The Ashes 2013-14

[The Fez]

OK -- They have arrived...It's on again --  first test 21/11....Let's kick it off with your learned predictions....

[L J T]

I predict the Aussie selectors will choose 5 different teams for all 5 test matches.

The top 6 will change 5 times.

The bowlers will be rotated so they have no confidence.

And Richie will be involved in another single car accident with a car that cannot be replaced.

[JeffK]

The Poms are here and focussed on the tour.  Where is our squad?  All over the bloody place!

[Luc]

Hard to get excited about this at this early stage but the Poms are quite happy to be called the favourites and that is a worry.

God only knows what sort of a team we'll put on the paddock but we have a brief couple of FC matches prior to Brisbane and lets hope some of our blokes carry their short form game form into the longer versions.

 

It's one thing making hundreds at North Sydney oval and it's little boundary's and quite another facing Anderson+Broad on a seaming Gabba pitch.

 

Predictions? Well 3-1 in England's favour and I'll be happy to be proven wrong.

[wolster]

The Australian scheduling for all forms of cricket is a dog's breakfast this year. The Poms must be smiling with our blokes having little chance to settle into the long game before the tests start.

We are giving them an advantage on our home soil FFS. Obviously revenue is more important than test results as fa as Cricket Australia is concerned.

[JeffK]

Yes.

 

I never thought I would say this but I'm starting to lose interest in following cricket.

 

I would like CA and the team to show more demonstratively they are giving top priority to being top of the pile in Test cricket.  And that to me means getting some runs on the board in the long game in preparation and as the basis for selection.

[JeffK]

Having said that I did enjoy the Ryobi Cup final yesterday (Go Bulls).  But very few one day games are that good.

 

Unfortunately I missed the NSW Vic semi final which I understand was also a good game. 

[Orpheus]

Well I'm going out on a limb and predicting a series victory for Australia.

They showed enough in England, on pitches that did not suit Australia, to convince me they are a better than even chance to take the Ashes back in Australia.

[LogicprObe]

I'll go with Australia............2-1.

[davidsss]

Gotta say I think the Poms will win the series. I think a lot of this is due to too much short form cricket and not enough 4 day matches. I am not convinced the ACB values test cricket any more. The test results are the only results remembered for decades, they are the real deal. Would like to see Australia win as this would be, what, 4 series in a row to the Poms? Something needs to be done and it all starts in first class cricket with quality Shield games.

 

DS

[Orpheus]

Here is what Shane Warne has to say, about Alistair Cook and England;

 

"It's all about the brand and style of cricket you want to play and what you stand for as a captain," Warne said. "I'm just telling it the way I see it. If it offends people, ignore it. At the end of the day it's all about winning. He can be negative, boring, not very imaginative, and still win and be happy. But I'll tell you my opinion: I think Alastair Cook has to be more imaginative. I think if Australia play well and he continues to captain the way he does, England will lose the series."

 

"He lets the game drift. He waits for the game to come to him. If I look at the best captains I played with and the best captains around the world, they got the best out of their team, and they always challenged sides. Stephen Fleming of New Zealand, and Brendan McCullum now – he's a good captain, he's imaginative. Mark Taylor was fantastic, Allan Border, Michael Clarke to me is the best captain in the world at the moment, because he's got a lot of imagination.

 

He's not proactive, is a better word than negative. England have got some quality bowlers and over a period of time they'll take wickets but, if they're not having a very good day, there's no imagination, no out-thinking the opposition. He's just going to stand there and let the bowlers bowl. I don't like that style of captaincy and when you're playing the best teams in the world, it won't hold up.

 

"I think in the last few Tests of the last series there were enough encouraging signs for Australia to say, 'We're not far away.' Fast forward to this series, on Australian soil, in Australian conditions, and I think England have to play the best cricket they possibly can to win. I think if they don't, or if Australia don't allow them to play well, I think Australia will win."

 

I agree with him. He rates Clarke highly, as do I.

[Orpheus]

Here's some more, and it's pretty entertaining stuff. This time about the Ponting/Clarke question, too;

 

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/ricky-ponting-motivated-by-jealousy-of-michael-clarke-says-shane-warne-20131104-2ww2t.html

[wolster]

So, assuming Watto is unable to be fit (again) for the first test, who replaces him?

Not an easy one considering his tight bowling that often produces wickets when needed.

Would Faulkner step up?

[The Fez]

I'll tell ya the type of "brand" of test cricket we need warnie. That would be a winning brand wouldn't it Einstein....Thanks for your input...

Sent from my XT925

[Orpheus]

I'll tell ya the type of "brand" of test cricket we need warnie. That would be a winning brand wouldn't it Einstein....Thanks for your input...Sent from my XT925

Not a lot a captain can do about his team's batting performance. If Australia can put together a decent batting line-up, they'll go great.

[norpus]

England 3-1, Clarke to have man-handling issues

[Orpheus]

England 3-1, Clarke to have man-handling issues

Oh ye of little faith!

[LogicprObe]

They are mad if they pick Watson with even the remotest hint of injury.

[Orpheus]

Yes.

 

I never thought I would say this but I'm starting to lose interest in following cricket.

 

I would like CA and the team to show more demonstratively they are giving top priority to being top of the pile in Test cricket.  And that to me means getting some runs on the board in the long game in preparation and as the basis for selection.

This is the series which will bring you back!

 

Nothing like an Ashes series in Australia over summer to remind you of all that is good in the world. I remember back in the late 80s, in a share house in Newtown (just round the corner from where I live now), Geoffrey Boycott was commentating, and David Gower was batting.

 

Gower was everything that he wasn't. Boycott's idea of a good innings was where you scored one run before lunch, but you were still in. Dour Yorkshireman. Gower was flashy, educated, always chasing runs. 

 

It seemed that Boycott was about to be reconciled to Gower. England's hopes were hanging by a thread, and Gower was the key. He was on 99, I think, or at least, he had compiled a good score. It was the last ball before lunch.

 

Boycott said; "Come on Gower, England needs you!"

 

I can't remember who was bowling, it was one of our fast bowlers. The last ball before lunch was wide of the off-stump. Gower moved to belt the ball along the ground to the boundary, got an edge, and was caught.

 

There was a deathly silence in the commentary box. None of the Australian commentators dared speak. Then there came an agonised lament from Boycott;

 

"Oh no, no, what was he thinking of?"

 

That's why I'll never be tired of test cricket.

[Orpheus]

They are mad if they pick Watson with even the remotest hint of injury.

Agreed. He's not the man you want to rely on when the chips are down.

 

I have my doubts about Bailey at test cricket level too, but I'm prepared to be persuaded.

[LogicprObe]

Bailey and Warner both seem to be in good form.

[Orpheus]

Bailey and Warner both seem to be in good form.

Well many of the reservations you would have about Watson could be also be expressed about Warner.

[LogicprObe]

Well many of the reservations you would have about Watson could be also be expressed about Warner.

 

Sure.................but without the fracturing factionalism of Watson.

[Orpheus]

Sure.................but without the fracturing factionalism of Watson.

True.

[LogicprObe]

That would have worked a lot better if Watson's name was 'Finnegan'.