The Ashes 2015 - Spoilers

[Dayvo]

Wouldn't be at all surprised if the Welsh crowd was cheering for the Australians, too.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Cricket games are won by teams that have good bowlers. The West Indies were on the top of the World when they had devastating bowlers followed by Australia. When you have good bowler your good batsman can shine.

 

[Dayvo]

Things might be looking up!

First Downton, next Moores? http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/859291.html

Get back to basics: play and practice cricket, and leave the stats and the computers to the nerds.

an old article from cricinfo, but still relevant. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/736737.html

and what's all this crap with Jonathan Trott batting for AND against England in the same game!?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/766927.html

 

[Dayvo]

Meanwhile, somewhere on a tropical island in the Caribbean...

http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2015/content/story/884465.html

Inside three days, and by nine wickets: looking ominous.

And Captain Cock is still clutching at straws still believes England can win.

 

[Dayvo]

I see Boycott's granny has been getting some runs.......

Too much rhubarb.

 

[psmiffy]

The squad for the pre-Ashes training camp in Spain (not sure why Spain is a good place to go to train for a home cricket series - but maybe it is not all about cricket )

England's pre-Ashes training camp squad: Alastair Cook (Essex); Moeen Ali (Worcestershire); James Anderson (Lancashire); Gary Ballance (Yorkshire); Ian Bell (Warwickshire); Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire); Jos Buttler (Lancashire); Steven Finn (Middlesex); Mark Footitt (Derbyshire); Adam Lyth (Yorkshire); Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire); Joe Root (Yorkshire); Ben Stokes (Durham); Mark Wood (Durham).

With the exception of the inclusion of Footitt (who I know next to nothing about except that he plays for Derbyshire, left arm fast and appears to be in form) The squad is definitely not in the "Brave New World" mode - it has got to be hoped that after their R&R they are maybe a "Blast from the Past"

 

[Dayvo]

Some interest here, too, maybe.

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-ashes-2015.177374/

And the Australian squad:

Australia squad in full: Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, (vc) Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.

But it's about being stronger on grass, not paper.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Not Ashes related as such but an interesting interview with Chris Lewis on the BBC website today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33234304

 

[psmiffy]

Hence at least in part my earlier comment about the selectors' dilemmas. Would they dare drop Broad and Anderson (until very recently 'one of the world's top' etc) in favour of the likes of Willey, Wild, Rashid? It would be a bold move, but .... You could argue all night about whether the 'new crew' have the edge on the autumnal stalwarts, but to the Aussies, the new lads are a bit of an unknown quantity, and could at least in theory put them on the back foot, whereas I suspect they feel they've the measure of Broad and Anderson. (Then again, what if you select Rashid and one of the cads brutalises him for 28 in his first over and he never recovers?) Who'd be a selector....

Yup - I think they have to see how Broad and Anderson go - apart Wood who I think has booked a place and Stokes who is the all rounder - the others who have been on display in the one day games have not really shown that much penetration - whilst slips are not normally the most used position in one day games - in the NZ series they were not uncommon - count up the number of slip catches that were taken - need an accurate nagging bowler with a good yorker as the change up - as to which spinner - initially probably have to pick the one who bats best on the basis of nett runs

 

[swee'pea99]

The other thing they need to do is take catches. Banal I know, but true nevertheless.

 

[psmiffy]

The other thing they need to do is take catches. Banal I know, but true nevertheless.

I almost said wrt bowlers - is it worth having Jordan in the team almost as a specialist fielder? one of the best catchers and fielders in world cricket - viz a vis his bowling and runs conceded - how many catches does he need to take to come up on the plus side - having said that non of the present incumbents are bad catchers - nevertheless, whilst about 50% of the "dropped" ones we have seen against the kiwis were pretty much uncatchable except by the best of the best - catches behind the stumps should be a given - ditto many of the outfield onesi

 

[Dayvo]

Here's my team for the 1st Test, although I'm not sure of the fitness of 1-2 players.

Cook (c)
Lyth
Ballance
Bell
Root
Buttler (wk)
Stokes
Rashid
Plunkett
Wood
Anderson

 

[Dayvo]

Stuffed full of Middlesex players, I see

Nah, they've had their day as England players!

 

[psmiffy]

I wish we didn't give them so much pre-Test practise though.

Kent have done their best today to ensure that not too many of their batsmen get a knock

 

[psmiffy]

Matt Hunn - In his 4th first class match - First class wickets No. 7 - 11 Rogers, Marsh, Clarke, Watson and Marsh 5fur - 95