Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
I'll track him down in Melbourne and tell him what the GPG thinks of him, shall I? lol
Ashes build up thread
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Ashes build up thread
Slight elbow injury and why would we want to give you extra practice against leg spin before the 1st test!
Ashes build up thread
No wickets yet for him in the second innings and he has had a few overs!
But if he cannot get wickets in Sydney the best spinners wicket in Australia (Warne & McGill will play in the Test here) he may struggle at the rest of the grounds espically Brisbane & Perth which are seamer friendly!
Ashes build up thread
This may be a forlorn hope but I'm in Sydney for a week for the 5th Test and have been let down on the ticket front. I dont suppose any fellow Bee has spare tickets for days 1 and 2 ?
(BTW, when I booked the timing looked great. I'm doing Bees V Chesterfield, 5th Test in Sydney (hopefully) and back in time to get down to Bournemouth - or what should have been our FA Cup 3rd day !!).
Still - Come on Bees and Come on England !!!
(BTW, when I booked the timing looked great. I'm doing Bees V Chesterfield, 5th Test in Sydney (hopefully) and back in time to get down to Bournemouth - or what should have been our FA Cup 3rd day !!).
Still - Come on Bees and Come on England !!!
stedders
Moderator
Ashes build up thread
I understand, from Aggers on the radio this morning, that my least favourite Welsh convict missed two stumpings; don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
These comments by Roebuck are plainly ridiculous: I think it is England who have every right to have a grievance. Having to go into an Ashes series with the minimum of preparation. I would have thought that any Australian (does he count as an Aussie these days?) would have seen the common sense of any arrangement that accommodates England's need for proper match preparation. What do people expect?
These comments by Roebuck are plainly ridiculous: I think it is England who have every right to have a grievance. Having to go into an Ashes series with the minimum of preparation. I would have thought that any Australian (does he count as an Aussie these days?) would have seen the common sense of any arrangement that accommodates England's need for proper match preparation. What do people expect?
super_bees
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Edmundo
Whinging pom
stedders
Moderator
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
Ashes build up thread
crikey, suppose it is good that it has come now, and not after a pair in the first test. Suppose that will elevate Cook to opener, unless Fletch has another masterplan up his sleeve.
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
It's bound to be Cook opening and a reprieve for either Bell or Collingwood, whichever was going to miss out.
Need a replacement in the squad - I'd go for Robert Key.
Whatever the problem is with Trescothick, and he has my sympathies, I think it's time we ditched any idea that he can play for England on tour again, and I wouldn't have anyone only playing at home.
Need a replacement in the squad - I'd go for Robert Key.
Whatever the problem is with Trescothick, and he has my sympathies, I think it's time we ditched any idea that he can play for England on tour again, and I wouldn't have anyone only playing at home.
stedders
Moderator
Ashes build up thread
Peter Roebuck perhaps, Graham Thorpe . . . both available and in the area
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Les Beeavinu
Administrator
Ashes build up thread
More likely to be Ed Joyce - be ironic if Rob Key gets a recall after the worst season of his career.
West Ealing Bee
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A real shocker this one, didn't see it coming and at least he's given us a bit of warning before the 1st Test.
I wouldn't say his International career was over, Thorpe did something similar and came back, and Trescothick is equally important to the England team, but he will have to take the road back.
I would imagine we'll now have Bell at 3 for the series, unless Vaughan can return sooner than we thought, which IMHo weakens England.
The replacement has to be someone who can bat in the top 3, Key is the only name the springs straight to mind, Joyce would bat lower down.
Ashes build up thread
who's bowling the maiden over???
i cant believe how close you are
.......... 'playing at home' aint his problem
it's his other half playing away that is...
not to keen on touring then Marcus??
well you better get another job mate cos you cant play cricket from your bedroomrofl
i cant believe how close you are
.......... 'playing at home' aint his problemit's his other half playing away
that is...not to keen on touring then Marcus??
well you better get another job mate cos you cant play cricket from your bedroomrofl
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
I don't recall Thorpe twice walking out on a tour in this way.
maddogging
The Silver Fox of the GPG
Ashes build up thread
i cant believe how close you are
it's his other half playing away
not to keen on touring then Marcus??
well you better get another job mate cos you cant play cricket from your bedroomrofl
especially when it's ARC Caddick, that is worse than your missus being a lesbo !.
