Let's have a look at England's team

[Dr Awkward]

There is a lot of discussion on here about our team and pretty much an overwhelming consensus that the selectors are retards.

But what about the enemy?

As I understand it, England's XI will be something like:

Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Collingwood
Morgan
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

Can anyone provide some insight into how these guys have been going it looks like an ok team but highly beatable. I've never rated Cook, apparently Pietersen is out of form, and there are injury clouds over Anderson.

I don't think we have much to fear but will be very interested to see Swann play. Don't know much about Morgan or Finn havn't seen much English cricket since the last Ashes really.

[albundysmate]

anderson is in doubt for the first 2 tests. swann is the key for the poms. their batting line up has some holes in it as well. i am not sold on trott. pieterson might not get a run and cook, 1 failiure and he is out. anderson if he is fit, needs it to swing and when it isn't he will get carted and so will carson aka broad. i like finn

[Dr Awkward]

anderson is in doubt for the first 2 tests. swann is the key for the poms. their batting line up has some holes in it as well. i am not sold on trott. pieterson might not get a run and cook, 1 failiure and he is out. anderson if he is fit, needs it to swing and when it isn't he will get carted and so will carson aka broad. i like finn

What kind of bowler is Finn? Fast?

[amer]

Very beatable team, but our own side is such rubbish at the moment it's hard to say with any conviction that they'll step up and do the job. Couple of simple changes - Khawaja and Smith/Hughes/Ferguson in for North/Hussey and I'd fancy our chances a hell of a lot more.

[albundysmate]

What kind of bowler is Finn? Fast?


he has a bit of bounce and zipp as well. he will love the gabba

[frankrizzo]

They are playing better cricket than us and have a vastly superior skipper but the big question mark is how they bowl in Australian conditions.

When Anderson is the leader of your attack you can't be that sure of how you will do overseas as he's been a pretty consistently poor performer outside of English conditions.

Key difference though may be current form, on paper and in prime form we should win but our team is a mess and most of the players with fine career records are in free fall form wise where as the English players are mostly in career best touch(kp aside)

[djrossie]

You hit the nail on the head, they are playing much better and have unearthed guys like Trott and Morgan who have proped up their once shaky middle order.
Really though nothing to be too scared of I mean come on we have just faced bowlers like Harbarjan Amir Asif Zaheer Sharma surely we can handle the Pom attack on our own turf.
Will the ball swing in OZ? Where's there's no swing Australia usually have a nice time.

[Doodlesweaver]

They are playing better cricket than us and have a vastly superior skipper but the big question mark is how they bowl in Australian conditions.

When Anderson is the leader of your attack you can't be that sure of how you will do overseas as he's been a pretty consistently poor performer outside of English conditions.

Key difference though may be current form, on paper and in prime form we should win but our team is a mess and most of the players with fine career records are in free fall form wise where as the English players are mostly in career best touch(kp aside)

They are confident as well. They have more faith in themselves than I have ever seen them have apart from the 2003-2005 years (and I've lived here since 96, I've seen some real lows).

Finn is a good find, he looks like he could be accurate and quick enough, but it's still a bit early, blowing away the Bangers at home on your home ground and Pakistan (who knows if they were trying to throw their wickets) isn't that impressive.

Swann is a very good bowler and his captain goes for all out attack when he comes on. The Aussie batsmen have to play him carefully as he starts to lose his length if he doesn't get early wickets, then he becomes far less effective. Very much a confidence bowler. But he is really good to watch when bowling well and Huss, as a leftie, is on a hiding to nothing with his 2 year batting woes.

Broad has good days and bad days but is genuinely fast now and could cause real trouble if he finds the right length. He doesn't do that often enough though and is still wedded to short stuff.

He and Swann could cause problems like last time with their batting.

Overall, I think their bowling is younger and more talented than ours. Not much we can do about that.

Trott is very good at digging in and doesn't let himself be bothered by anyone else's games. I think he is a real danger considering our bowlers' lack of patience.

Strauss will feast all day on short wide shite, so expect him to be in the runs pretty much from the getgo.

Cook has been mediocre for a while but he likes short stuff as well. Still dodgy when trying to drive, you can see him getting caught in two minds when attempting to drive the ball.

Be interesting to see if Morgan comes along Still not sure about him in the long forms.

