The Aussie Ashes Thread

[Occasional Fan]

A number of people commented at the time that it was a good job for Australia that Shane came.

[Mr Hutt]

Seems like the England team has got its bearing right today. They seem a much more defiant unit, First Strauss and Cook and now Flintoff and KP, However Trescothick and Bell both failed to do anything.

Flint Off is on 48 and KP on 80 256/4 England

Seems like the Ashes are going to live upto their name after all!!! Good stuff

[flanflinger]

I think the NSW selectors have done England a massive favour,

By selecting an almost Test attack, on what looks like a flat pitch, it has given England an excellent confidence boost ahead of the First Test. Almost all the batters have had a chance to have a good look at their main bowlers, I guess the plan was for McGrath and Lee to rip through England, but that doesn't seem to have happened and it could all work in England's favour.

[greg]

For all the talk of Flintoff needing overs to prove his fitness it is interesting that McGrath has yet to bowl more than 10 overs in a day.What will happen to him if England are still batting at lunch on day 2 having won the the toss and piled up 400 at Brisbane.

Yes he is a great bowler but he showed in England that his staying power is no longer there.

[Ernest]

I agree FF - the England players have had sighters of Lee and thus far liked what they saw.

Beware though - Harmison has come back well after Sunday.

Giles outshone Panesar - but it's only one innings, but the competition seems to be good for the players.

I think the first warm up when England got thrashed PROVES this England side can't play one day cricket, so I hope after this series players like shah Clarke Joyce Tremlett Joyce and Ed Smith will make up the core of the World Cup sidei if fit.

[SixandOut]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Giles outshone Panesar - but it's only one innings, but the competition seems to be good for the players.

And given that Fletcher seems intent on playing 2 spinners most games it doesn't seem to matter. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if Giles gets the call ahead of Panesar in any 1-spinner matches - Fletcher has already reverted to Jones over Read so he'll likely do the same here.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by SixandOut

I wouldn't be surprised if Giles gets the call ahead of Panesar in any 1-spinner matches - Fletcher has already reverted to Jones over Read so he'll likely do the same here.

Agreed - I think Fletcher will try and get as close to last years Ashes winning team as possibe, only time will tell if he is right.

I think even though I am not 100% behind this - history says it's the correct course to follow.

[Mr Hutt]

The Match against NSW is now drawn and Australia has emerged with one positive from this... the form of clarke who could be another hopeful for the first test. However Mcgrath is causing me concern. Does anyone else agree he was not really firing in this match? plus as rightfully pointed out somewhere else on the board he has not bowled more than 10 overs at a trot either. Kp. Flintoff, Strauss and Cook all made some well deserved runs...it aint gonna be no walkover thats for sure... and maybe the aussies could do with adding a few younger players to the mix??

[Leafy Seadragon]

The prelim matches have only a limited bearing on anything that happens in Brisbane (other than perhaps convincing Mr Trescothick that he had better things to do this summer). The matches give England an opportunity to adapt to Australian conditions (which is only fair) and give some Australian players a bit more of a workout (McGrath I think would have appreciated time in the middle).

There's often a lot of caution from both sides in these matches - I have memories of Warne being instructed not to bowl a specific ball in a warm-up match so as not to give it away (a flipper I seem to remember). Like most test series, we won't really know how things are going down until it starts, and even then think back to Lords in the last series (lunchtime day three and more than one person was predicting 5-0 Australia).

Bring it on - I just hope that I get time to watch it (any of it - please...?)

ps. big congratulations to Ern on the imminent 10K posting. I've enjoyed reading most of them, even if I couldn't find to time to respond to the more outrageous ones (and yes Ern, there were a few). Bring on the next 10K...

pps. 3-1 the Oz

[Mr Hutt]

wow 10 k ern.... you are the gandalf of this board now...


kudos!!