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[Manormanic]

Here's a thought - if the bowlers were Maxwell, Mitch, Cutting, Henriques and Hastings and the batsmen, well, any five you care to name...

...then there would be a serious danger of the bowlers outscoring the batsmen...

...and the batsmen taking more wickets than the bowlers...

[charlie15]

Yes, I agree Mitchell Johnson has a certain X Factor about him - in particular he reminds me of the early rounds of auditions where the contestants can't sing and everybody laughs at them!

Johnson turns into a gibbering nervous wreck the moment the Barmy Army get stuck into him, it would be cruel to bring him on tour!

[ProCricketer1982]

I think Johnson has something to offer. Yes he fell apart last time but he's a bit older etc now. He 'could' be very good on his day as he did prove in one match against us (England) in 2011/12.

Having said that, I don't particularly rate siddle, hilfenhaus much anyway. Both (especially Siddle) is just a donkey bowler like our Bresnaaaaan, except bresnan can bat better.

[procricket]

I think Mitchell is a world class well there world class in him.

I think England will not take him lightly.

Depends which one turns up though

He for me is better than any of England's bowling all rounders on his day

[ProCricketer1982]

He for me is better than any of England's bowling all rounders on his day

Exactly. England have no true decent all-rounder since Freddie retired. Don't anyone start on about Broad.. The guy is useless.

LIke you say, depends with Johnson turns up though

[charlie15]

Johnson fell apart in the ODI at The Oval this year.  The crowd were on him straight away and he couldn't handle it, what's to say he could handle an Ashes series.  I'm sorry but he just doesn't deserve the reviews he gets until he can perform consistently well away from the WACA!

[procricket]

You look at his,record,bar a,couple of dodgy series against us he has been decent.

I think the english mentality is slipping in.

Australia can never be counted against

[Manormanic]

Mitch is easy to get at - and his record is padded by an exceptional first 18 onths still - but I think he is one of those guys that you count out at your peril.  I don't think he will necessaily do much over here next Summer - though again he bats a bit so might be boosted up the ranks because of that - but will be dangerous on Australian pitches if he gets some of that momentum thing going on...

[alba caerulea]

Johnson has got a world class performance in him no doubt about it, consistency is his achilles and for that reason England will not mind if he is in the team. The scoring opportunities he offers in the many games he is not on song will be feasted upon if the England batsmen remain in good form

Siddle will run in hard all day and for that you have to give him credit. Where he might struggle is if confronted with a flat batting-friendly track. Despite being an Englishman I have to say that Siddle has had a better 2012 than both Broad and Bresnan. The batting is irrelevant, surely we learnt that from the Indian series just gone. Bowlers must be selected for their bowling and likelihood of taking wickets, if they can bat it is a bonus

Pattinson, if fit, will be the biggest threat to England seam wise.

The lack of a decent spinner leaves a massive hole for Australia, Maxwell is only marginally better than Samit Patel with the ball

I think the english mentality is slipping in.

Australia can never be counted against

I don't agree with that, I expect most neutrals to make England strong favorites aswell, even more so now that Hussey has retired. Australias only proven world class player other than Clarke. It would be a huge upset should Australia win the series next summer

[procricket]

As a Englishman I agree we are strong favourites but make no mistake I do not think it quite the walk over people are talking about the Aussie have a history of fighting back when chips are against

[Over Gully]

This would be my squad for the Ashes Tour:

Batsmen:

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Khawaja
Maxwell

Wicketkeepers

Wade
Paine

Spinners

Lyon
Zampa (NSW Leggie)

Fast Bowlers

Siddle
Pattinson
Cummins
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bird

I tried to work Henriques in there but couldn't find a spot based on a 17 man squad with a reserve player for each category (2 for the pacemen). Starc pretty stiff, rate him but it was out of he and Johnson, both too alike at this stage, lefties who can leak runs but also be devastating on their day. Hilfenhaus and Bird should be suited to English conditions well. Will Cummins be fit and will he be match ready? not sure, but he's too good a talent not to have on the plane. Zampa is an unknown but played his only FC game earlier in the season and took 5-37. I'd rather give that 2nd spinner slot for a promising player of the future than the rest of the more mature spin options that are clearly not up to Test cricket (Beer, Doherty, Krejza, O'Keefe, etc).

[cheese]

My England squad would be...
Batsmen:

Cook (c)
Bell
Trott
Pietersen
Compton
Root
Bairstow
Morgan

Keeper
Prior (wk)

Bowler

Anderson
Finn
Onions
Meaker (pace needed)
Swann
Panesar
Broad (barely)

[Over Gully]

What's happened to Tremlett? I was really impressed with him when you guys last toured Australia, big hulking fast bowler, tall, quick, gets good bounce...

[charlie15]

What's happened to Tremlett? I was really impressed with him when you guys last toured Australia, big hulking fast bowler, tall, quick, gets good bounce...

He's injured, should be back for the start of the season, story of his career really.

[ProCricketer1982]

Knackered back Over Gully - Had a major operation I believe to 'fix' it. Hopefully he'll be fine though. Who know's.

As long as Broad is dropped until he grows up and actually starts to play like a test player I don't care.