I don't think Matt Prior is as prone to brain fades as Haddin.

There shouldn't be so much difference between the batting sides though.
Both very inconsistent batting line-ups.

[Grimwood]

I would agree with Doodles' assessments. Broad is perhaps the most frustrating; he often talks of 'keeping it simple' and trying to hit off-stump, only to end up up banging it into the middle of the pitch. No one is certain of Pietersen's form.

How limited this team will ultimately prove to be is as yet unknown, but the mental turmoil that has dogged previous set ups rarely shows itself under the Flower/Strauss regime. By comparison, it seems that Australia need to regain a bit of composure before the series begins.

[Cousin Jed]

Some statistics. Career against Australia, last Ashes series in England, and their performance in 2010 against Pakistan at home.

Alistair Cook
v Australia 498 runs at 26
Last ashes 222 runs at 25
v Pakistan 167 runs at 23

Andrew Strauss
v Australia 1114 runs at 38
last ashes 474 runs at 53
v Pakistan 155 runs at 25

Jonathon Trott
v Australia 160 run at 80
last ashes (As above)
v Pakistan 404 runs at 67

Kevin Pietersen
v Australia 1116 runs at 51
last ashes 153 runs at 38
v Pakistan 140 runs at 23

Paul Collingwood
v Australia 700 runs at 35
last ashes 250 runs at 28
v Pakistan 119 runs at 20

Eoin Morgan
v Australia (No record)
v Pakistan 175 runs at 29

Ian Bell
v Australia 642 runs at 26
last ashes 140 runs at 28
v Pakistan DNP (Injured)

Matt Prior
v Australia 262 runs at 33
last ashes (As above)
v Pakistan 234 runs at 59

Stuart Broad
v Australia 234 runs at 29
last ashes (As above)
v Pakistan 250 runs at 42

Graeme Swann
v Australia 249 runs at 36
last ashes (As above)
v Pakistan 48 runs at 8

James Anderson
v Australia 111 runs at 14
last ashes 99 runs at 16
v Pakistan 19 runs at 3

Steve Finn
v Australia (Never played)
v Pakistan 10 runs at 10

Chris Tremlett
Never Played
v Pakistan (DNP)

Tim Bresnan
v Australia (Never played)
v Pakistan (DNP)

Monty Panesar
v Australia 46 runs at 8
last ashes 11 runs at 11
v Pakistan (DNP)

Steve Davies (Backup keeper)
Never played a test

[Cousin Jed]

Stuart Broad
v Australia 18 wickets at 30
v Pakistan 14 wickets at 23

Graeme Swann
v Australia 14 wickets at 41
v Pakistan 22 wickets at 12

James Anderson
v Australia 17 wickets at 56
last ashes 12 wickets at 45
v Pakistan 23 wickets at 13

Steve Finn
v Pakistan 13 wickets at 23

Monty Panesar
v Australia 11 wickets at 45

The rest didn't play against Pakistan and haven't played against Australia

[Cooldude]

Swann is the key between two pretty evenly matched teams. If he fires, England has a huge edge. Although I don't expect him to, foreign offies find how bloody difficult it is once they bowl in aus. He mightn't find the right pace to bowl and get carted around

[The Reaper]

Swann is the key between two pretty evenly matched teams. If he fires, England has a huge edge. Although I don't expect him to, foreign offies find how bloody difficult it is once they bowl in aus. He mightn't find the right pace to bowl and get carted around

I think that the key test will be at The Gabba and I expect England to win.

[jackster83]

I think that the key test will be at The Gabba and I expect England to win.

I rate the Gabba test as our best chance of winning. Apart from a Ganguly inspired Indian side from a few years ago, opposition sides really struggle there, especially with the ball.

We play shit at Adelaide so we are a good chance of losing that one.

[albundysmate]

we will win at the gabba. we never lose there, even when we are rolled for not much in the first innings.

[frankrizzo]

Even during the nightmare last 19 years in aus England have been competitive at Sydney and Melbourne.

They will be be thinking that if they can get to boxing day with the series close or tied then they will retain the ashes.

[The Reaper]

But this is the first time in a while that we have played a team with a better pace attack than us at The Gabba.

The wicket will be very much to the liking of Broad and Flynn.

