Ashes 2015

[PaddyO]

Pick teams and discuss preliminary matters here.

My Australian team for the first test would be:

Warner
Rogers
S.Marsh
Smith
Clarke
Voges
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hazelwood
Lyon

Although I expect either Watson or M.Marsh to play instead of Voges.

 

[Mego Red]

Is Shaun Marsh starting to look like the man most likely to get first crack at Rogers spot, post retirement?

 

[PaddyO]

Possibly. They really need to bed down #3 now though. Really the only candidates in the squad are Smith and S.Marsh.

The guy I'd like to see around the mark is Khawaja.

 

[The_Reaper]

Joe Burns would be the first in line as an opener.

 

[Ashton Agar]

I'd prefer the order to be Warner, Marsh, Smith, Burns post-Ashes.

 

[Power Raid]

Pick teams and discuss preliminary matters here.

My Australian team for the first test would be:

Warner
Rogers
S.Marsh
Smith
Clarke
Voges
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hazelwood
Lyon

Although I expect either Watson or M.Marsh to play instead of Voges.

It would be a brave selection panel to go in with only 4 bowlers. I would imagine an all rounder will be selected to manage the bowlers work loads.

 

[Showbags]

It would be a brave selection panel to go in with only 4 bowlers. I would imagine an all rounder will be selected to manage the bowlers work loads.

Yep they will play Watson for sure.

The two biggest questions are S Marsh v Voges and Hazlewood/Ahmed v Starc/Ahmed (depending on whether the pitch is a bunsen burner or not). This is ofcourse assuming Harris is fit.

If Harris and Johnson are anywhere near their best I think we can definitely win. But if Harris is not 100% and Johnson is not at his best I think we could struggle. Out of Hazlewood and Starc it is a tough call. The fact that there are so many lefties in the England team might make the selectors lean towards Starc (as he swings the ball away). Plus Starc adds some handy depth with the bat.

Out of Marsh and Voges I think they will probably go with Marsh. The fact that he is a lefty against Anderson and Broad (with Clarke, Smith, Watson and Haddin all right handers) will be the thing that gets him over the line.

 

[Super Hans]

Warner
Rogers
Smith
Clarke
Voges
M.Marsh/Watson (not fussed)
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Lyon
Hazelwood

I reckon the only tough calls they'll have to make is Mitch Marsh or Watson and Shaun Marsh or Voges.

Still worry about Johnson's ability in England, he really lost the plot there in 09(?) after an unreal year or two.

 

[Hellgood]

Still worry about Johnson's ability in England, he really lost the plot there in 09(?) after an unreal year or two.

I think people are jumping at shadows with this. He was falling apart mentally and his bowling would have been crap regardless of where in the world he was - well I suppose other than Perth.

For all the talk about how ineffective he was, it's actually pretty remarkable he managed to average 32 in that 2009 series (was going at four an over admittedly). Stats weren't really window dressed through tailend wickets either.

Batsmen dismissed:
(4) Bell
(3) Cook
(2) Collingwood, Swann, Prior, Flintoff
(1) Strauss, Broad, Anderson, Onions, Bopara

I think we all just remember that first morning at Lords so vividly.

Whilst expecting beast mode like the 2013/14 Ashes and subsequent South African tour is fanciful, he'll still be more than a handful.

 

[ioppolo]

Where's the fifth test being played?

 

[Ashton Agar]

Where's the fifth test being played?

The Oval

 

[Power Raid]

Warner
Rogers
Smith
Clarke
Voges
M.Marsh/Watson (not fussed)
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Lyon
Hazelwood

I reckon the only tough calls they'll have to make is Mitch Marsh or Watson and Shaun Marsh or Voges.

Still worry about Johnson's ability in England, he really lost the plot there in 09(?) after an unreal year or two.

mitch and voges for me

 

[Doodlesweaver]

mitch and voges for me

The only way Watson won't be in the team is if he's injured.

I'd love to see Voges over Marsh.

 

[Power Raid]

The only way Watson won't be in the team is if he's injured.

I'd love to see Voges over Marsh.

you're right but I can at least hope

 

[LukeParkerno1]

It would be a brave selection panel to go in with only 4 bowlers. I would imagine an all rounder will be selected to manage the bowlers work loads.

Voges and Smith can bowl, and are very handy.

 

[frankrizzo]

Our selectors are in love with having that 4th seamer no way they are giving them up because voges and smith can bowl some spin.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Nine are doing their own coverage so the Ashes have already been ruined for me.

 

[Underarm]

I feel the selectors tune towards Watson changed a bit in the World Cup. They might be more inclined to drop him if poor performances continue.

 

[MisterMarcus]

They seem to be leaning towards two spinners in the Windies, so that might be a bit of a bowl-off between Ahmed and Lyon for the Ashes spot.

That makes it difficult for whoever out of Starc/Hazelwood doesn't get picked to make their case though.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

They seem to be leaning towards two spinners in the Windies, so that might be a bit of a bowl-off between Ahmed and Lyon for the Ashes spot.

A bowl off? It is Lyon's spot even if Ahmed bowls well in the West Indies.

I wouldn't be bothering with two spinners, Windies or not.

 

[The_Reaper]

Surely there's just too much to gain from giving Starc an opportunity to bring his limited overs form to test level than playing two mediocre spinners?

 

[Hellgood]

Surely there's just too much to gain from giving Starc an opportunity to bring his limited overs form to test level than playing two mediocre spinners?

Will be interesting to see if Voges' ability with the ball is considered.

 

[The_Reaper]

Will be interesting to see if Voges' ability with the ball is considered.

Turns it the other way to Lyon.

He'd be a useful sixth bowler and even if the conditions do help the spinners a bit the selectors should consider if Starc + Voges offers more bowling wise than Ahmed*.

*Sure Voges would probably play if Ahmed does but if we're giving Voges overs when both Ahmed and Lyon are playing than something has probably gone pretty wrong.

 

[Showbags]

Will be interesting to see if Voges' ability with the ball is considered.

When you have Smith and Clarke that can roll their arm over I doubt that another part timer is going to be considered that high on the agenda (especially if Ahmed plays).

 

[The_Reaper]

When you have Smith and Clarke that can roll their arm over I doubt that another part timer is going to be considered that high on the agenda (especially if Ahmed plays).

It's highly debate if Clarke is a bowling option and Smith doesn't really want to be a bowling option and is to loose to be reliable.

Voges is a better bowling option than either Smith or Clarke.

But as you said, if Ahmed and Lyon are playing we shouldn't need a part time spinner.