England will stuff the aussies

[ashtagg]

I have never been more optimistic about English cricket than I am now. A big bet for England to hammer the Aussies is going on at the bookies. But no dout the Austrailian media are already dissmissing our chances but just as in the rugby we will have the last laugh.

[Rachael]

Um - no English fan was laughing the last time we met the Aussies playing Rugby.. or, for that matter, the last time we met the All Blacks or the French playing Rugby. We were very nearly not laughing in the Rugby world cup final.. and had the conditions not been positively appalling in our semi final in that great tournament we wouldn't have even reached the final!

If Harmison carries on bowling as badly as he's been in the current series... Simon Jones continues with form that doesn't get him into the Glamorgan 1st XI... Anderson continues learning his trade at a reasonable pace (rather than overnight, as some seem to think he should)... and Hoggard, Giles and Flintoff merely plateau at their current adequate but not outstanding levels... do you really think we're ready for the half dozen or so world class batsmen that the Aussies field with Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Lehman and Gilchrist?

Of course.. Harmison might prove that his heroics in the West Indies on helpful pitches were more than a flash in the pan, Hoggard, Giles and Flintoff might continue their slow but steady progress and either Jones or Anderson might suddenly, rather miraculously turn into the missing link - but isn't that being a bit far-fetched (too many ifs for me).

Then there's the other concerns: can Tresco's overcome his own lack of footwork against a world class attack that reckons they already have him beaten? Assuming Strauss isn't flattering to deceive.. and that Vaughan's genuinely as good as he seemed to be a few years back.. and that Thorpe will keep going.. there's still the question of whether we can get Butcher to deliver at the level he's started to really promise.. or get Bell in and established at that level (I can't see it being Key). Then there's the thought of Freddie vs. Warne to contemplate (remember Freddie vs. Murali a few months back?) and the even bigger question of how long (if ever) it will take Jones to make the grade (2 years? 3 years? Seems more likely than 6 months).

I think we're slowly turning a corner.. and that before long we'll be better set than we've been in a long time... but the Aussies, despite some bizarre knocking in some corners, look set to come to us with what will perhaps be the strongest side they've ever fielded. More to the point.. they come to face an England seemingly intent on trying to play to the Aussie's own strengths: seems pretty mad to me.

The Aussie's look vulnerable to one thing alone: self-destruction. Ponting has given his batsman a dressing down for complaining about wickets on which the batsman's job is actually testing... and the side have had verbal lashings from left, right and centre for failing to show guts when the going gets tough - but under Fletcher and Vaughan we seem to be heading down the same path. What sign, now, that we're learning from the sides like Sri Lanka that have troubled the Aussies by playing adhesive cricket on bowler-friendly wickets? I don't see it.

[Occasional Fan]

So, you're not a bookie then, Rachael? If you were, you'd have taken Ashtagg's stake!

[kiran]

Originally Posted by ashtagg

I have never been more optimistic about English cricket than I am now. A big bet for England to hammer the Aussies is going on at the bookies. But no dout the Austrailian media are already dissmissing our chances but just as in the rugby we will have the last laugh.

I think thats too much..England are playing very good..agreed..but HAMMER AUSSIES..thats a big big joke..Engalnd will have to play very well to put up a fight..
to hammer aussies is a very long long way to go for any team in the world...but anyway a good joke..thank you

[ashtagg]

can't quite work out weather your an aussie

[ashtagg]

like many others before.You under estimate England and over estimate the Austrailian's ye have little faith

[Irish Left Armer]

It's difficult to over estimate the Aussies considering their complete dominance in recent years in both forms of the game.

I am more hopeful now than I can ever remember (I am only 20) that England can beat Australia but Rachael makes some good points. Is Englands bowling good enough to remove Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Lehmann, Martyn, Katich and Gilchrist twice a match? It will need Harmison at this best with good support from Hoggard, Flintoff and A.N Other for England to beat them I think. I fancy the Aussies bowling will be not as good as in times gone by however. McGrath is not quite the performer he was which is a huge bonus for England. Gillespie is test class but I've never been convinced by Lee and the English pitches won't turn as much for Warne.

It's also difficult to rate just how much England have come on. I know they are doing superbly well at the moment winning 7 of the last 8 or something but the opposition has not been great. This winter will be a good test for them. If they can turn over the South Africans on foreign soil it will show they are a good side and will give them a boost going into the summer.

Injury free I think England have a decent chance.

[kiran]

Originally Posted by ashtagg

can't quite work out weather your an aussie

no i'm not aussie...

Originally Posted by ashtagg

like many others before.You under estimate England and over estimate the Austrailian's ye have little faith

no its not like that...i dont say England can't win....but "hammer aussies" still sounds like a joke to me...

[Teatime FatCat]

Originally Posted by Irish Left Armer

I am more hopeful now than I can ever remember (I am only 20) that England can beat Australia but Rachael makes some good points. Is Englands bowling good enough to remove Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Lehmann, Martyn, Katich and Gilchrist twice a match?

Interesting to note that I think Langer, Ponting, Lehman, Martyn and Katich will have all have had a taste of batting in the county championship before the next time they come over.

On the bowling front, Warne and Kasparowicz will also have had a bowl, and to a much lesser scale McGrath also. Good planning if you ask me.

[Victor Frankenstein]

i agree with kiran, competing with them is one thing, but hammering them is just not going to happen. The windies are the worst in the world of the established teams and we're only just beating them on the final day, the same with new zealand. If our bowling attack is fit and in reasonable form then i think we might surprise the aussies a lot, maybe even with a 1-0 lead, but as shown in the 97 ashes tour if we 'hammer' them in one test it's usually down to complacency on their behalf and they come back even stronger. I do think we can compete with them, and even if the score does end up 4-1 to them i think they will have to fight to beat us on the final day each time which is still an improvement, it should be a close series though, especially if we can get some scores on the board but we'll need a lot of luck to beat them and hammering them is out of the question even with harmison and vaughan on top form.