Topic: Australia announce Ashes 2015 squad (Read 12464 times)

tim2000s · « **Reply #30 on:** May 01, 2015, 05:34:37 AM »

As one of the pundits said, for England to win it, at the moment Jimmy needs to fire in all 5 tests. Whilst he has home advantage, that displays a significant lack of back up from the other bowlers.

Having said that, if, and it's a big if, Broad can be convinced to bowl the right length and get his pace back up then we have an excellent front line bowling pair. If they don't turn up we have little new ball power and our back up options, while okay are not anything different to the first two. That's when it starts to become an issue.

Batting wise I'd like to see the middle order perform. They have the ability. Do they have the mindset?

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cricketbadger · « **Reply #31 on:** May 01, 2015, 09:50:32 AM »

Weather dependant, i see the series finishing 3-2, not sure who to, but can just picture an awesome and exciting series, both teams going hard at it, clarke wanting to end his career and captaincy on a high, cook potentially fighting for his captaincy and career. With lots of other players desperate to prove their worth and cement a spot, both old, young and new members of both squads

Manormanic · « **Reply #32 on:** May 01, 2015, 09:53:53 AM »

Quote from: WalkingWicket37 on April 30, 2015, 09:43:03 PM

I think the Aussies will wipe the floor with England.

A like for like comparisson of the sides put Aus as favourites for me, and I think the Ashes will be retained after 3 tests.

Whilst you're argument is pretty well made and free from Gerry-like trolldom, I do think you give Australia far too much credit. If you look at their record away from home over the last few years it is checkered to say the least and England are hardly going to produce pitches to suit the visiting bowling attack any more than Australia would tailor their conditions to suit us; that being the case, you look at the Australian batting and find that there are at least as many questions over their line up as there are over England's - Warner is a quality player but tends to struggle when the ball swings, Rodgers is a grafter but never going to tear up trees, Watson and Marsh LBW candidates, Clarke vulnerable to the short ball. Smith gives the impression of having matured into a much better player than the one England last faced here, but even then quality outswing will cause him issues.

For me the question is more about England's management. Correctly managed (no Trott - no longer good enough, too likely to re-envigorate Johnson with a trophy scalp - Pietersen considered, a bowling attack with variety) then the conditions mean that England should be very competitive. Note, I am not saying England would be favourites - they would not - but I think they would give a good account of themselves, win some tests and have a chance of taking the Ashes if they perform at their best. With Moores at the helm and the old boy culture that currently persists...I still think Anderson and Broad will run through that batting line up a couple of times in the series and reckon they'd expect to take a test - but Australia would be certain to retain, possibly quite handsomely.

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:09:04 AM »

@Manormanic

I'm just glad that I didn't fall into the Gerry category!

You say the Aussies may be vulnerable on English pitches, and as you say there won't be any Aussie friendly decks prepared. My concern however is that if it swings for Jimmy it'll swing for Starc (Johnson doesn't know if it will swing or not when he lets go so I won't add him!)

As for their batting Clarke may be vulnerable to the short ball, but I few England may fall into the trap of trying to exploit that and feed him half trackers. Haddin is also vulnerable to the short one so the bowlers may do the same to him as well.

With Warner and Smifffy it will be interesting how the go against the moving ball, but I predict at least one of them will score big in the series.

Back to England, if Cook keeps grafting 50-70 odd scores he's seeing off the new ball and not performing horrendously. It's Trotty at the other end who concerns me more. I can see well be not many for 1 every game as he isn't a natural opener. I'd love him to prove me wrong, but I think try Lyth against New Zealand and see how he goes.
Other than Bell it's a fairly untested batting lineup against the Aussies (although Root has played in 2 Ashes series) so there may not be as much baggage from the past. It will be interesting to see how they go, but I expect them to be given a working over by Mitch!

Alvaro · « **Reply #34 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:09:06 AM »

For Australia to struggle against swing bowling then England will need to pick some... not these back of a length automatons.

Even Anderson doesn't seem to be swinging it that much these days.

WalkingWicket37 · « **Reply #35 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:10:22 AM »

Quote from: Alvaro on May 01, 2015, 10:09:06 AM

For Australia to struggle against swing bowling then England will need to pick some... not these back of a length automatons.

