The Ashes

[auscyclefan94]

Australia might be better going with 4 pace bowlers, The spinners dont cut it.

Johnson is still a dangerous bowler if he gets it right, Tait should be persuaded to play, this could prove difficult though But Siddle is a reasonable bowler and maybe stick with Harris.

North, Doherty look like minor counties players and are useless.

So he (Johnson) hasn't played a shield game yet and he gets reselected? I don't see how a few nets sessions could of changed everything especially when his bowling action is struggling...

The selectors have serious mental problems. The day Hughes got selected this week he made a duck and also has an average in shield cricket this season of 20. Ferguson made 130 the day the selections were made and he misses out. England will rip Hughes apart, ponting is struggling and we are already 2 down.

Bunch of morons. I say put in the whole victorian team!

 

[thrawn]

So he (Johnson) hasn't played a shield game yet and he gets reselected? I don't see how a few nets sessions could of changed everything especially when his bowling action is struggling...

The selectors have serious mental problems. The day Hughes got selected this week he made a duck and also has an average in shield cricket this season of 20. Ferguson made 130 the day the selections were made and he misses out. England will rip Hughes apart, ponting is struggling and we are already 2 down.

Bunch of morons. I say put in the whole victorian team!

Johnson should have been reselected as he is the only bowler in Australia capable of winning a match with the ball. Sometimes getting dropped for one match to let the player know that they are not a guaranteed selection can do wonders. If he doesn't hit form, well we cant go any worse can we?

Hughes should easily have been picked over Ferguson. Ferguson doesn't even open the batting, but here are the stats anyway:

Ferguson - 26 years old, averages 36.25 in first class cricket.
Hughes - 22 years old, averages 52.10 in first class cricket.

Conclusion: Hughes wins.

I do agree with your lack of confidence in the selectors. Hilditch, Boon & Cox should be sacked.

And yes, lets put in the whole Victorian team who are currently sitting 5th on the Shield table...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Johnson should have been reselected as he is the only bowler in Australia capable of winning a match with the ball. Sometimes getting dropped for one match to let the player know that they are not a guaranteed selection can do wonders. If he doesn't hit form, well we cant go any worse can we?

Hughes should easily have been picked over Ferguson. Ferguson doesn't even open the batting, but here are the stats anyway:

Ferguson - 26 years old, averages 36.25 in first class cricket.
Hughes - 22 years old, averages 52.10 in first class cricket.

Conclusion: Hughes wins.

I do agree with your lack of confidence in the selectors. Hilditch, Boon & Cox should be sacked.

And yes, lets put in the whole Victorian team who are currently sitting 5th on the Shield table...

Hughes doesn't have the form. Shaun marsh is averaging 80 in first class cricket this season from what i've heard. Hughes will got out for a very small score. Gurantee it.

Victoria won the last two sheffield shield series. They aren't going well atm unfortunately.

 

[El Imbatido]

And why the f#ck did they pick Michael Beer? Because Warnie said too!! Seems like the selectors are just doin what Warnie told them to do. Personally i would have picked Hauritz as he has the form (took a fiver on the Waca the other day and hit 120 with the bat) and if that form can't get you back in the team....nothing will. As for the batting id drop North for someone like Hodge and to open i would have either Jaques or Hughes. Just my opinion feel free to lob grenades at it.

As for England and covering for Stuart Broad id take Tremlett.....bearing in mind i have not seen any of the results of their 3 day game against Victoria.

 

[auscyclefan94]

And why the f#ck did they pick Michael Beer? Because Warnie said too!! Seems like the selectors are just doin what Warnie told them to do. Personally i would have picked Hauritz as he has the form (took a fiver on the Waca the other day and hit 120 with the bat) and if that form can't get you back in the team....nothing will. As for the batting id drop North for someone like Hodge and to open i would have either Jaques or Hughes. Just my opinion feel free to lob grenades at it.

As for England and covering for Stuart Broad id take Tremlett.....bearing in mind i have not seen any of the results of their 3 day game against Victoria.

100% agree. Tremlett should fill Broad's spot especially as he hits the deck hard like broad.

 

[Mambo95]

So Aussies - are you up for round three?

Personally, I think us Poms may be getting a touch complacent and a wake up call might be just around the corner.

I'll be happy with a draw.

 

[PACONi]

So Aussies - are you up for round three?

