After The Ashes??

[Ernest]

Forgetting all the hype and all the side issues that have been with this Ashes series thus far, there are some interesting cricketing issues.
In the warm up matches no English batsman has been that consistant, although England seem to be improving on the batting front, bowling is another matter.

Strauss is capable of bid scores, but not always dependable.

Cook is new - and has been chucked in at the deep end, the warm ups have told us little.

Bell after a shaky start came good with a good 100+.

Pietersen has not looked at his best, but we all know what he can do.

Collingwood - the pick of the bunch at the moment IMO.

Flintoff is gaining ground, starred in the 2005 Ashes, and looked good in this latest warm up.

So who at the end of this Ashes series will be the England bating star? - no matter who wins the series.

It's one thing doing well, or badly in warm up matches, but playing in the real thing (Ashes Test matches) is quite another.
Who will be Englands batting success after this Ashes series is over?.

For me a punt on Pietersen, with strong back up from Collingwood.

[Rachael]

Order of liklihood... Strauss... Bell... Cook... Pietersen... Collingwood... Jones... Flintoff... though I would NOT be surprised to see even Jones average 35-40. For once I think England's batting looks up to the job...

With all that said.. I trust we'll be appreciative of the difference between batting against the new ball and batting later: it's a truism of Aussie cricket that even the best seamers struggle once the shine goes off the ball and the initial hardness and bounce fades. I'll give full credit for batting in the opening 25-35 overs... and through the new ball spell.... but we should all be prepared to recognise that Cook getting England through a session of play would be worth as much as a middle-order player then scoring 80 off 100 balls.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Order of liklihood... Strauss... Bell... Cook... Pietersen... Collingwood... Jones... Flintoff [...] but we should all be prepared to recognise that Cook getting England through a session of play would be worth as much as a middle-order player then scoring 80 off 100 balls.

Not sure about Strauss - hope you are right, I agree over Cook it's important he stays there, scoring runs comes second in Cooks case.

Unlike last time it seems the batting is stronger than the bowling, Flintoff looks to be coming into some sort of form, he could well average over 40.

Collingwood is the lynchpin and not Flintoff IMO, I think he is the steadiest batsman in the side.

I think I will stick with Pietersen, if he fires he will score match winning knocks.

[TopperHarley]

I dont fancy Cook lasting a session if warney or McGilla is bowling, sad to say.

In terms of temperament (I know, never pick on temperament, drop Colly and bring in Hick-cakes yadda-yadda) Colly and Strauss have the grit. Bell has the technique, and KP the touch of genius.

I'm backing Ian Bell to show them what he's made of!

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by TopperHarley

I dont fancy Cook lasting a session if warney or McGilla is bowling, sad to say.

That is the main worry with Cook, but I'm feel inclined to remember the success he had taking MacGill apart in that double-hundred he scored against MacGill in Chelmsford in 2005.

Sure, Chelmsford is a flatter batting track than any of those in Australia (in fact, flatter than any track other than Taunton I would wager!), but Cook has improved since then and he does seem to have a kind of lucky aura around him. Some players tend to have the rub of the green with luck (catches falling just short and the like) and Cook seems to have a bit of that luck.

We shall see, obviously Warne is a different proposition to MacGill, but he may just spring a surprise against the leggies.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by TopperHarley

I dont fancy Cook lasting a session if warney or McGilla is bowling, sad to say.

My worry is him lasting until the spinners are put on to bowl to be honest, no time to make a debut against Australia - in Australia IMO.

Originally Posted by TopperHartly

I'm backing Ian Bell to show them what he's made of!

Maybe the best - the very finest of china .

[Milo]

Whoever plays the spin best. From all quarters, I am hearing that the really hot weather has turned these pitches into fast bolwers' graveyards. Even the WACA is playing like an English seamer. The GABBA is likely to be the bounciest pitch in the series. The rest are for spinners and MacGill and Warne will take plenty this series. Expect Lee to have his usual 10-450.

Who plays Warne the best? Certainly not Strauss. Maybe Pietersen.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

My worry is him lasting until the spinners are put on to bowl to be honest, no time to make a debut against Australia - in Australia IMO.

Ern, I don't think there is any good time to debut against Australia!! They are the best side in the world, so it is always going to be hard.

I feel Cook will come through, he managed a hundred on debut in India (against two great spinners Kumble and Singh) so there is no reason why he shouldn't go on to make a decent score. He seems to have a knack of scoring even when he is in the most atrocious form!!

[Collyisamackem]

I agree with CMJ in the Ashes Handbook produced in The Times this Saturday, I think Strauss is on the verge of something special. His batting has recovered its Authority after a slump post-Ashes, and he learned very quickly how to play Shane Warne last summer. He has looked in good touch aside from getting one or two beauties early on so far in this tour, and with the authority of being a senior member in the side because of appearances, the age and experience of other players and his own captaincy/vice-captaincy (Pakistan/now) of the side I think he is on a roll. The onus is on him to help Cook out and make big scores from the top and I think he will. His conversation rate is also around 60% (10 centuries, 7 fifties), so once he gets going he usually finishes the job!

[SixandOut]

I think Bell will prosper. KP will have one or two big scores, but fail other times. Collingwood will have a string of 50+'s. Strauss will get 40's. Cook will get a hundred in the first innings at Brisbane then 9 ducks.

I have no idea!