Ashes build up thread

[stedders]

Final warm up match against South Australia starts this evening, midnight our time. Unsurprisingly, this will be the side Fletch wants as the XI next Thursday in Brisbane.

The only choice for England appears to Ashley or Monty.

I would prefer Monty, but my money would be on Ashley.

 

[eghambee]

Just watched the 4th Ashes test from 1981 on ESPN Classic just to get a bit more worked up for the real thing!

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Jonathan Agnew has just been on Five Live.

Unconfirmed reports that Panesar has been chosen ahead of Giles for this game, and therefore the Test should everything go to plan.

I'm pleasently surprised

 

[West Ealing Bee]

BBC website reporting Panesar being chosen.

This link http://ls.cricket.com.au/HomeFullScorecard13_1070_1.html has him as twelfth man

:scratch:

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Anderson takes the new ball with Hoggard :suspect:

 

[Edmundo]

Auntie also says that Harmison is sitting out the game as a precaution ("tightness" in his side), whereas your link shows him in the XI. But since Anderson is sharing the new ball with Hoggard, I think the BBC may be right. In which case, what's the betting that both Monty and the King of Spain are playing and we are none the wiser?

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Auntie also says that Harmison is sitting out the game as a precaution ("tightness" in his side), whereas your link shows him in the XI. But since Anderson is sharing the new ball with Hoggard, I think the BBC may be right. In which case, what's the betting that both Monty and the King of Spain are playing and we are none the wiser?

I think it's safe to say we are none-the-wiser full stop.

I can't say I'm thrilled with Harmison missing this match but TBH a staright bowl-out between Panesar and Giles would be the best way to settle who plays :shrug:

 

[Edmundo]

I can't say I'm thrilled with Harmison missing this match but TBH a staright bowl-out between Panesar and Giles would be the best way to settle who plays :shrug:

Except that Fletcher will probably base his decision on who scores more runs. :sad:

 

[West Ealing Bee]

This link http://ls.cricket.com.au/HomeFullScorecard13_1070_1.html

This has been updated to show an England XI with Giles and Panesar but no Harmison, which seems to be correct.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Except that Fletcher will probably base his decision on who scores more runs. :sad:

If they take a similar number of wickets perhaps it should come down to who scores more runs

 

[Edmundo]

It seems to show an England X, with Monty as twelfth man!

 

[West Ealing Bee]

It seems to show an England X, with Monty as twelfth man!

The team list at the bottom has 12 names with Mahmood in and Panesar still out :scratch:

 

[Edmundo]

I bet* I got it right in post 106.






*1p

 

[Edmundo]

Or not!

BBC gives this XI

England: A J Strauss, A N Cook, I R Bell, P D Collingwood K P Pietersen, A Flintoff (Capt), G O Jones (Wkt), S I Mahmood M J Hoggard, J M Anderson, M S Panesar.

So Mahmood steps in as cover for Harmison and the King of Spain is on drinks duty.

Have to say I think this is excellent news!

 

[Edmundo]

Oh and S Australia lost two wickets with successive deliveries - one each to Anderson and Hoggy. 25/2 - or 2/25 as we should probably get used to seeing it down under.

 

[Edmundo]

Damien Martyn and Shane Watson are both injury doubts! Watson's done his hamstring and Martyn has tendonitis in his left elbow.

 

[Edmundo]

Apparently the chief executive of Cricket Australia has said he doesn't think what was said to Monty Panesar at the SCG was racist. This is what was reported as the words in question ...

"Give us a wave Monty. You can't speak English you stupid Indian, I'll have to say it in Indian. What are you doing playing in the English side, you're not English."

Not racist, Mr Sutherland? Are you sure about that?

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Damien Martyn and Shane Watson are both injury doubts! Watson's done his hamstring and Martyn has tendonitis in his left elbow.

I'd rather it was Warne and Ponting

The report I read seemed to indicate Martyn would be fine but Watson might not be.

Would Symonds play? Or would they got for an extra batsman?

 

[Edmundo]

I reckon they'll go for Michael Clarke and play four bowlers. The consensus seems to be that Ponting wouldn't have given Watson many overs anyway. Gilchrist hit a few runs yesterday.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Gilchrist hit a few runs yesterday.

He hits runs against most people.

