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[thegowerwaft]

Sooooooo. Several injuries, a few batters looking for form and Aus winning World Test title. Perfect set up for an Ashes summer 😬

[ppccopener]

Would have us a favourites a month ago. Now missing our best spinner, couple of seamers and no Foakes to steady the ship.

I expect us to carry on being bold and the groundsmen to stick to the plan of fast scoring wickets.

Broad could have Warner on toast again but their middle order and pace attack looks good.

Even I reckon, hope for a win head says it could be tight with Smith Cummins Boland and Head all playing a big role. Starc too even if the Indians have him some tap.

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Anyone else going on Friday? 70 of us from my club making our way up from Bristol

[Bruce]

Australia look in good shape.
Bowland has a big part to play. Not just his wicket taking but mainly his economy.
Khwaja looks out of sorts (at present)

Buzzed for the summer of cricket!!

[Buzz]

The head to heads of the teams look interesting.

You would probably go
Duckett
Uzzie
Marnus
Smith
Brook vs Head a tie, so Root. (artistic licence)
Stokes (Green will be moore if a threat with the ball than bat in my view though)
Foakes. Oh, sorry Carey (Bairstow's keeping against Ireland looked average and who knows where his batting is at)
Cummins
Boland
Lyon
Anderson.

I just think the Aussies could have rather too much.

But.

Boland and Cummins hit a very consistent length and no one has ever gone after them.

Bazball does funny things to bowlers and captains so I think this is a difficult one to call.

[potzy248]

As a neutral observer this is one of the most anticipated series for a long time. Everyone wants to see if England can continue with Baz ball. Can't wait.

[rickjames]

Only going to Old Trafford and Oval this year - no luck with Edgbaston, Lords and Headingley too expensive. Also fear any possible train strikes making life difficult like last year

As for England's XI I guess it's down to the bowlers - Anderson obviously plays if he's fit, then feel like it's a crapshoot. Feel like this a game Wood would play as a point of difference bowler, then you've got Robinson or Broad - ridiculously tough call to make, but feel like Robinson only just edges it. Or they play both and leave Moeen out altogether? Ah.

[edge]

Anyone else going on Friday? 70 of us from my club making our way up from Bristol

Hope you're not on my train I'm there with a few mates, Raglan stand.

How Duckett goes could be key for England, as well as Brook's first proper home series. If they come off then England are in a great position, if they don't it all looks a bit dependent on Root again. Can't see YJB having the same impact from 7 as he did at 5 last year, but then who knows. He's certainly got after Cummins and Starc enough in ODIs to make you think it's possible.
Can't see Warner or Khawaja suddenly figuring out how to bat in England, and think Green will struggle with the bat (agree looks a threat with the ball!). Head 2.0 will inevitably get some runs at some point, but find it hard to see him having a big series even though he's clearly improved since last time. So it's mainly Marnus and Smith for Australia.
Reckon/hope three of Anderson, Robinson, Wood and Broad will play every test, and that's a serious seam attack. Worried Moeen won't last the series though, and who knows where we end up if that happens.

So it's close! Results in the early tests are huge I think, if either side get on top it'll be very difficult to claw it back.

[Neon Cricket]

Anyone else going on Friday? 70 of us from my club making our way up from Bristol

Only the 6 of us but we'll be in the Hollies as usual! Should be a cracker

Been gifted a few tickets for the Oval by the PCA too, the ultimate perk!

[Kulli]

I'm over for sunny Norway to cool down a bit, will be at the first two days.

[Manormanic]

How Duckett goes could be key for England, as well as Brook's first proper home series. If they come off then England are in a great position, if they don't it all looks a bit dependent on Root again. Can't see YJB having the same impact from 7 as he did at 5 last year, but then who knows. He's certainly got after Cummins and Starc enough in ODIs to make you think it's possible.

Agree on all three points here; Duckett needs to provide some stability in the first ten overs, because Crawley sure as hell won't, and Brook needs to remember that he broke through because he played himself in before the pyrotechnics.  Bairstow...I know I've said a lot on the subject, I just feel sorry for him that he is being messed around again, and I don't follow the rationale at all.  At seven, he has very little to come, so likely he will be just a bit too manic trying to chase runs.

[Alvaro]

Your Bairstow point is absolutely the one I think stands out as telling. Making Bairstow earn his place back in the middle order would have been the best way to manage it - a motivated YJB is the best YJB.

My biggest worry is less the openers - they are going to be boom or bust whatever. It is Pope who seems the weak link. Especially if he tries that proto-Trott wander down the wicket at the fast bowlers....

[Manormanic]

Your Bairstow point is absolutely the one I think stands out as telling. Making Bairstow earn his place back in the middle order would have been the best way to manage it - a motivated YJB is the best YJB.

Whether you'd done that, or given him five back and made someone step up to open (for me, it would have been the latter) I think either option makes a lot more sense than dropping Foakes does.

[Alvaro]

Yes. I thought it was Brook vs Bairstow tbh. Ultimately I thought that Brook deserves the gig as incumbent.

[rickjames]

XI named, Broad getting the nod over Wood, Moeen playing...