Who do you fear Ashes 2005 (e)

[John]

The England batting lineup are the worry for Australia. Nobody in particular. There are a lot of very good batsmen in this side. They can wrest control if they play well. Australia might have to have a rethink about their bowling if things aren't going well. They may well have to bring an extra bowler in the side.

[cantplaycantalk]

Freddy, he bats really well against the quality bowlers, it's the part timers he struggles with, and his bowling could be key as well.

[Leafy Seadragon]

Originally Posted by John

The England batting lineup are the worry for Australia. Nobody in particular. There are a lot of very good batsmen in this side

Is this the same batting lineup that repeatedly self-destructed against the moderate SA bowling attack? I suspect that the Aussie team is more worried about an injury to McGrath than they are about what the English batting lineup might be capable of. I accept that there are several very capable batsmen in the English side. However, the Aussies are confident that they can post match winning scores with their batting lineup in virtually every match they play. Are you confident the English can do this against the best bowling attack in the world given their frailty in South Africa? I'm not. If they don't then Harmison, Flintoff & Hoggard need to have a very good series, otherwise it won't go beyond three tests as a contest

[AussieCricketLover]

I think you poms are thinking your good enough to win this ashes series, and yet its deja vu for me, I seem to remember you saying the same things between 4 and 8 years ago.

I'm afraid English cricket will take another battering in 2005, we dont have to be afraid of you, you have to be afraid of us.

5-0 Australia's way

[Beny]

Jason Gillespie has named Shaun Tait and Dan Cullen two guys he would like to see in the Ashes squad. I was surprissed to hear today, how well tait proformed, picking up something like 40 wickets at 20.16. Breaking SA's bowling records.

[Leafy Seadragon]

Beny, Tait actually got 65 wickets (a South Aussie record) at a touch over 20, Dan Cullen got 43 wickets (at slightly over 30 - not bad in his first season for an offie and getting better all the time). I think that Tait should be in the squad. I've heard several suggest that Tait is the best offie in Oz already and a long-term replacement for Warnie (okay, Warne's irreplaceable, but we'll need a spinner when he's gone), but he's just had one season and it might be a little early to judge how good he will be. If Oz don't take MacGill, it wouldn't surprise me if they do take Cullen. Failing that, I think he should be looking for a County contract because the experience would do him good at this stage in his career.

[John]

Originally Posted by Leafy Seadragon

Is this the same batting lineup that repeatedly self-destructed against the moderate SA bowling attack?

Your right they will have to bat better than SA. They can do that. In fact they have to do that. Because their bowlers are going to need all the assistance they can get from a good batting display.

[cantplaycantalk]

Moderate? Pollock and Ntini are Moderate????
Of all the current bowling attacks I would say they are one of the best opening pairs the world over.

McGrath and Gillespie
Pollock and Ntini
Akhtar and Sami

Hoggard and Harmison don't sound as threatening do they , but just Ask Smith, Kallis and Gibbs who won the series.
I think the facts show that England are rightly the world #2 team at the moment.
Last time I checked the England bowling attack were all in the PWC top 20.

[Beny]

Last time I checked the Aussie Bowling attack (-Kaspa), were all in the top 10. In fact I belive two were in the top 5.

The Aussie Bowling attack at the momment far outstrips that of anyother team in the world, if only because they seem to work better as a team. That has been proven time and time again. Statistics back me up here, The Aussie bowling attack (as they now stand) have been far more sucsessful than their SA counterparts. England may have survived Pollock and Nitinni, (well they didd'nt really) but they can rest asurred they will face stiffer compition from the bowling attack Flemming described as 3 Richard Haddle's and the greatest Leggie of all time.

[John]

Beny,
You are right SA bowling is no great shakes. Pollock is on the way down but still useful, Ninti has become very useful, Hall well not Test level standard as with Boye and Steyn didn't really didn't impress. Kallis bowling days seem to have gone.
So for any one to claim that England faced a good attack that is not true.