[matty p]

Their bowling attack won't be as effective against us here as it was in England, but they should still beat us. Hopefully Finn is shaky in the 1st couple of tests.

I think Morgan is the key to their batting lineup. Always seems to save them when they're in trouble. Get him out cheaply and you're doing well.

[Doodlesweaver]

But this is the first time in a while that we have played a team with a better pace attack than us at The Gabba.

The wicket will be very much to the liking of Broad and Flynn.

Considering how the ball can move through the air at the Gabba, if Anderson is fit and the broadsheets say he will be, he'll be very dangerous there.

I think their pace attack is more talented than ours, and obviously their spin bowler is.

[eddiesmith]

What it will come down to is the lower orders, both top orders could be demolished very quickly at the GABBA, both have weaknesses and are not dominating and both teams pace attacks are their strengths.

I dont know why people bag Australias attack, it may not be the greatest but I would expect every one of them has their best FC record at the GABBA, now come Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth it will be a problem but in Brisbane is Australias best chance and should they do the job it will put the pressure back on England

Its why Australia needs 3 good right handers at 6/7/8. Put a couple of all rounders and your keeper down there and they will be the key to winning at the GABBA, for the other tests go back to the spinner but at the GABBA I would stack the batting and make sure they are right handers and that will kill Swanns influence

England will be relying alot on Bell/Morgan (1 of) and Prior, Broad and Swann to make alot of runs at 6-9 during the entire series, if Australia can match it they will win

[Zarrix]

England's batting has been mediocre of late. Only Prior has been in any decent form, perhaps Strauss and Trott. Morgan still needs to cement his test spots, Collingwood is a good player, but is out of sorts. But he can be a problem if he does find that form though. Pietersen likewise.

I think this series will mostly hinge on the fortunes of two players, those being Pietersen and Swann.

[Phone]

Agree Eddie. The criticism of the bowling attack right now has got me bemused. It got thumped in India. Guess what? It got thumped during 1998 and 2001 when we were the best team in the world and Shane Warne himself was the spinner who got thumped. Complete over-reaction. (side-note: people have this weird opinion that if you're a spinner you'll automatically do well in India. yeah no.)


I think Morgan is the key to their batting lineup. Always seems to save them when they're in trouble. Get him out cheaply and you're doing well.

This post is so wrong I don't even believe it. He's scored one score above 44 in 8 innings, it just so happened it was a ton. He'll be dropped for the Ashes for Ian Bell who was batting very impressively before he got injured. Even being a reliable head under pressure which was very un-Bell like.

In that sense, his injury came at the worst possible time for him. If he bats like he was he'll be a thorn in our side, if he goes back to the old Ian Bell he'll be gone by Perth and Morgan probably won't do much better.

[amer]

But this is the first time in a while that we have played a team with a better pace attack than us at The Gabba.

The wicket will be very much to the liking of Broad and Flynn.

Hahaha, their pace attack isn't more talented than ours. Mitchell Johnson can be a loose cannon and has struggled in recent times but he has more talent than anyone in their battery. Hilf is probably the most talented of either side, would've walked into our attack three years ago had his body held up, and he will be the highest wicket taker for the series. Bollinger is decent, a real trier.

What we lack is quality spin, and middle order stability. Khawaja in for one of North/Hussey and we'd be in a much, much better position. The spin dilemma is not as easily fixed; we either take a punt on O'Keefe (which I'd be keen on), or we persist with Hauritz until someone emerges and flat out demands the position.

If our selectors had any ****ing sense about them, the only advantage we'd be giving away is spin. The batting weakness is selector-created, the talent is available and waiting to come in.

[Phone]

Broad = Johnson both with bat and bowl. Both capable of amazing spells and handy innings, but very capable of complete crap with the ball and a short quick useless innings.

Hilf > Anderson BUT Anderson > Hilf if it's swinging conditions, but that's pretty unlikely to happen much here.

Dougeh > Finn. Although I admit to having seen very little of him.

Swann > Hauritz. Will be interesting to if Swann can break the trend of spinners under-performing in Australia. I back him to.

That's pretty much it. I reckon the attacks are about the same, maybe even in Australia's favour in batting conditions, but England's is better if the conditions suit the bowlers

[amer]

Agree Eddie. The criticism of the bowling attack right now has got me bemused. It got thumped in India. Guess what? It got thumped during 1998 and 2001 when we were the best team in the world and Shane Warne himself was the spinner who got thumped. Complete over-reaction. (side-note: people have this weird opinion that if you're a spinner you'll automatically do well in India. yeah no.)