West Ealing Bee
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Ashes build up thread
He left Pakistan in 2001 :scratch: the morning a Test match was due to start and then quit the last Ashes tour.
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Jimbee
Who's the dummy?
stedders
Moderator
Ashes build up thread
About a week ago I would have confidently predicted that the England starting XI for the Ashes would be:
Trescothick
Strauss
Cook
Pietersen
Bell
Flintoff
Read
Mahmood
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar
I would have bet my mortgage that, aside from freak injuries, this would have been wrong by no more than one name.
Now it appears that the following is very likely to take the field in Brisbane:
Cook
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
G. Jones
Giles
Anderson
Hoggard
Harmison
This was my Aussie line up at around the same time (not entirely sure that I have the positions correct in all instances)
Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Watson
Gilchrist
Warne
Johnson
Lee
McGrath
Am I wrong again?
Trescothick
Strauss
Cook
Pietersen
Bell
Flintoff
Read
Mahmood
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar
I would have bet my mortgage that, aside from freak injuries, this would have been wrong by no more than one name.
Now it appears that the following is very likely to take the field in Brisbane:
Cook
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
G. Jones
Giles
Anderson
Hoggard
Harmison
This was my Aussie line up at around the same time (not entirely sure that I have the positions correct in all instances)
Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Watson
Gilchrist
Warne
Johnson
Lee
McGrath
Am I wrong again?
Brain-dead Bee
Ancient member
Ashes build up thread
I think I'd have gone for Key ahead of Joyce, though I haven't seen that much of the latter.
I know that stress-related conditions can come and go, but I wonder if they should have pushed Trescothick a little harder before he came out. I could never understand him pulling out of the ICC tournament for health reasons, but then saying in advance he'd be OK for the Ashes - the difficulty with that sort of problem (which I've seen in several colleagues and some friends - is it down to me?) is that you can't tell how long it will hit you for
I know that stress-related conditions can come and go, but I wonder if they should have pushed Trescothick a little harder before he came out. I could never understand him pulling out of the ICC tournament for health reasons, but then saying in advance he'd be OK for the Ashes - the difficulty with that sort of problem (which I've seen in several colleagues and some friends - is it down to me?) is that you can't tell how long it will hit you for
West Ealing Bee
Only Reading
Ashes build up thread
You have the batting line-up to 8 spot on, barring injuries. Although I guess Jacques might have pushed himself in ahead of Langer.
Lee will be one of the three fast bowlersand there is a whisper McGrath might be left out, not a strong one mind you so you can ink him in. It is basically one of Staurt Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait for the final fast bowler slot.
West Ealing Bee
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I'm praying England don't get any batting injuries or severe loss of form. Joyce is the wrong choice IMHO.
Key has toured Australia, scored runs there, played Test matches at home and abroad and is now the only man still effectively playing cricket for England with a Test double hundred. Joyce has looked out of his depth in ODI's.
If England lose an opening batsmen they are screwed, we'll be left with Bell opening like we were in India
Wrong choice IMHO :no: :no: :no:
stedders
Moderator
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
Really? Knowing what you do about Fletcher?
Fletcher says he was going to send him home anyway - presumably he'd seen enough before Tres said he wasn't well. The medical advice was that he would be OK for this tour and I don't see why the selectors should try and second guess the medical advice.
Oh, and Joyce is the wrong choice IMHO.
Les Beeavinu
Administrator
Ashes build up thread
Fletcher doesn't like Key, end of. I would've thought that winning the Ashes was more important than the coaches ego.
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
Remind me how we got on in that Test?
OK, Bell didn't get very many and I agree, it's not right - I even think 3 is too high for him in an ideal world.
West Ealing Bee
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Remind me how we got on in that Test?
If Ed Joyce will score the 100+ Shah scored from three you might have a point. He won't.
