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[Vic Nicholas]

I am not sure I understand that last post?

Are you saying I do have expectations? Like, of the positive kind?

I may be many things PC, but delusional is not one of them.

I do not know anyone in Oz who is a cricket fan who honestly think we are a chance of winning any more than one test this series. We will be lucky to even achieve that.

Not getting slaughtered would be a positive result.

[Buzz]

Vic - I am not sure the teams are that far apart.
here are the Eng top order batting averages for 2012/13

England's batsmen in Tests since Jan 2012
Batsman           Tests Runs Average Strike rate 100s/ 50s
Alastair Cook       20 1656 47.31 42.84 6/ 3
Jonathan Trott    20 1486 42.45 44.78 3/ 9
Kevin Pietersen    16 1138 42.14 63.46 3/ 5
Matt Prior           20 1131 43.50 55.60 1/ 8
Ian Bell              19 898 32.07 37.12 1/ 7
Nick Compton       9 479 31.93 34.68 2/ 1
Joe Root              6 424 42.40 42.57 1/ 2
Jonny Bairstow     8 341 31.00 54.82 0/ 3

these numbers are hardly aweinspiring.  The suggest an average innings score of about 285 which wont win you many games.

[Vic Nicholas]

285 will win you most games against this current Oz batting line up.

If Hussey was still around, we may have been a sneaky chance, but as it stands, none.

[sgcricket]

clarke is in the form of his life and i expect watson to do well. i expect the australian batsmen to do as well as the english line up. i think this ashes is going to be close (contrary to popular belief). and if all 3 fast bowlers are in form and england is without kp (or a struggling kp), then i would favour an upset

[stevat]

How the Oz top 4 deal with the swinging ball will be interesting.  If they can get that right they've got a decent shout at winning a test or two.

As an England fan, it'd be great if we can get someone like Anderson or Onions bowling at Clarke when the ball is still new.

[Wooly]

how Australia handle the swinging ball is the key.  The last couple of Ashes series in England have come down to 1 or 2 sessions where the ball was swinging and the Aussies couldn't handle it.  Looking forward to a good contest.

[Vic Nicholas]

i expect watson to do well.

Based on?

The man has hardly made a run in two years...

Clarke is the man.

Knock him over, and Australia will struggle to make a competitive total.

Fail to get him in that first 30 minutes - and you are almost resigned to him going on to a big score.

England have Cook, Trott in that category, with Bell and Prior not too far behind.

I do not see how this can be anything other than a comfortable English victory.

[sgcricket]

based on the IPL and his ambition and desire to prove himself
clarke will be top dog as usual.
as for england, dont see trott doing too well. cook will be the main wicket. and like i mentioned earlier, depends on kp

[The_Bird]

Based on the IPL? Oh dear...

[Manormanic]

THINK WE'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE.  bUT wATTO SAYS HE SHOULD BE OPENING SO....

[The_Bird]

Also Trott averages 86 against the Aussies, I think he'll be fine.

[Gerry SA]

Also Trott averages 86 against the Aussies, I think he'll be fine.

Kevin Pietersen once averaged a 130 in ODI cricket and Mike Hussey once averaged 80 odd in Tests.

The stats will level out for Trott.

[procricket]

Kevin Pietersen once averaged a 130 in ODI cricket and Mike Hussey once averaged 80 odd in Tests.

The stats will level out for Trott.

Trott is my favourite test cricketer leave him alone averages both 49 in first and 2nd innings for a lad many though was not up too it the guy is world class...

every team needs a Trott he would get in any team in the world

His new ashes bats are belters too

[charlie15]

based on the IPL and his ambition and desire to prove himself

So you're comparing Test Cricket in English conditions, to 20/20 on Indian flat tracks

[sgcricket]

based on his form, class etc. it has nothing to do with conditions...more to do with his desire to do well
and by the way he scored 135 in the first warm up game.