This post is so wrong I don't even believe it. He's scored one score above 44 in 8 innings, it just so happened it was a ton. He'll be dropped for the Ashes for Ian Bell who was batting very impressively before he got injured. Even being a reliable head under pressure which was very un-Bell like.

In that sense, his injury came at the worst possible time for him. If he bats like he was he'll be a thorn in our side, if he goes back to the old Ian Bell he'll be gone by Perth and Morgan probably won't do much better.

Actually our pace attack performed fairly well in India, certainly had the better of proceedings in the first test. Our batting is primarily what let us down. There was a 500-600 score on offer in the first innings of the first test, likewise the second.

[amer]

Broad = Johnson both with bat and bowl. Both capable of amazing spells and handy innings, but very capable of complete crap with the ball and a short quick useless innings.

Hilf > Anderson BUT Anderson > Hilf if it's swinging conditions, but that's pretty unlikely to happen much here.

Dougeh > Finn. Although I admit to having seen very little of him.

Swann > Hauritz. Will be interesting to if Swann can break the trend of spinners under-performing in Australia. I back him to.

That's pretty much it. I reckon the attacks are about the same, maybe even in Australia's favour in batting conditions, but England's is better if the conditions suit the bowlers

Broad averages 34 with the ball, Johnson 29. I'm backing Johnson to take more wickets for the series, particularly in our conditions.

[Phone]

I'm backing Broad to bowl one or two of his "I'm the best bowler in the world" spells though. Seriously when he's on he is on. I've put them equal because they both as great as each other when on, but both as unreliable as each other and both as bad as each other when off. They're like long-lost twins (who aren't the same age)

[Doodlesweaver]

What it will come down to is the lower orders, both top orders could be demolished very quickly at the GABBA, both have weaknesses and are not dominating and both teams pace attacks are their strengths.

Its why Australia needs 3 good right handers at 6/7/8. Put a couple of all rounders and your keeper down there and they will be the key to winning at the GABBA, for the other tests go back to the spinner but at the GABBA I would stack the batting and make sure they are right handers and that will kill Swanns influence

England will be relying alot on Bell/Morgan (1 of) and Prior, Broad and Swann to make alot of runs at 6-9 during the entire series, if Australia can match it they will win

Well Eddie we need right-handers at 5 and 6, not that we'll get them. I think we'll line up with our pathetic left-handers Huss (good for about 20/30 on a normal day, good for stuff all else) and North (good for a ton on a good day, good for a duck to 8 on a normal day).

We have to hope that it's not good bowling conditions at all as our bowlers won't use them and theirs will.

[Dr Awkward]

Im surprised people think England have a better pace attack than us.

I would definately rather have ours. If we play:

Bollinger
Johnson
Hilfy
Harris

that is a very strong Gabba line up.

Would be shattered to lose at the Gabba I don't think I can remember us losing at the Gabba since I've been watching cricket pretty much! If we lose there we are f*cked.

But I'm pretty confident of us winning there.

[Dr Awkward]

I'm also going to factor in a token "English-player-who-falls-in-a-heap-and-doesn't-meet-high-expectations-when-playing-in-Australia"

Surely there will be at least one of those. Hopefully it's one of their bowlers.

[eddiesmith]

I'm also going to factor in a token "English-player-who-falls-in-a-heap-and-doesn't-meet-high-expectations-when-playing-in-Australia"

Surely there will be at least one of those. Hopefully it's one of their bowlers.
Im voting for Trott

[amer]

Morgan will struggle, can guarantee you that.

[Dr Awkward]

Are any of their bowlers capable of completely imploding ala Harmison? Anderson maybe?

[amer]

Anderson definitely. Finn perhaps, it'll be a new experience for him and poms often don't take those well. :p

[eddiesmith]

Are any of their bowlers capable of completely imploding ala Harmison? Anderson maybe?
Johnson probably the best bet for the series, although you can guarantee the Aussie skipper to lose it completely atleast 3 times :)

["josh]

Trott takes forever to get ready for each delivery, pissed me off during their tour of South Africa.