Print

[LateBloomer]

Interesting in that i think ,with 15 days until the 1st test , the eng side is locked in already , whereas the oz team isnt....
Eng
Cook , stoneman, vince , root , malan , bairstow , ali , woakes , overton , broad , anderson.
Oz
Renshaw,  warner , khawaja,  smith,  handsomb,  maxwell /cartwright /lehmann /bancroft , nevill /wade / carey /bancroft , starc , cummins,  lyon,  hazlewood.

If you look at that England team and swap Vince and Overton for Stokes and Crane I think England have a team that can beat Australia. Crane yes is a luxury but with 4 seamers and an off spinner I feel it is a luxury England could afford and would be worth the risk. Is Overton going to contribute more anyway? Stokes being out is a game changer unfortunately.

[HellomynameisJ]

Interesting in that i think ,with 15 days until the 1st test , the eng side is locked in already , whereas the oz team isnt....
Eng
Cook , stoneman, vince , root , malan , bairstow , ali , woakes , overton , broad , anderson.
Oz
Renshaw,  warner , khawaja,  smith,  handsomb,  maxwell /cartwright /lehmann /bancroft , nevill /wade / carey /bancroft , starc , cummins,  lyon,  hazlewood.

Lehman and carey wont get near the squad, the keeping spot will most likely stay with Wade, and should he have a quiet first couple of tests, then i'd Imagine Nevill will get the nod. I'd love Tim Paine to be there as in an alternate injury free universe, he might be captaining the side, but realistically he hasnt been a regular player for Tasmania in recent years. #6 is the tough one, but its looking like Maxwell or Shaun Marsh, Cartwright being the least likely.

Considering that recent history tells us that maxwell and cartwright wont be asked to bowl much if at all, I think they will lean towards Marsh, he scored a lovely 90 odd against the NSW (Australian) Bowling attack last sheild game.

[six and out]

If you look at that England team and swap Vince and Overton for Stokes and Crane I think England have a team that can beat Australia. Crane yes is a luxury but with 4 seamers and an off spinner I feel it is a luxury England could afford and would be worth the risk. Is Overton going to contribute more anyway? Stokes being out is a game changer unfortunately.

That's a lovely and interesting thought about Stokes but wouldn't happen - not just because of the obvious about Stokes. But the problem that Root won't bat at 3 so you would only be replacing Overton with Stokes because you have no-one to bat at 3 so Vince has to play.

[ScottParko]

Well I've heard we may well be seeing Mr Stokes in Oz very soon...... could be tosh but I'm hoping it's true

[LateBloomer]

Well I've heard we may well be seeing Mr Stokes in Oz very soon...... could be tosh but I'm hoping it's true

I could kiss you Parko

[Alvaro]

Well I've heard we may well be seeing Mr Stokes in Oz very soon...... could be tosh but I'm hoping it's true

Where has this potential tosh come from?

[ppccopener]

I wouldn't get too excited, the only way for that to happen you would think is if the police make no charges

It's a strange world sometimes thou and if you happen to be able to afford the best lawyers who could find a loophole anything is possible !

Didn't Swann get off a drink driving charge because he was rescuing a trapped cat and needed a screwdriver ! He was over the limit but from memory the cat did get rescued from permanently living under the floorboards
 

[Seniorplayer]

As the first test draws closer had a look at the fixtures  And there's  five tests in seven weeks can the bowlers stay fit  maybe it will come down to the side with the fittest bowlers  will  have the best chance of winning.
 

[ppccopener]

Jake ball now appears to be OK for the first test if needed.

Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc are the Aussies best seamers. After years of back problems Cummins seems to be fit now and he is very useful.

There has been injury issues with the Australian bowlers in the past, can they get theu most of the matches fully fit is the big question.

For us, we could be a batsman short going into the first game because we won't want too much work early for our two best bowlers.

Overton or ball in I reckon with Ali, woakes,Broad and Anderson.5 bowlers I think that means Bairstow bats 6 with Ali and woakes behind.

If stokes was to make a miracle appearance(!) we could play two spinners if we wanted.

That's the problem trying to replace a world class allrounder, Stokes gives the selectors options, without him we really need two players instead.

[WalkingWicket37]

That's the problem trying to replace a world class allrounder, Stokes gives the selectors options, without him we really need two players instead.

Simple - drop James Vince and get Joe Root up to no.3
He may get to the crease 3 or 4 balls earlier that way, but it gives space for the extra bowler...

[petehosk]

Broad , Anderson, woakes, Ali absolute nailed on so its a bit easier if the team is listed. We havnt had a Pete hosk team list for a while -Pete get on it-

Hi fella - ok, as I have discussed with a couple of others over the last week or two, I suspect it will be.......

Cook
Stoneman
Vince
Root
Malan
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

With Overton jumping in for Broad or Anderson if they're feeling tired! 

[alexhilly1492]

Hi fella - ok, as I have discussed with a couple of others over the last week or two, I suspect it will be.......

Cook
Stoneman
Vince
Root
Malan
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

With Overton jumping in for Broad or Anderson if they're feeling tired! 

Stokes?

[petehosk]

But if by some freak event Stokes doesn't make the first Test, then Overton in and move people up one.
I prefer Overton over Ball but I fear that the selectors may prefer Ball!

[petehosk]

Stokes?

The less we hear about it, and the lack of people coming forward may just indicate that they will have not charge him through lack of a case!
Plus there will be pressure on the Police too!
And I am an optimist beyond logic sometimes! 

[Seniorplayer]

The less we hear about it, and the lack of people coming forward may just indicate that they will have not charge him through lack of a case!
Plus there will be pressure on the Police too!
And I am an optimist beyond logic sometimes! 

Based on what' we hear and read no.