Ashes 25/26

[the_interloper]

Aside from night watchmen and the likes of O'Keeffe opening, who was the last player to bat in the top order in tests without a FC century?

Leach is still (for all his critics) by far the best spinner in England but he'll never play tests again under this regime.

****ed if I know, Konstas the least I could think of, probably only had 2 when he debuted I think.

 

[Westend]

Aside from night watchmen and the likes of O'Keeffe opening, who was the last player to bat in the top order in tests without a FC century?

Leach is still (for all his critics) by far the best spinner in England but he'll never play tests again under this regime.

Yup the holding role he would of provided ...whilst they rotate there quicks

They are going to miss that ..Really think its a stupid move by them...yes Bashir can get bounce and he is tall but reckon our lads are going to feast...he leaks runs

And all the talk about our top order...well the poms not settled either.. yes duckett is a gun but never played a test in aust and .statistically Crawley is the worst opener of all time.....plus you have Pope just being demoted from VC and he has struggled at 3 ...and the poms think Bethell is Boy wonder ...time to use that to our advantage

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Yup the holding role he would of provided ...whilst they rotate there quicks

They are going to miss that ..Really think its a stupid move by them...yes Bashir can get bounce and he is tall but reckon our lads are going to feast...he leaks runs

And all the talk about our top order...well the poms not settled either.. yes duckett is a gun but never played a test in aust and .statistically Crawley is the worst opener of all time.....plus you have Pope just being demoted from VC and he has struggled at 3 ...and the poms think Bethell is Boy wonder ...time to use that to our advantage

Bethell selection has a bit of Cooper Connolly about it (must net well).

 

[Jascave]

Wonder if England is repeating the same mistake they made when they selected the 1974-75 touring party to Australia, when by picking too many fast bowlers, they have weakened the make-up of the batting order.

This is who England originally picked that summer:

Mike Denness (c)
John Edrich (vc)
Dennis Amiss
Geoff Arnold
Geoff Boycott (later to withdraw, replaced by Brian Luckhurst)
Keith Fletcher
Tony Greig
Mike Hendrick
Alan Knott
Peter Lever
David Lloyd
Chris Old
Bob Taylor
Freddie Titmus
Derek Underwood
Bob Willis

Colin Cowdrey joined the England squad in time for the second Test at the WACA Ground, Perth.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

That's a bog average squad of players they're sending down here, wedded to an overrated and failed bazball gameplan that will not get the pitches required to make it work.

very little there to scare us.

Stokes will be underdone.
Wood and Archer will be lucky to see 3 tests.
Root has no centuries in Australia. That won't change.
Bethel has no FC centuries at all.
Bashir and Jacks are hack spinners.
That leaves the incredibly overrated Duckett and Brook and the shithouse Crawley.

At least they've picked a keeper that'll stay in his crease though.

 

[10Dulkar]

That's a bog average squad of players they're sending down here, wedded to an overrated and failed bazball gameplan that will not get the pitches required to make it work.

very little there to scare us.

Stokes will be underdone.
Wood and Archer will be lucky to see 3 tests.
Root has no centuries in Australia. That won't change.
Bethel has no FC centuries at all.
Bashir and Jacks are hack spinners.
That leaves the incredibly overrated Duckett and Brook and the shithouse Crawley.

At least they've picked a keeper that'll stay in his crease though.

I also think the size of our grounds here will play into Australia's hands. I think you're a bit harsh on Duckett and Brook though. Crawley, on the other hand, has been persisted more than anyone else purely because apparently his game is suited to Australian pitches. I hope Cummins et al put him back in his box.

 

[sabso]

Bethell selection has a bit of Cooper Connolly about it (must net well).

Aus picked marina prior in the mid 2000s for the same reason

 

[Donnie Darko]

The AUS team is getting old. I think this series is their last Ashes series for many of the team.
Players are pushing past mid 30s and onto the 40s . Then they will have to rebuild a new team and conjure up talent that doesnt exist anymore. Maybe get some more paper citizens into the team.

 

[big_e]

The AUS team is getting old. I think this series is their last Ashes series for many of the team.
Players are pushing past mid 30s and onto the 40s . Then they will have to rebuild a new team and conjure up talent that doesnt exist anymore. Maybe get some more paper citizens into the team.

"Paper citizens"?

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Aus picked marina prior in the mid 2000s for the same reason

This one has gone right past me toward the keeper, what does the musical Actress have to do with anything?

