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[FattusCattus]

Why is watson loathed?

[Kulli]

Why is watson loathed?

Because the dog at his homework?

[Dan W]

And is it true Hussey (along with Watson) don't get on with Clarke?

[Vic Nicholas]

And is it true Hussey (along with Watson) don't get on with Clarke?

Watson gets along fine with Clarke - other members of the team dislike Watto.

Hussey disliking Clarke?

No idea. Hussey is too much a gentleman to ever tell. Hussey has a sick child and I suspect that he didn't fancy continuous cricket all the way to September....that surely helped make his mind up to retire maybe a year ahead of schedule.

He is greatly missed, but nothing would have stopped us getting a beating in India where we never win no matter who we send.

[Vic Nicholas]

Why is watson loathed?

Self absorbed plonker.

As captain recently kept using "I" instead of "we" in all public utterances.

Idiot announces he wants to open again at a press conference - how do you reckon Warner and Cowan reacted to this?

Knucklehead said he was dropping bowling for good to concentrate on batting...then after completely failing in India (to go with his failures with the bat over the last two years) he suddenly announces he is going to bowl again!

Watto only cares about what is good for Watto.

[Vic Nicholas]

I would suggest the fight and togetherness shown by the Aussies in that last test despite losing suggests the complete opposite re Clarke and Watson.

Inspite of, not because of.

[Vic Nicholas]

Vic, as you guys have come down off being "Kings of the world" for a long period, I think it's only natural that you look at the side you have and describe it appropriately.
 English supporters, who remember the beat part of the last twenty years where at one point there was only Bangladesh below us in the rankings, we shrug our shoulders knowing how often we have had a mediocre team and that salvaging a draw versus the best team in the world in a series we lost the other two matches, while being disappointing, isn't as bad as a whitewash. We've also, too often been guilty of measuring ourselves against Australia, and judging by what's been going on recently, that's perhaps not such a good yardstick...

I hope I am not misunderstanding the tenor of your post Tim, but no offence, you were CRUSHED....AT HOME by SA last year.

What part of that do you not understand?

That same SA was rather fortunate to not lose teh series in Australia only months later.

Still don't get it?

Pakistan were pantsed 3-0 by OZ...and then this same Pakistan destroyed England 3-0 - and if that series went for 5 tests, yiu guys would have lost 5-0 and you know it.

Australia beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka then soon after England struggled to a draw in Sri Lanka.

All that is irrelevant to you guys, but somehow "we beat India and India thrashed you" is the ONLY thing that has any relevance?

Mate, recent form is certainly a pointer, but we got crushed in India in 1997 with McGrath, Warne, Waugh x 2, Slater etc...and again in 2001 when after winning 17 tests CONSECUTIVELY, India beat our brains in...and we again had Warne, McGrath, Gillespie, Slater, Hayden, Langer, Waugh x 2, Ponting, Gilchrist...

After both those thrashings in India, we played Ashes series in England.

You know the rest.

We are a pretty poor side right now, BUT a beating in India has never been a guide to our fortunes, because we ALWAYS lose there.

Recent form as in indicator shows that Oz lost in India where we always lose and where India generally play well.

Recent form also shows that England were rather fortunate to escape with a drawn series in NZ...and NZ struggle to even draw with anyone, let alone win a series which they so nearly did.

So keep your blinkers on and your dream of 10-0 alive.

 

[Bulldog Cricket]

I agree with you Vic. The 2 sides are much more closely matched than most are making out. I think England will just edge it at home with the bowling they have but it will be tight.

[alba caerulea]

Didn't NZ draw with Australia in the last series they played?

And S.A beat Australia. Because you deem it lucky it doesn't suddenly change the result. A loss is a loss

Where did Australia play Pakistan? England would whitewash Pakistan at home too

[Manormanic]

I hope I am not misunderstanding the tenor of your post Tim, but no offence, you were CRUSHED....AT HOME by SA last year.

That same SA was rather fortunate to not lose teh series in Australia only months later.

Vic, you do talk some absolute sh1te.  "Crushed" at home?  England lost 2-0 but a dispassionate analysis shows that they were brilliantly batted out of the game at The Oval, had the better of the Headingley test and lost a close game at Lords. 

And then South Africa were fortunate not to lose the series in Australia?  How precisely do you make that out?  The one test that went to a result you lost very conclusively, the others were drawn... 

Trolling is so unbecoming!

[Buzz]

I am not sure. I think the kiwi top 6 is now better than Australia's.

Viv keep fighting the good fight.
I don't agree with you, but that is not relevant!

[procricket]

I think both sides are mediocre at the minute too be honest both sides lacking more than 3 world class players in there ranks it just England average men are better than Australia by a long way.

Do a composite 11 see who gets more men in the side but I agree I think it will be a close series for sure.

If England get back to form then they have enough in my eyes to win home and away series.

England are better but not by a long way.

As for New Zealand I think there a half decent outfit they play hard and have some talented youngsters I think if they has a couple more decent quick bowlers they would be a very decent outfit but then again wouldn't most sides.

[Manormanic]

Oh, I think as a general point that South Africa are a long way ahead of any other side in Test cricket.  England are about where they deserve to be at number two - a gutsy side with some quality players and some real battlers; indeed, the only side who are arguably done a disservice by the ICC rankings would be Pakistan, who are probably a bit better than fifth.

How do I think the Ashes will go?  A lot depends on which Australian side turns up - if they manage to get their best side selected and on the field throughout the series and if England do their usual thing of preparing pitches that are fair to both sides rather than screwing Australia with turning decks and winning 5-0 - then it could be a close 2-1 England.  If they do as they have recently done, then there is still the chance that they will take a hiding.

[Number4]

As for New Zealand I think there a half decent outfit they play hard and have some talented youngsters I think if they has a couple more decent quick bowlers they would be a very decent outfit but then again wouldn't most sides.

Dave,

I think NZ are fine with bowlers and think they were the highlight of the tour against England... I do however think they need a couple more class batsmen... Then they would be seriously hard to overcome.

How embarrassing would it be for England if they did lose the ashes... Can't see it happening but it would be seriously embarrassing considering how poor we are as a team at the moment.

[procricket]

Dave,

I think NZ are fine with bowlers and think they were the highlight of the tour against England... I do however think they need a couple more class batsmen... Then they would be seriously hard to overcome.

How embarrassing would it be for England if they did lose the ashes... Can't see it happening but it would be seriously embarrassing considering how poor we are as a team at the moment.

It will not be a embarrassment at all any team that takes the field has a right to compete.
England are not light years ahead and as I think the New Zealand series was a good one for England.

They and the public will not take Australia likely I remember a certain Allan Border dragged  a mediocre side to England and he began the walloping.

ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA anything can happen it the big one and what makes the sport great I have already booked my days off for the year funny thing there around the ashes I simply can not wait.