Ashes 2015

[LukeParkerno1]

Do you even watch cricket?

You go and support Watson...guess what not everyone loves him, I definitely can't stand him in a test side. Different in a T20/ODI side, but a test side where he has been the biggest disappointment for years, meh.

 

[Smoooothy]

watto needs to either take wickets or score runs. at the moment (and for the past few years) he isn't doing either

 

[LukeParkerno1]

watto needs to either take wickets or score runs. at the moment (and for the past few years) he isn't doing either

Exactly. Now is Mitch Marsh the answer, I have no idea, however if Watson is going to do nothing with bat, bowl a few 125kmph pies then I'd rather punt on Marsh.

 

[Moist Biscuit]

Exactly. Now is Mitch Marsh the answer, I have no idea, however if Watson is going to do nothing with bat, bowl a few 125kmph pies then I'd rather punt on Marsh.

Would rather play Shaun Marsh at 6 and Voges at 5 to be honest. I hate how obsessed we are with having an Allrounder. Watto hasn't made runs and isn't in the side for his bowling, likewise Mitch Marsh has only taken 1 test wicket. So I am not sure what they actually offer with the rock.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Would rather play Shaun Marsh at 6 and Voges at 5 to be honest. I hate how obsessed we are with having an Allrounder. Watto hasn't made runs and isn't in the side for his bowling, likewise Mitch Marsh has only taken 1 test wicket. So I am not sure what they actually offer with the rock.

If Shaun is in the side he should be in the top 4. People may laugh at me and that is fine, but I would pick Shaun at 3, Smith at 4, Clarke at 5 (although jeez he needs runs), Voges at 6. That said I am realistic and they want a batting allrounder in the top 6.

 

[PaddyO]

You go and support Watson...guess what not everyone loves him, I definitely can't stand him in a test side. Different in a T20/ODI side, but a test side where he has been the biggest disappointment for years, meh.

Mate, I'm not talking about supporting Watson or loving him. I'm talking about you saying he bowled 30 overs over the last 5 tests. Trying tripling that amount, and him being bloody effective with the ball as a holding bowler so Johnson can bowl short sharp spells and so Harris doesn't need to be overworked.

 

[PaddyO]

Watto hasn't made runs and isn't in the side for his bowling, likewise Mitch Marsh has only taken 1 test wicket. So I am not sure what they actually offer with the rock.

Your fifth bowler doesn't have to take wickets. That's not what they're usually there for.

however if Watson is going to do nothing with bat, bowl a few 125kmph pies then I'd rather punt on Marsh.

If you seriously think Watson bowls "pies" and can't see the value his bowling adds to a winning team then you need to look again.

 

[Moist Biscuit]

Your fifth bowler doesn't have to take wickets. That's not what they're usually there for.

If you seriously think Watson bowls "pies" and can't see the value his bowling adds to a winning team then you need to look again.

I would prefer we have a "5th Bowler" who can actually make runs and take the occasional wicket. Watson hasn't done either.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Your fifth bowler doesn't have to take wickets. That's not what they're usually there for.

If you seriously think Watson bowls "pies" and can't see the value his bowling adds to a winning team then you need to look again.

But your fifth bowler has to do something more than keep it tight, if he's selected in the top 6 of the batting line-up.

Though, as we've retained the trophy, I assume he'll score runs this match.

 

[MelbLion4Life]

I think 3 fast bowlers + 1 medium A/R + 1 spinner combination has been effective in the last couple of years. So I would not be too keen to change that.

Do I think Watto deserves a spot on merit alone? No
M.Marsh? Not quite yet
Faukner? Not at test level

I guess logical thing would be to scrap the A/R if they aren't good enough to hold their spot on merit alone and go with 6 bats + WK + 4 bowlers.

But you have to factor that Mitch is effective in short bursts and same can be said for Harris. When you look at English line you have guys like Butler, Stokes, Ali (at 8!) and Broad down there so they bat pretty deep. Plus the pitches there are not conducive to bowl quick and blast them out type of cricket.

So we are going to have to grind it out, build pressure for long periods and attack with Mitch/Rhino in short bursts. For this to work, I think we need someone like Watto/Mitch. Again not advocating for Watto, but he has a job to do with the ball and he has done this well over the last few years (he is often the one dotting up one end).

It is robbing Peter to pay Paul (as we lose out on potentially consistent batsman in top 6). So in no way am I saying this is the right way. But I would be very careful before changing the formula for a big series like this.

 

[Hellgood]

Vaughan wants Rashid in the test team. Makes some fair points, but suspect it's not that different to Geoff Lawson or Dean Jones calling for a New South Welshman or Victorian to be picked!

 

[PaddyO]

As stated, with Johnson and Harris in the team, Watsons excellent containing line and length means they can bowl short quick spells. It's ideal for team balance. MMarsh is a good bowler, but not in Watson's league as a test bowler yet.

And let's be realistic. Who's going to replace Watson? SMarsh is no better than him on output, and is as inconsistent as him when it comes to clutch runs. Voges is good and I'd think he will be effective in England. My top 6 for England would be

Rogers
Warner
Smith
Voges
Clarke
Watson

SMarsh can replace anyone in the top 5 and MMarsh can replace Watto for injury. I'd be a big fan of Nevill being in the team now for his steady batting but it seems right to give Haddin the Ashes as a swan song.

 

[The_Reaper]

Vaughan wants Rashid in the test team. Makes some fair points, but suspect it's not that different to Geoff Lawson or Dean Jones calling for a New South Welshman or Victorian to be picked!

He's still right though.

We have a clear weakness against spin and they have a decent spinner.

If England were as bad against spin as we are I'd drop Lyon for Ahmed in a heartbeat.

 

[Belnakor]

Clarke at 5 (although jeez he needs runs), Voges at 6.

made 128 two tests ago on one leg..

 

[LukeParkerno1]

made 128 two tests ago on one leg..

In November or whatever it was...

 

[PaddyO]

In November or whatever it was...

Lol. It was two tests ago. What's he meant to do, make more runs in the tests we don't play?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Lol. It was two tests ago. What's he meant to do, make more runs in the tests we don't play?

Make some runs in the first test, tour match...

 

[PaddyO]

Make some runs in the first test, tour match...

K. If he fails in this test would you drop him for the Ashes? Or would you let him at least have the first test in England?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

K. If he fails in this test would you drop him for the Ashes? Or would you let him at least have the first test in England?

Never said I would drop him, just said he needs runs

 

[Showbags]

He's still right though.

We have a clear weakness against spin and they have a decent spinner.

If England were as bad against spin as we are I'd drop Lyon for Ahmed in a heartbeat.

Rashid is not a decent spinner. He is a part timer at best (like Moeen Ali).

 

[PaddyO]

Never said I would drop him, just said he needs runs

Every batsman needs runs. Obviously. But he made a ton two tests ago. So what's your point?

 

[Shiv]

I really hope steve smith can produce some big runs during the ashes. I really want to see how he holds up in those conditions in his current form

 

[Hellgood]

Well the way he's been playing the last two years all over the world, I don't think there's much to wonder about at all.

 

[happy_eagle]

 

[The_Reaper]

Marsh, Nevill and Rogers have left to go to England early where they will play for the Elite International Cricket Academy versus a Hampshire XI on the 18-19th of June.

Ryan Harris will also be playing