Personally, I think us Poms may be getting a touch complacent and a wake up call might be just around the corner.

I'll be happy with a draw.

Short of Johnson making a complete form reversal (with the bat too, no-one else seems to be making runs), I don't see the poms not keeping the urn.

Our major problem is we don't look like we have a snowflakes chance in hell of taking 20 wickets.

The other funny thing is that before the series everyone wanted Hussey out, but he's been our highest scorer. Ponting needs some runs badly, I'm sick of hearing all and sundry 'experts' talk up what great form he has and how he'll be our top run scorer this summer.

The Aussie cricket decline has been a steady one for a fews years now. Most have just chosen to ignore the trend.

 

[patswana]

So Aussies - are you up for round three?

Personally, I think us Poms may be getting a touch complacent and a wake up call might be just around the corner.

I'll be happy with a draw.

I am kind of hoping we lose so that the dumb selectors are forced to start making changes.

 

[PACONi]

I am kind of hoping we lose so that the dumb selectors are forced to start making changes.

The Hughes change seems to have been a success

 

[auscyclefan94]

The Hughes change seems to have been a success

Yeah, another failure.

I am kind of hoping we lose so that the dumb selectors are forced to start making changes.

Agreed

Johnson should have been reselected as he is the only bowler in Australia capable of winning a match with the ball. Sometimes getting dropped for one match to let the player know that they are not a guaranteed selection can do wonders. If he doesn't hit form, well we cant go any worse can we?

Hughes should easily have been picked over Ferguson. Ferguson doesn't even open the batting, but here are the stats anyway:

Ferguson - 26 years old, averages 36.25 in first class cricket.
Hughes - 22 years old, averages 52.10 in first class cricket.

Conclusion: Hughes wins.

I do agree with your lack of confidence in the selectors. Hilditch, Boon & Cox should be sacked.

And yes, lets put in the whole Victorian team who are currently sitting 5th on the Shield table...

You were saying? Hughes has had no big scores at all throughout the summer unless you count that match against England in Tassie where he made an 80 in the second innings against England's 2nd bowling attack. Why in God's name would you put a guy in that has done NOTHING? That is mexican logic.

 

[thrawn]

Yeah, another failure.

Agreed


You were saying? Hughes has had no big scores at all throughout the summer unless you count that match against England in Tassie where he made an 80 in the second innings against England's 2nd bowling attack. Why in God's name would you put a guy in that has done NOTHING? That is mexican logic.

I'm still happy with Hughes' selection, as well as Smith's. Both are going to be in the Test team for the majority of the next 10 years, but need the experience at Test level to fully develop. You shouldn't judge players on the basis of one innings.

As to why you would pick Hughes; it was a change necessitated by injury, he's a player of the future, prior to this innings he averaged over 50 in both Test cricket and First Class. There is absolutely no sense in putting another 30+ year old batsmen in who has a couple of years at their peak at best. The only other player who should have been in contention for the opening spot is Usman Khawaja, however he doesn't open for NSW. I actually think he's the best batter in the country currently, and should get a run at the number 3 spot in the Test team.

Hughes is such an unorthodox batter, that when he is not scoring runs he will always be a contentious inclusion as it can look damn ugly.

 

[Anonymous]

Pointless stupid game and an excuse for a bunch of so called sportsman to have a holiday in australia. Couldnt care less who wins, although judging by the posters on this thread the only ones who do care are the aussies.

I think a large proportion of brits are indifferent to cricket. It ruins perfectly good sports pages for three months in the summer.

 

[Archibald]

Pointless stupid game and an excuse for a bunch of so called sportsman to have a holiday in australia. Couldnt care less who wins, although judging by the posters on this thread the only ones who do care are the aussies.

I think a large proportion of brits are indifferent to cricket. It ruins perfectly good sports pages for three months in the summer.

being an Aussie in London, I can assure you that this is far from the case... the brits are lovin' it, and right into it.
i'm just thankful that it's football season here so that there is something else in the papers...

however, completely agree with your first sentence

 

[AussieGoddess]

it is a crap game I have to admit.

I am actually quite glad that the Aussies will lose ... they have to realise that you cannot win consistantly for so long and not have a restructuring and rebuilding phase.

That you have to actually promote and build up talent - it doesnt just appear ready made.

with luck they may learn to actually promote and KEEP in the side some young guys to give them the experience to do better

 

[LugHugger]

So Aussies - are you up for round three?

