Ashes 25/26

[Adelaide Hawk]

For the first time, I'm starting to think we're in a bit of bother for the Ashes series.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Well it’s not as if Webster is making tons this summer to force their hand. Green is just a better package a bit quicker with the ball.

Neither is green and the better package has bowled like 8 overs in over 12 months

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Head is not in form at all and that is not great heading into the Ashes.

Hope he switches on soon because our batting looks fragile enough as it is

Head bats like a cowboy when playing for SA. Treats it like a social match.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Sure Green isn't bashing the door down, but he is batting better than Webster is right now. The runs each of them have scored recently show that. Hence, in a tight call I think Green gets the nod.

Is he? I keep reading this but I’m not sure where those runs are? He hasn’t made shield runs either

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

Head will turn it around, he always does

 

[Moonwatcher]

For the first time, I'm starting to think we're in a bit of bother for the Ashes series.

England should give up cricket if they can't beat us this year.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Smith looking good now.

 

[Zevon]

Smith looking good now.

Playing another gem. Both innings the NSW batsmen have struggled but he’s been playing a different game to the rest.

 

[western royboy]

For the first time, I'm starting to think we're in a bit of bother for the Ashes series.

Welcome

 

[western royboy]

Playing another gem. Both innings the NSW batsmen have struggled but he’s been playing a different game to the rest.

He’s about 3 levels above anything else that we’ve got

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

England should give up cricket if they can't beat us this year.

Yep, usually when going into an Ashes series at home, the players have had a steady diet of Sheffield Shield matches and pretty much played themselves into form. That has not been the case this year, for some reason Cricket Australia has deemed a series of ODI and T20 matches against India to be better preparation.

Well, it has backfired with key players being injured and struggling for form against the red ball. As an aside, I've been following the modes of dismissal for batsmen in this SS round and have been dismayed by what I've seen. Players leaving balls which are far too close to be leaving, chopping on to the stumps, LBW to straight balls, etc. It truly is a bit of a worry for future development of the game.

But ... we'll get to Big Bash, everyone slogging away, mindless crowds flocking in to watch white balls sail into the crowds against the night sky, CA will count up the cash, and the game will continue to suffer.

 

[The Lobbster]

England should give up cricket if they can't beat us this year.

Since the last Ashes (the series in England). I’ll even add Australia’s tour of India in just to even up the difficulty

Eng
Played: 23
Won: 12
Drawn: 1
Lost: 10
Opponents - India (H and A), West Indies (H), Sri Lanka (H), Pakistan (A), New Zealand (A), Zimbabwe (H)

Aus
Played: 22
Won: 15
Drawn: 2
Lost: 5
Opponents - Pakistan (H), West Indies (H and A), New Zealand (A), India (H and A), Sri Lanka (A), South Africa (N)

I would generally agree that England more of a shot than they normally do but they haven’t won a test match in Australia in 15 years and their recent form is simply not as good as ours.

I know it’s Bigfooty which means this Australian team apparently sucks and are all overrated but there’s not much to support the idea that England are favourites.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Head will turn it around, he always does

Hope so but hardly confident looked woeful out there

 

[western royboy]

Yep, usually when going into an Ashes series at home, the players have had a steady diet of Sheffield Shield matches and pretty much played themselves into form. That has not been the case this year, for some reason Cricket Australia has deemed a series of ODI and T20 matches against India to be better preparation.

Well, it has backfired with key players being injured and struggling for form against the red ball. As an aside, I've been following the modes of dismissal for batsmen in this SS round and have been dismayed by what I've seen. Players leaving balls which are far too close to be leaving, chopping on to the stumps, LBW to straight balls, etc. It truly is a bit of a worry for future development of the game.

But ... we'll get to Big Bash, everyone slogging away, mindless crowds flocking in to watch white balls sail into the crowds against the night sky, CA will count up the cash, and the game will continue to suffer.

We had a similar preparation last year and if it’s any consolation England’s prep on the face of it seems worse.

Bottom line we have ridden on the back of the 3 fast bowlers for years and rge nightmare scenario is now starting to appear. It’s been coming for a long time but the end when it dies come usually comes a lot sooner than you want. Be interesting.

 

[dumb]

hazlewood has been creaky for a few years now. selection policy such as it has been, after boland slots in for the first injury, a second injury has us picking kind of blindly. boland would want to do better than he did in england, too.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Since the last Ashes (the series in England). I’ll even add Australia’s tour of India in just to even up the difficulty

Eng
Played: 23
Won: 12
Drawn: 1
Lost: 10
Opponents - India (H and A), West Indies (H), Sri Lanka (H), Pakistan (A), New Zealand (A), Zimbabwe (H)

Aus
Played: 22
Won: 15
Drawn: 2
Lost: 5
Opponents - Pakistan (H), West Indies (H and A), New Zealand (A), India (H and A), Sri Lanka (A), South Africa (N)

I would generally agree that England more of a shot than they normally do but they haven’t won a test match in Australia in 15 years and their recent form is simply not as good as ours.

I know it’s Bigfooty which means this Australian team apparently sucks and are all overrated but there’s not much to support the idea that England are favourites.

We need our main 3 bowlers and at least 2 batsmen to make runs.

 

[ams4crows]

No Cummins and Hazlewood is a complete doomsday scenario! Seriously we're completely ****ed if Hazlewood doesn't get up

I'm not that fussed over Hazelwood, I think we have better bowlers who don't breakdown all the time that should have been getting a gig before him anyway.

Nesser is just as good a bowler for me and he can bat too. No brainer for me

 

[Moonwatcher]

I'm not that fussed over Hazelwood, I think we have better bowlers who don't breakdown all the time that should have been getting a gig before him anyway.

Nesser is just as good a bowler for me and he can bat too. No brainer for me

Sure, but how many can we cover?

 

[Moonwatcher]

Smith will make just under 50% of NSW's runs.

 

[ams4crows]

Sure, but how many can we cover?

For Fast bowling? I don't think we have any shortage if we are playing in Australia.

If Lyon goes down that's when we are truly stuffed. Murphy or Kuhnamann are ok but they aren't elite like Lyon.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Dead set Head is lucky he has credits in the bank. When was the last time he made a decent score?

Last test ton was December last year.

Surely there are alarm bells, his form has been underwhelming

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Neser is surely next in line. Done it before and adds a fair bit with the bat not that Fergus can’t but can see them going safe if it’s only a test or two

Doggett for mine

 

[RookiePick]

hazlewood has been creaky for a few years now. selection policy such as it has been, after boland slots in for the first injury, a second injury has us picking kind of blindly. boland would want to do better than he did in england, too.

Reckon he'll be right

 

[Westend]

any news on hazelwood...??

 

[The Lobbster]

any news on hazelwood...??

He was apparently walking around fine and Cummins said he seemed pretty upbeat. Nothing official but could just be precautionary