Now, now OF. You're forgetting something there.

I think Ponting's captaincy will surely be on the line if he loses two Ashes series as captain. Credit to the selectors for backing him, but he must have come close to losing it last autumn.

Ok I will get into the Spirit of the thread.

Ashes failures - for the upcoming Ashes series starting November 2006.

Well Bell for England, I really can't see his hacking in against Lee in Australia.

McGrath I think will prove he is playing one Ashes series to many.

I also have my doubts over Strauss being consistant, and I think the England quicks will be to much for Hayden.

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Ern

Broken record from Ern, as usual.... The guy comes back from getting dropped, scores a shed full of runs against the second best team in the world (at that time) and then cements a place in the ODI team, but none of that counts on Ern's book!!

For me Bell is maturer, hungrier and generally a better player, and I have no doubt that he will come away from these Ashes with a much better record.

I agree that McGrath could be Australia's biggest let down, and sadly I fear that unless KP changes his attitude to batting, then he may be England's Ashes failure.

He was picked for those matches because of his Ashes failures, he was dropped and I supported that, he has done nothing to convice me that things have changed, he has just proved that he can play in India/Pakistan conditions, how will he stand up to the pace of Lee, and the spin of Warne - lets face it he has had no real practice since last summer on the pitches he has made his runs.(that's why it don't count in my book).

As for the one day side, I would be pleased to see him in there as a new 'Player Coach' - that's would be quite a good idea.

Being hungry for runs don't mean he will get them, if he proves me wrong then I will be glad to eat humble pie, but IMO I doubt it.

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Ern

I'll start baking!!

In Bell we have a technically correct batsman, with a good temprament (as shown in the ODI's) but has often struggled with a initial step up (as he has done in Tests and F/C Cricket) but once established has flourished. I feel that he is a player to build the batting around (along with Cook) and I do not feel that he is likley to fail this Ashes..


I feel he turned a corner against Pakistan this summer (in English conditions) and find a home in the Test team.

FF, I think that as a test player Pietersen has matured quite a lot. In Pakistan and India he did give his wicket away a couple of times playing daft shots, but against Sri Lanka and Pakistan he got it together, from my perspective at least. His average can't be knocked and his style of batting is what makes him work. I criticised his early control before, but in tests I think he is beginning to get himself under better control in the early part of his innings. It's in the one-dayers that I'm a bit concerned about his form really, I don't hold any fears over him for the Ashes as his temperament and mental strength are just what we need down there.

Regarding Bell I'm with you completely, he looks class and his run of hundreds is astonishing at present!

i actually had Bell down for a good test series.

which is, at least partly, why i picked him for failure - the thing he had going for him was his "confidence" (that's a euphemism obviously).

Colly,

Don't get me wrong, if KP does succeed I will not do anything but enjoy it!! Unlike Ern, I do not dwell on an England players failures for too long, but for me I feel that KP may be heavily targeted this winter, and and I fear that the tactic of short-ball, wider-ball may get him, unless he tightens up his technique.

I was merely stating of all the England players I feel KP has the most to prove, but also the most to lose. I personally hope that he proves me very very wrong.

Monty will struggle mainly because pitches will not suit him at all on the whole. Harmo may or may not get carted. Mahmood WILL get carted and will regularly finish with match figures of 4-276. Tresco, I fear, has the battin equivilent of the yips. He's always had crap technique and relied on timing and a good eye, thus cant rely on on technique to back it up when it all goes pear shaped. He's making all the right noises but I dont know think he knows when the next run is going to come from. Expect more from bell this time round and cook. Hoping for a double ton from chris read !

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Nothing says "Obey Me" like a bloody head on a fence post!