Even Anderson doesn't seem to be swinging it that much these days.

Jimmy will need to be ticking at 150% every game for England to be in with a chance in my opinion.

Get Plunkett in for Jordan to spice the attack up a bit!

Manormanic · « **Reply #36 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:29:39 AM »

Quote from: WalkingWicket37 on May 01, 2015, 10:09:04 AM

You say the Aussies may be vulnerable on English pitches, and as you say there won't be any Aussie friendly decks prepared. My concern however is that if it swings for Jimmy it'll swing for Starc (Johnson doesn't know if it will swing or not when he lets go so I won't add him!)

Other than Bell it's a fairly untested batting lineup against the Aussies (although Root has played in 2 Ashes series) so there may not be as much baggage from the past. It will be interesting to see how they go, but I expect them to be given a working over by Mitch!

I think England would take that equation because Anderson swinging it both ways from the same action at will at batsmen who don't play swing well will be a more dangerous weapon than Starc swinging it one way fairly early in flight against batsmen who grew up in swinging conditions. Given, as you rightly state, any swing Johnson gets is by accident, and that Harris, Siddle and Hazlewood are not big swingers of the ball you'd again take this equation because we can offer up a selection of such bowlers.

As for "a working over by Mitch" - he's been a success in one ashes series out of four - for one of the other three he was deemed unelectable. If everything comes off, he could win test matches off his own back - but he has not looked the same bowler in the past twelve months and the pitch conditions are unlikely to suit him because his low arm means that he needs the steepling bounce of a very hard deck to get his bouncers up to a dangerous height. You'll note that I mentioned another reason in the extremely long list of reasons not to pick Trott is the danger of giving Mitch a psychological boost when everything else might conspire against him.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #37 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:45:16 AM »

Quote from: Manormanic on May 01, 2015, 10:29:39 AM

I think England would take that equation because Anderson swinging it both ways from the same action at will at batsmen who don't play swing well will be a more dangerous weapon than Starc swinging it one way fairly early in flight against batsmen who grew up in swinging conditions. Given, as you rightly state, any swing Johnson gets is by accident, and that Harris, Siddle and Hazlewood are not big swingers of the ball you'd again take this equation because we can offer up a selection of such bowlers.

As for "a working over by Mitch" - he's been a success in one ashes series out of four - for one of the other three he was deemed unelectable. If everything comes off, he could win test matches off his own back - but he has not looked the same bowler in the past twelve months and the pitch conditions are unlikely to suit him because his low arm means that he needs the steepling bounce of a very hard deck to get his bouncers up to a dangerous height. You'll note that I mentioned another reason in the extremely long list of reasons not to pick Trott is the danger of giving Mitch a psychological boost when everything else might conspire against him.

One ashes series in four... Same as Cook then! Yet he's some awesome batsmen.. Let's not kid ourselves Cook is some awesome player vs top teams

RichW · « **Reply #38 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:57:04 AM »

Why are people so taken with Ben Stokes what has he actually done to warrant all this hype?

He had one good knock against Australia that doesn't make him a good test player! Dwayne Smith made a good hundred against SA or Aus (I can't remember which) in his first test at 18 years old but he's not a good test player despite his talent.

I would take �100 bet with anyone that Ben Stokes will end up with a test batting average below 35 and bowling average above 35 which isn't good enough.

Manormanic · « **Reply #39 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:57:27 AM »

Quote from: ProCricketer1982 on May 01, 2015, 10:45:16 AM

One ashes series in four... Same as Cook then! Yet he's some awesome batsmen.. Let's not kid ourselves Cook is some awesome player vs top teams

Wasn't really what I was talking about but....

...no, Cook is not an awesome player against top teams - at least, not anymore. There is at least an argument that he was until a couple of years ago around the time when he took on the captaincy, and his overall record to that point - when he was, lets not forget, averaging over 50 and had just averaged 80+ in India. His record to that point suggested that he was a solid, dependable opener who flourished when he had attacking players around him.