England have a shortage of top three batsmen, and I agree Bell isn;t really a Test number three. Having someone in Australia who can bat in the top three, has done so in Test cricket and has scored runs doing it and not picking him is folly.
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Jimbee
Who's the dummy?
Ashes build up thread
Key's record in the last Ashes in Australia was pretty cack if I remember. He was laso constantly getting stick off the Barmy Army for his portly appearance and comedy fielding.
West Ealing Bee
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Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
Robert Key first class average 2006 - 14 matches, 25 innings, 2 not out, 731 runs, high score 136*, average 31.78, strike rate 46.64, 1 hundred and 2 fifties.
Maybe Fletcher's got it right?
Maybe Fletcher's got it right?
Les Beeavinu
Administrator
Ashes build up thread
He didn't cope well as Kent captain. Shouldn't have been in the academy based on last season's form. Still a class batsman though - just had a bad patch.
West Ealing Bee
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Hopefully we won't get injuries or loss of form and we'll never have to find out.
But I know who I would rather see opening the batting next Thursday if the excrement hit the fan.
stedders
Moderator
Edmundo
Whinging pom
West Ealing Bee
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Mr Tree
bigger than massive
Ashes build up thread
bah humbug
Key has weaknesses - his good points get him thru county cricket, but the Aussies will mercilessly exploit him if he played in tests.
Joyce is an Irish Middlesex-man - perfect choice! (tho i'd have gone for Shah)
Bell can do a job opening too, imho
super_bees
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Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
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.Mr Tree said:Bell can do a job opening too, imho
finchbee
Gambler
Ashes build up thread
Its a tough one as I would say NO to Joyce, Key, Shah, Ramprakash, Butcher
But I cannot think of anyone else !!
But I cannot think of anyone else !!
West Ealing Bee
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IMHO England now lack a good back-up opening batsman.
I look around the counties and no-one springs to mind.
Vaughan will have to bat in the top three if he returns.
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
Where else would you want him to bat? He's an opening batsman in my book; though I always think of 3 as being a position for an opener too.
West Ealing Bee
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TBH If Cook, Trescothick and Strauss were available I'd have him at four at the highest :shrug:
Now they're not he's the best option.
However if he doesn't return, and the odds are his career won't be a long one with his injury if he ever does return, we are short of another good top three batsman.
Ashes build up thread
Fletcher has an obsession with Left handed batsmen, statistically he is convinced Warne is less effective against left handers, this is a big decision behind Fletcher picking Joyce (should he ever be played).
As mentioned earlier Cook is pencilled in as sheet anchor opener until Melbourne at least unless injury strikes, with Strauss as the attacking opener. No.3 is the problem area as if Bell freezes (against the Aussies again) Fletcher may panic and throw Collingwood up to 3 or Joyce in at 3 later in the Series.
If Bell doesn't work out - it would not surprise me if Fletcher hasn't already pencilled Vaughan in to come back on Boxing Day at Melbourne for last two tests.
As mentioned earlier Cook is pencilled in as sheet anchor opener until Melbourne at least unless injury strikes, with Strauss as the attacking opener. No.3 is the problem area as if Bell freezes (against the Aussies again) Fletcher may panic and throw Collingwood up to 3 or Joyce in at 3 later in the Series.
If Bell doesn't work out - it would not surprise me if Fletcher hasn't already pencilled Vaughan in to come back on Boxing Day at Melbourne for last two tests.
West Ealing Bee
Only Reading
Ashes build up thread
Australia have named a 13 man squad:
Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (capt), Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn McGrath, Shaun Tait.
So it's likely to be one of Johnson, Tait or Clarke.
Personally I'm glad to see Watson at six.
Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (capt), Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn McGrath, Shaun Tait.
So it's likely to be one of Johnson, Tait or Clarke.
Personally I'm glad to see Watson at six.
Edmundo
Whinging pom
Ashes build up thread
I'm hoping that Tait does well in the game at Adelaide, as I think he's pants. That view is based on watching him at the Oval last summer, but he made Gillespie look OK. Stuart Clark is the one I'd fear most.
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