The Ashes 2006/07: The Brisbane Test Thread (Day 1)

[Collyisamackem]

I tried to wait but I just couldn't, it's here!!!

After 14 months of incessant banter, swipe and counter-swipe, The Ashes are here again! This time, of course, we're down under and in just under 11 hours the traditional curtain-raiser at Brisbane will start. The legacy of the 2005 Ashes series in which England wrested back the urn was described as 'The Greatest Series', but this one promises to be intense and enthralling, even if it can't match the heights of tension as in the two-run English win at Edgbaston, othe last-wicket stand for a draw by the Aussie bowlers at Old Trafford, or the coronary-inducing run-chase at Trent Bridge! Last summer the cricket was competitive in the extreme, but played in a tremendous spirit, but we're in Australia now and the signs are that things may not be so friendly - I'm not expecting 'mental disintegration' as used by Steve Waugh and co. in 2002/03, but I hardly think the Aussies will be showering the English batsmen with roses as they come to the crease, and vice-versa.

For England, it's been a strange year post-Ashes, with their first series ending in a disappointing, arrogance-undermined defeat in Pakistan with injuries to Vaughan, Jones and Giles denting the side, then an encouraging drawn series in India with the emergence of Alistair Cook, Monty Panesar, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood as quality test players. A frustrating draw at home to Sri Lanka followed under new captain Andrew Flintoff, but the win at home to Pakistan means England have some form behind them as the new players continued to impress. Selection debates have come and gone, controversially in the dropping of Geraint Jones for Chris Read and then his reinstatement, then the ongoing Panesar vs Giles dilemma. The English players have come into form in their last couple of tour matches, and I'd expect them to line up as follows:

Strauss, Cook, Bell, Collingwood, Pietersen, Flintoff*, Jones+, Hoggard, Harmison, Anderson, Panesar.

Australia have had quite a brilliant run of results, winning 11 of 12 test matches as a number of matured debutants impressed, notably Mike Hussey who still averages 75, and Stuart Clark with success in South Africa. With the loss of Shane Watson, the consignment to the scrapheap of Simon Katich and the spectacular fall from grace of Jason Gillespie, the side is slightly different to last summer but largely contains the same record-breaking players who were in imperious form until their 2005 defeat. I expect Australia to field these players tomorrow morning:

Hayden, Langer, Ponting*, Martyn, Clarke, Hussey, Gilchrist+, Warne, Lee, Clark, McGrath.

The phoney war is over, let the games begin!!!

[Mr Hutt]

Let the Games begin....*strikes the gong*

[John]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

.

The phoney war is over, let the games begin!!!

The phoney war has been good and so has the build up.
Two questions of Australia in the 1st Test.
1. Can their batsmen provide what was clearly lacking in 2005? I don't know.

2. Can their ageing attack operate on four men? I don't think so.

England two questions for this 1st Test.
1. Is Flintoff match fit? I don't know.

2. How will Harmison bowl? Always blowin' in the wind.

[Teatime FatCat]

I haven't cancelled my Sky yet, so will be sitting down tonight with a pint of Diet Coke and a diabetic biscuit to watch the first hour. Does anyone know what time here the game actually starts?

[Notts Exile]

The umpire should call "Play" at midnight GMT.

[flanflinger]

Bonza!!

Toying should I go to bed early and listen to the last hour or stay up late and listen to the first hour?

[Teatime FatCat]

Gotta watch the first hour surely Flanny?

[flanflinger]

I only wish I could watch, I am resigned to listening...

[greg]

Massive selections for both sides in terms of how they are going in mentally.Is it Johnson or Clark for Australia and is it Panesar or Giles for England.Personally i would go with youth on both but my gut feeling is both sides will play cautiously and go for the experienced man.

I hope we win the toss and can bat until at least lunch on day 2.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

I only wish I could watch, I am resigned to listening...

It's not that bad so long as there is no busses or butterflies for Blowers to twitter on about for hours on end.

The brighter the busses - the longer he keeps it up.