Whether he has cured his fallability against bowlers coming around the wicket and trying to hit his ribs is a different question.

 

[Mr Tree]

I saw him play at Mumbai and although he scored 88, he gave himself cramps by the extraordinary way he stands at the crease and holds the bat. I don't think he has the technique to play at the top level. Sorry.

I think this is a bad idea. I'm not convinced 3 is a good position for him, let alone 1 or 2.

i disagree with most of your cricketing opinions, so i take this as an endorsement that i'm right

 

[Edmundo]

i disagree with most of your cricketing opinions, so i take this as an endorsement that i'm right

Well, you'd better hope that I'm right about who's going to win the Ashes!

 

[Holysmit]

I reckon they'll go for Michael Clarke

Excellent news vastly over rated sh*te batsman who only got some runs in the last ashes due to dropped catches and poor descions.

 

[Edmundo]

Clarke is the man who Lehmann said he should be dropped in favour of as he was going to be the best batsman in the world for ten years. I'm inclined to think he's the convicts' Graeme Hick.

 

[Carri Bee Un]

None of what anybody is saying means anything to me :bound:

Aussies are getting a little excited too now. Warne spouting off about how his hand is better and he will bowling a wibbler or something

 

[Australian Bee]

None of what anybody is saying means anything to me :bound:

Aussies are getting a little excited too now. Warne spouting off about how his hand is better and he will bowling a wibbler or something

I think he was misquoted. He said he was going to be bowling at a bunch of wibblers.

 

[The H]

I have bought Warnes series runs at 140

:scratch: 640/3 dec in every Test should suffice for the Aussies...

 

[Edmundo]

Not long to go now. :bound:

Bloody Trandy's only got himself a job working at the Gabba Thursday-Sunday. :sad: :luckybastardsmilie:

 

[chippendale]

Whats he doing and will he see much of the game?

I'm off work Thursday so I'll be watching all day, at work Friday from 5.00 so I get to see most of the day. Glued to the TV all weekend.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

Shane Watson ruled out for Australia but Ian Bell a doubt for England.

The thought of Ed Joyce batting at three for England is too scary to comprehend, although Watson being ruled out is a bit of good news.

Any chance of the other Shane getting injured too.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Shane Watson ruled out for Australia but Ian Bell a doubt for England.

The thought of Ed Joyce batting at three for England is too scary to comprehend, although Watson being ruled out is a bit of good news.

Any chance of the other Shane getting injured too.

Listening to Aggers on the radio this morning, they seem pretty confident about Bell. Watson's a blow for the Aussies who now will probably go in with just four bowlers. Opinion is that they'll go for a steady eddie bowler like Clark now instead of Tait or Johnson.

 

[wibs]

I think he was misquoted. He said he was going to be bowling at a bunch of wibblers.

has he not heard of copyright?

 

[finchbee]

Just watching the replay of 2005, lot of anticipation but I doubt it will be like that series !!

Hope Bell is fit as he deserves his place in the side and has a few points to prove !!

 

[Carri Bee Un]

My aussie colleagues are shrugging off the Watson loss.

They are very confident

 

[SmiffyBee]

My aussie colleagues are shrugging off the Watson loss.

They are very confident

......and I believe are targeting Geraint Jones as the weak link...Shane Warne has been bleating to the press about Jones's lack of keeping ability.

 

[Edmundo]

My aussie colleagues are shrugging off the Watson loss.

They are very confident

So what? So am I!

 

[davido_i]

......and I believe are targeting Geraint Jones as the weak link...Shane Warne has been bleating to the press about Jones's lack of keeping ability.

So how do they expose this flaw in our XI?
Nick balls outside off stump perhaps? Wander down the pitch to Monty to find out if Geraint is up to a stumping or two?

Can't wait for Thursday. To even contemplate retaining the Ashes without Vaughan, Trescothick & Simon Jones shows how far England has come in a short time. When you think of these 3 guys, it frightening what combined skills we have lost & yet we are still in with a shout assuming we can still bowl well at the left-handers with the old ball with the conditions down under.

 

[stedders]

......and I believe are targeting Geraint Jones as the weak link....

and they wouldn't be wrong!

 

[stedders]

.Shane Warne has been bleating to the press about Jones's lack of keeping ability.

