolute turmoil. Their bowling attack is a complete shambles, may long it continue. The Aussies are desperate if they think Warney will come back.........

 

[8ace]

Albion shirt in this picture, is it anyone on here?

 

[Billy the Fish]

Good stuff, bet it was amazing up on the bank for the last day. It looked like everyone went BALLISTIC when Anderson caught Hussey

 

[MJsGhost]

 

[8ace]

The convicts have brought in spinner Michael Beer, Phil Hughes and Steve Smith for the Perth test. Doug "Take your wig off when you bat" Bollinger, Katich and North have been dropped.
The best news is that Mitchell Johnson is back in the squad!

 

[8ace]

Good stuff, bet it was amazing up on the bank for the last day. It looked like everyone went BALLISTIC when Anderson caught Hussey

Yeah everyone did, was more like being at the football than the cricket!

 

[OzMike]

Michael Beer, looks like their listening to Warnie!

 

[cuthbert]

A bit harsh to say Katich has been dropped surely he's injured?

 

[Gwylan]

Michael Beer has only played five first-class games - that's just one more than Will Beer has. It's a desperate gamble by the Aussies. Still, I remember laughing when they picked Peter Taylor in 86/87 when the joke was they'd chosen the wrong Taylor - we weren't laughing when he got MotM. Beer is the tenth spinner for Australia since Warne - Hauritz must be unlucky not to have been recalled.

It looks very weak on batting - Smith isn't really a specialist batsman but looks certain to play. He'll probably bat at 7 with Haddin at 6. And that's after they hope that Hughes doesn't roughed up - surely England have to play Tremlett, he'll get the bounce they need.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Hauritz must have really pissed someone off. Beer might have a bit of talent but if Pieterson, or anyone else for that matter, gets on top of him he will be expensive. The Aussies have nobody to tie up an end, like Hauritz can do.

 

[Gwylan]

Hauritz must have really pissed someone off. Beer might have a bit of talent but if Pieterson, or anyone else for that matter, gets on top of him he will be expensive. The Aussies have nobody to tie up an end, like Hauritz can do.

I don't understand the thinking on Hauritz. He went back to the Shield, scored a century and took three wickets (having done a Michelle in the previous game) and the selectors ignored all that and picked some newbie. I know Warne rates him but he's still very new to first-class cricket and could get BATTERED. Mind you, Warne took some tap in his first test (and his second IIRC) but did OK.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

No-one has so far bowled themselves into contention in the warm up game.

Aussies 216-2. Wicket each for Monty andf Bresnan.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Yeah everyone did, was more like being at the football than the cricket!

The guy in the black and blue Villa away shirt above you in that pic is one of my best mates here in Sydney. His family now live in Adelaide.. He loved it

 

[CHAPPERS]

Why did Austalia A declare? To prevent any of our bowlers getting any work in?

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Why did Austalia A declare? To prevent any of our bowlers getting any work in?

I think they declared early as its only a 3 day game.

Don't think its anything sinister.

 

[Gwylan]

Why did Austalia A declare? To prevent any of our bowlers getting any work in?

They're playing Victoria, not Australia A