Personally, I think us Poms may be getting a touch complacent and a wake up call might be just around the corner.

I'll be happy with a draw.

I've followed cricket for over 30 years and have never seen an Aussie side capitulate like this one. Makes you wonder whether anybody should ever ask Glen McGrath for his opinion ever again. Great cricketer, clueless pundit.

 

[SirLes]

Pointless stupid game and an excuse for a bunch of so called sportsman to have a holiday in australia.

And cycling's just an excuse for a bunch of drug addicts to ponce around France, Italy or Spain for three weeks at a time!

Cricket like cycling is an acquired taste. At it's best it can leave you engrossed for Hours at a time but at it's worst is very very dull for hours at a time!

Regarding the Ashes, the Aussies seem to be reacting exactly the same way as the English did back in the nineties but the central problem remains the same. At the moment the England team are better man for man than the Australians. They can blame the captain, switch players around but it won't suddenly make them better players.

It took England far too long to work out the correct strategy for producing good test players. The Aussies under Boarder did it much faster but they can't expect players like Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist to turn up again for a while- they were something else.

Being English I still can't help but worry that the next collapse is just round the corner but logically this series is only going one way.

 

[Mambo95]

Being English I still can't help but worry that the next collapse is just round the corner

To some of us of a certain generation (I'm 38), that attitude is hard-wired into our DNA.

You're absolutely right about the Aussie selection policy mirroring England in the Atherton years. It's nice to see.

 

[Ferminal]

I'm still happy with Hughes' selection, as well as Smith's. Both are going to be in the Test team for the majority of the next 10 years, but need the experience at Test level to fully develop. You shouldn't judge players on the basis of one innings.

Agreed, both need to be in the team and play the next 10 or so games, to get experience and to also know where they stand in terms of their abilities. I couldn't care if they both only average 20 for those games. Players like Waugh, Langer, Martyn, Clarke etc were all better once they returned to the test scene, often years after they were dropped.

lol @ Ponting and Clarke, neither should be in the side. Siddle showed them how a RHB should play. Replace them with Khawaja and one other (doesn't really matter as long as they are <28).

 

[auscyclefan94]

Agreed, both need to be in the team and play the next 10 or so games, to get experience and to also know where they stand in terms of their abilities. I couldn't care if they both only average 20 for those games. Players like Waugh, Langer, Martyn, Clarke etc were all better once they returned to the test scene, often years after they were dropped.

lol @ Ponting and Clarke, neither should be in the side. Siddle showed them how a RHB should play. Replace them with Khawaja and one other (doesn't really matter as long as they are <28).

Well, the Aussies are on fire now. Johnson bowling really well. The others haven't really done much.

Clarke seems to be given so many chances because he is the poster boy of australian cricket.

I think I will go back to supporting australia as after the brisbane test i turned to my english roots and started supported them!

 

[LugHugger]

Finally, the English get to see the Mitchell Johnson that the Aussies have been lauding all of these years. There IS a possibility that the rest of the series will not be dead rubbers. Great stuff.

 

[Archibald]

Well, the Aussies are on fire now. Johnson bowling really well. The others haven't really done much.

steady on... one bowler having a good spell does not mean the team is on fire. recall the first test after Siddle's escapade
the rest need to step up yet. hell, ponting's been outscored by the extras this series...

as for what you do with english tarts, that's your own business thanks!

 

[Mambo95]

Personally, I think us Poms may be getting a touch complacent and a wake up call might be just around the corner.

I hate it that I'm right all the time.

Here's hoping for a Swanny masterclass and a KP onslaught.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Do any of you on here find Michael slater and Ian Healy really irritating?

 

[Mambo95]

Do any of you on here find Michael slater and Ian Healy really irritating?

I quite like Michael Slater when I hear (or see) him. Healy on the other hand will always be irritating, due to him and Steve Waugh rescuing bad situations with a 200 partnership.

What makes it worse is that us Poms thought that once he was gone things would be OK as the new guy wouldn't be as good a batsman. Doh!

 

[Ferminal]

I hate it that I'm right all the time.

Here's hoping for a Swanny masterclass and a KP onslaught.

Heh, a chap sitting next to me spouted in the first session "never seen Mitch do anything against us, crap bowler".

Of course I agreed...

(and yesterday's efforts do not change that).