Ten Hopes For The Summer..>

[Ernest]

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/thespin/...443326,00.html

well we have a lot to do to win the Ashes.

The Aussies don't walk away with the two one-day competitions

Seems that will set a pattern for the Tests, but we are poor at one day cricket anyway.

England don't regret not playing at Headingley, the one pitch likely to narrow the gap between the sides.

True this, I reckon Headingly would almost have been a banker fer England.

Australia's new-found fallibility in the slip cordon moves from minor blip to serious epidemic

And long may it last.

A (more-than-likely) English defeat isn't accompanied by the usual bleats about how rubbish our cricketers are from sports fans

Well they are not English fans then.

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff become England's answer to... well, to whom exactly? No other international side can boost two such murderous hitters in the middle order. In fact, for similar explosiveness,

Australia you have been warned, LOL Flintoff and Piterson at the crease together.

People find something more original to say about Bangladesh than "they're devaluing Test cricket

Her Here, lets play cricket with whoever.
Just a little of the 10 hopes, follow the link, and then I wonder will you belive.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Ernest

True this, I reckon Headingly would almost have been a banker fer England.

Is not a banker. Last year NZ got over 400 in the first innings there. The year before, South Africa were 21-4 and then something like 120-7, they got over 300 and won the match from there really. In 2002 the Indians got over 600 there and won the match.

So if it swings and seams for our guys, McGrath will rip us apart.

[Occasional Fan]

Doesn't matter, Pete: the point is that we are not playing a Test at Headingley this year.

[Ernest]

I don't think our record against the Aussies is all that bad, or am I wrong?, I think not.
We have the bowlers for Headingly, but like OF says, that one is accademic.

[Pete]

Sure I was just replying to Ern saying it would be a certain win. I don't think it would have been a certain win for England, myself.

[Occasional Fan]

Well, Pete, against the Aussies I am afraid there are no bankers for us. Sure England can win, but only with eleven men firing on four cylinders (each, that is) for as many of 25 days as test cricket is being played. Over to you, Ern!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Pete

Sure I was just replying to Ern saying it would be a certain win. I don't think it would have been a certain win for England, myself.

I have always thought England would with the bowlers we have, would be more effective than Australia at Headingly, better chance than say the Oval, where the ball come nicely onto the bat, not as pacy as it used to be.

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan 42691

Well, Pete, against the Aussies I am afraid there are no bankers for us. Sure England can win, but only with eleven men firing on four cylinders (each, that is) for as many of 25 days as test cricket is being played. Over to you, Ern!

Just have a feeling that we can win this one, if we can win in the heat of SA, with a half fit Flintoff, and a whatever with Harmison, then providing these two are fine, I can't see the Aussies winning much, not in the North and Midlands anyway.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I have always thought England would with the bowlers we have, would be more effective than Australia at Headingly

How do you work that out? Let's face it, their bowlers ARE better than ours, that's a fact.

Over the past few years we've struggled there, so playing the best team in the world at that ground isn't the wisest idea we could have made. I'm greatful that we don't have to play them there anyway.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Pete

How do you work that out? Let's face it, their bowlers ARE better than ours, that's a fact.

Not a big fan of Hoggard, but he knows Headingly, and the ball does swing there, also the pitch is unpredictable, it is a result pitch.
I just think the youth of Flintoff and Harmison (providing), would be more firepower than the ageing Aussie bowlers, I think it is fair to say, they are past there best.
Would have depended on the England batsmen to be fair to your point Pete, more than the bowlers.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Ernest

it is fair to say, they are past there best.

It's not fair to say that!