Problem is, he no longer has Strauss, Pietersen, Collingwood or an attack that can buy him almost unlimited time to make his runs. Instead, he's the main man and he is not really suited to that role. The pressures of the job have doubtless messed with his head a bit too. So as a result...he's become Buck Rodgers, more or less. Decent when compared to, say, Trott or Robson but not the player he once was nor the one England rather need him to be.

Manormanic · « **Reply #40 on:** May 01, 2015, 11:04:19 AM »

Quote from: RichW on May 01, 2015, 10:57:04 AM

Why are people so taken with Ben Stokes what has he actually done to warrant all this hype?

1. He can bat - maybe not to the standard of averaging 45 in Tests, but certainly to the level that he will be a decent 6/7 bat throughout his career, and he will always score his runs in the way you need someone in that role to do so - with pace and intent.
2. He can bowl - maybe not to the level of being a third seamer of three but certainly to the level that he can contribute to a five man attack. If England thought harder about the composition of their attack, Stokes would probably take more wickets too as he would not always be lumbered with the Hamilton overs.
3. A combination of points one and two mean that he balances the side. With Stokes you can have six competent batsmen (five if you insist on selecting Trott) and five competent bowlers. This is particularly important when you're England and having to play 17 tests in 10 months, as it means that you do not expect your main seamers to bowler 25% of the overs in every innings, thus reducing wear and tear.

Will he fail the 35s test? I'd say no - one or other suit will be better than that. In the meantime, I'd point out that Australia have continued to select Shane Watson AS A NUMBER THREE BAT when he averages 35 and 34 respectively...

eddiec · « **Reply #41 on:** May 01, 2015, 11:13:58 AM »

Quote from: Manormanic on May 01, 2015, 11:04:19 AM

In the meantime, I'd point out that Australia have continued to select Shane Watson AS A NUMBER THREE BAT when he averages 35 and 34 respectively...

I think it says something about the rest of the team when Australia can knock over teams like England, SA and India with a no. 3 batsman like that. Imagine if they picked someone competent.

TangoWhiskey · « **Reply #42 on:** May 01, 2015, 02:04:29 PM »

It's a real shame that Cook's lack of a ton has masked the fact that he is actually averaging 52.5 from his last 10 or so tests. Perhaps everyone is on his case because he was racking up so much before that now he is batting like a mere mortal (a damn good one at that) it's no longer good enough.

Same happened with Pietersen. People were giving him stick because he wasn't scoring tons every match, but then the ECB dropped him in the manner they did and now everyone's using the line 'Oh he top scored in the last Ashes series, why has he been dropped?' yadda yadda yadda. I feel we as fan's should stick right in behind our team, the guys go out there and I'm sure give it their all. I for one am very proud of the barmy army, those guys are the real fans and they gave Cook a standing ovation when we weren't doing so well against India and low and behold Cook went out and scored 95 next test.

Get behind the team, we certainly aren't worse than we were in the 90's.

Neon Cricket · « **Reply #43 on:** May 01, 2015, 02:07:05 PM »

Quote from: TangoWhiskey on May 01, 2015, 02:04:29 PM

It's a real shame that Cook's lack of a ton has masked the fact that he is actually averaging 52.5 from his last 10 or so tests. Perhaps everyone is on his case because he was racking up so much before that now he is batting like a mere mortal (a damn good one at that) it's no longer good enough.

Exactly this - yes it's great when your openers are scoring ton after ton but you can't bloody complain when they're averaging over 50! Cook deserves a break, Trott on the other hand...

Neon Cricket · « **Reply #44 on:** May 01, 2015, 02:07:44 PM »

And on that note... new underwear for Trotty!

Author Topic: Australia announce Ashes 2015 squad (Read 12464 times)

tim2000s

Re: Australia announce Ashes 2015 squad

cricketbadger

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Manormanic

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WalkingWicket37

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Alvaro

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WalkingWicket37

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Manormanic

Re: Australia announce Ashes 2015 squad

ProCricketer1982

Re: Australia announce Ashes 2015 squad

RichW

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Manormanic

Re: Australia announce Ashes 2015 squad

Manormanic

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eddiec

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TangoWhiskey

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Neon Cricket

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Neon Cricket

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