 

[sabso]

This one has gone right past me toward the keeper, what does the musical Actress have to do with anything?

Sorry. Was a reference to something silly that Skull said.

 

[ioppolo]

Bethell selection has a bit of Cooper Connolly about it (must net well).

Bethell has 3 fifties at an average of 38 so far, so he's shown he can handle test cricket to an extent

 

[Cleavy]

Doggett ruled out of the first Shield game with a hamstring strain. our choices of potential fast bowling replacements getting thinner by the day

 

[TasSixer]

Team I'd pick right now

Weatherald
Lab
Green
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Cumdog
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Team I think they will choose

Khawaja
Konstas
Lab
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Cumdog
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Boland in for any bowler that's injured.

 

[DaRick]

Team I'd pick right now

Weatherald
Lab
Green
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Cumdog
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Team I think they will choose

Khawaja
Konstas
Lab
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Cumdog
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Boland in for any bowler that's injured.

You think they'll drop Webster?

I think we'll pick the same side we did in WI, but maybe with Konstas out and Labu in, assuming Weatherald hasn't scored a billion runs.

 

[TasSixer]

You think they'll drop Webster?

I think we'll pick the same side we did in WI, but maybe with Konstas out and Labu in, assuming Weatherald hasn't scored a billion runs.

Just a gut feel, they'll want Green at 6

 

[Westend]

You think they'll drop Webster?

I think we'll pick the same side we did in WI, but maybe with Konstas out and Labu in, assuming Weatherald hasn't scored a billion runs.

With the issues with Cummins back ....strong chance both Green and Webster will be playing in the first test

Greenie is back bowling from an injury and with questions about Cummins injury the selectors will want the insurance that Webbie provides and webbies chances of playing increase with cummins injury.

I think the main selection issue is between Konstas and Labs ....whoever is in best form will get the nod IMO

In regards to Weatherald I can see him being a spare. If he can keep scoring in the shield and looking at the backend of the series if Usman continues to fail . I think these first two tests are going to be huge for Ussie ...if he fails and we lose one of the tests or both he will be gone IMO...usman has to make a significant score for me in these first two tests

My biggest concern is the batting order and if Greenie is bowling I don't want him batting 3. I would throw the challenge to smith he is our best bat....to bat at number three and step up

 

[t_94]

Bethel is the latest in a line of next big thing future trivia questions that England bring out every time there is an ashes in Australia.

Who legitimately remembers mason crane? Scott borthwick?

He will be world class. Super talent.

 

[74561347]

He will be world class. Super talent.

 

[t_94]

View attachment 2440761

You seen him play?

 

[Jim Prideaux]

You seen him play?

He’s gifted no doubt, but it remains to be seen whether he’s ready. I worry they’ve picked him on promise and the ability to bowl a bit, not because he’s earnt it yet. I guess we will see shortly.

 

[74561347]

You seen him play?

Saw him play tests against new Zealand where he slogged against a pretty modest attack and didn't bowl.

Recently made his first professional hundred against a second string SA attack without rabada, ngidi, janson or nortje

FC average of 27 with the bat with 0 hundreds and 71 with the ball

Not seeing it at this point

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Wonder if England is repeating the same mistake they made when they selected the 1974-75 touring party to Australia, when by picking too many fast bowlers, they have weakened the make-up of the batting order.

There was one quick they didn't select, John Snow. That was rather silly as well. Apparently, selectors voiced concerns that Denness wouldn't be able to control Snow, so they didn't pick him.

 

[Jascave]

There was one quick they didn't select, John Snow. That was rather silly as well. Apparently, selectors voiced concerns that Denness wouldn't be able to control Snow, so they didn't pick him.

Some of the mistakes England made on the 1974-75 tour of Australia:

-Not picking John Snow;

-Not persuading Geoff Boycott to stay on the tour after he had announced his withdrawal for 'very good personal reasons';

-Selecting a 42 year old batsman who was well past his prime in Colin Cowdrey as a tour replacement. David Steele of Northamptonshire would've been better.

 

[sabso]

Chris Woakes has retired from international cricket. Not surprising given his age, injuries and how he tours but he probably would have flown in for the 2nd test as an injury replacement you just know it. Tbf he had a pretty dignified exit on the field at least.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/chris-woakes-announces-england-retirement-ashes-omission-1504920