In fairness to Warney (I'd still make him an honourary Englishman at this late stage of his career) I thought he made some good points.
He was pointing out , which is painfully obvious to everyone, that England are compromising on two specialists in their positions in order to bolster the middle order. Nothing wrong with that, but I'd still rather we went in with the best players in their respective positions and put more onus on the specialist batsmen.

 

[Dangerous]

Complete Whitewash win for the fired up Aussies.

 

[Simon C]

Bloody Trandy's only got himself a job working at the Gabba Thursday-Sunday. :sad: :luckybastardsmilie:

Plenty of people here getting paid to go as well. :mad1:

 

[stedders]

Tait has been released from the Australian squad; which leaves the final bowling place to be decided between Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson.

Presumably England are leaving to the last possible moment on deciding between Ashley and Monty. Aggers on the radio this morning was definitely leaning towards Ashley, but he has had so little cricket in the last 12 months you would have thought he would have been picked for the Adelaide warm-up game.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

We're very close now and as stedders said just one decision for both teams now Bell has been passed fit and Tait has been released.

I expect Australia to pick Stuart Clark and England to pick Ashley Giles. IMHO both are negative moves but probably sensible.

Often this Test match has decided the series. The last time England won in Brisbane they won The Ashes and I think a draw would be a fine result.

Having said that I don;t think this will be a draw, England don't bat for long enough. How often have England come close to batting ntil tea on Day 2 without rain? It doesn't happen. Therefore the game moves on and a result becomes increasingly likely.

I reckopn if one team bats first and gets to 400 they'll probably win the match, it's meant to be a good pitch but with Warne on one side and Flintoff and Harmison able to exploit uneven bounce on the other batting through a last day would be very difficult.

TBH I'm praying England win this toss, I think if we can get on top the psychological edge is with us but it can easily be wrestled back.

Overall I have to say I fancy Australia, probably 3-2 with a deciding Test win in Sydney but I think they'll have too much firepower with the bat for a Jones-less England

 

[SmiffyBee]

Complete Whitewash win for the fired up Aussies.

I wouldnt be so sure.....on recent form, yes, but the Aussies have only 3 players in their 14 under 30, 1 is injured (Watson) and 1 has been released from the squad (Tait)

I hope we make them toil hard in the field, and contemplate retirement.


It's gotta be Monty !

 

[stedders]

and my dilemma is:

do I stay up late (ie: well beyond midnight) or get up early (4am) to catch a couple of hours on Sky before listening on my portable radio on the way to work.

The latter makes more sense for me, but aware that the first session (sometimes even the first over) at Brisbane can be crucial!

 

[Les Beeavinu]

and my dilemma is:

do I stay up late (ie: well beyond midnight) or get up early (4am) to catch a couple of hours on Sky before listening on my portable radio on the way to work.

The latter makes more sense for me, but aware that the first session (sometimes even the first over) at Brisbane can be crucial!

I haven't got Sky so not an option for me. I will be staying up for the first hour listening to TMS but the morning is a dilemna. What time is play due to finish every day? Will my commute to work at 07:30 have to be earlier?

 

[237bee]

As Ive been telling every Aussie at work or in the pub .......Aussie squad is old, we are in the middle of a drought here and the grounds are bone dry, which doesnt help the limbs of ageing bowlers and batsmen. Aussies will get injuries and their squad is very thin, particularly in the bowling department.

I reckon Aussies may scrape home in the first one but over 5 matches, some played in 35+ degree temperatures, England's superior youth & fitness will come out on top.

 

[maddogging]

and my dilemma is:

do I stay up late (ie: well beyond midnight) or get up early (4am) to catch a couple of hours on Sky before listening on my portable radio on the way to work.

The latter makes more sense for me, but aware that the first session (sometimes even the first over) at Brisbane can be crucial!

going for the first session viewing myself, always seems to set the tone for the rest of the series.....

 

[wibs]

has to be first session or egen just first hour. purely for the atmosphere and tension

 

[The H]

I haven't got Sky so not an option for me. I will be staying up for the first hour listening to TMS but the morning is a dilemna. What time is play due to finish every day? Will my commute to work at 07:30 have to be earlier?

Perth kicks off at 2am, the rest should be around midnight til 7am, Adelaide may start at 1am