Ashes 25/26

[icyflakes]

People are kidding themselves if they think Khawaja won't be selected.

It is not about what is best for the side both in the current series and the future. It is about George Bailey and Andrew McDonald's political calculations.

I don't know what you mean by political calculations, but if Uz is picked in place of Ingliss, noone is really going to care. He's in his last series, if his send off is to chuck him down the order in a spot that isn't too contentious, then go for it.

Cummins, Lyon, Uz in for Doggett, Neser and Ingliss. I would only be annoyed if Khawaja went back to opening and ****ed up the order again - Weatherald is feeling comfortable with Head, and Head doesn't give a shit about the pressure of opening. Its perfect.

 

[Linda Lovelace]

I don't know what you mean by political calculations, but if Uz is picked in place of Ingliss, noone is really going to care. He's in his last series, if his send off is to chuck him down the order in a spot that isn't too contentious, then go for it.

Cummins, Lyon, Uz in for Doggett, Neser and Ingliss. I would only be annoyed if Khawaja went back to opening and ****ed up the order again - Weatherald is feeling comfortable with Head, and Head doesn't give a shit about the pressure of opening. Its perfect.

Khawaja won't be selected in the middle order. That would be even stupider than selecting him in the first place.

 

[icyflakes]

Khawaja won't be selected in the middle order. That would be even stupider than selecting him in the first place.

For the future of the team, picking him as an opener and moving Head back down feels like a far more stupid move. It's a lot easier for a batter to move down the order than to move up.

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

I still think this England team have it in them to post some big scores

But the bowling might be an issue

Honestly think Atkinson bowled better than his figures suggested, he really had no backup

 

[The_Reaper]

I don't know what you mean by political calculations, but if Uz is picked in place of Ingliss, noone is really going to care. He's in his last series, if his send off is to chuck him down the order in a spot that isn't too contentious, then go for it.

Cummins, Lyon, Uz in for Doggett, Neser and Ingliss. I would only be annoyed if Khawaja went back to opening and ****ed up the order again - Weatherald is feeling comfortable with Head, and Head doesn't give a shit about the pressure of opening. Its perfect.

I would care a lot.

Khawaja is a liability on the field. Inglis is not.

 

[Linda Lovelace]

For the future of the team, picking him as an opener and moving Head back down feels like a far more stupid move. It's a lot easier for a batter to move down the order than to move up.

I'm not going to argue with you over which stupid option is less stupid.

30-year-old Inglis will be dropped either way for a cooked 39-year-old (he turns 39 during the test) and that is the point at which the selectors will be signalling that they don't give a sh*t about the future.

 

[icyflakes]

I'm not going to argue with you over which stupid option is less stupid.

30-year-old Inglis will be dropped either way for a cooked 39-year-old (he turns 39 during the test) and that is the point at which the selectors will be signalling that they don't give a sh*t about the future.

Completely agree Uz is the worst pick in almost any matchup, and completely agree that it would reflect terribly on the selectors, especially opening. But if they had to my point was I'd much rather see him down the order so he doesn't disrupt us finally finding some opening form.

And what did you mean by the political calculations?

 

[to1994]

The selectors have done a very good job recently, but if they drop someone to fit in Khawaja and we lose the Test due to batting, it will have been one of the worst selection moves in years and should destroy any good will they've generated.

Khawaja has been an excellent cricketer in the past but it's getting silly now. We can't have this dance going on every year where a senior player is clearly past it but we have to fit in a farewell series for them.

This is the problem with what we did for Warner, now it feels like we're playing favourites if we don't give others a goodbye match and this is probably why the selectors are being coy. We need to just rip the bandaid off with this one and embrace that sport doesn't end with fairytale farewells.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I still think this England team have it in them to post some big scores

But the bowling might be an issue

Honestly think Atkinson bowled better than his figures suggested, he really had no backup

Of course they do but our bowling line up just got better with the addition of Lyon and Cummins.

If England are capable of big scores so are our batsmen.

 

[Blackhawk42]

I don't know what you mean by political calculations, but if Uz is picked in place of Ingliss, noone is really going to care. He's in his last series, if his send off is to chuck him down the order in a spot that isn't too contentious, then go for it.

Cummins, Lyon, Uz in for Doggett, Neser and Ingliss. I would only be annoyed if Khawaja went back to opening and ****ed up the order again - Weatherald is feeling comfortable with Head, and Head doesn't give a shit about the pressure of opening. Its perfect.

I'd definitely care.

Blooding new talent is always fun in a sport where there are only 11 positions up for grabs.

Even better when that new talent proves their selection to be correct.

Then even better again when we do so and retain the Ashes at the same time!

We should be taking the 'risk' on the batting line-up from Brisbane.
Personally I'd put Inglis to 6 and Carey to 7, but that's the only change.

 

[western royboy]

Their selection policies are dog shit.

Was listening to ABC Sport earlier this week and there were a few England media scribes on the broadcast. They bought up a young guy who plays for Yorkshire (George Hill) who took 51 wickets in 13 games @ 17 in the County Championship this year and according to them, he should have been a chance of making the Poms touring squad this year

However, England Director of Cricket, Robert Key is on record as saying he only wants bowlers in England's side who can bowl 140 kph +

Hill bowls at about 125 - 130 (about the same as Neser).

And the irony that Neser & Boland got the job done (of course with the support of Starc) was not lost on them.

To be fair with bowlers our selectors have followed the same policy for years…they are only just catching up. Neser is closer to the end than the start…he’s played 3 tests in 6 years. Boland only got a run because of injury. Fergus O’Neil has dominated FC cricket here for a couple of years and is behind the two aforementioned. Chadd Sayers played 1 test.

 

[MisterMarcus]

To be fair with bowlers our selectors have followed the same policy for years…they are only just catching up. Neser is closer to the end than the start…he’s played 3 tests in 6 years. Boland only got a run because of injury. Fergus O’Neil has dominated FC cricket here for a couple of years and is behind the two aforementioned. Chadd Sayers played 1 test.

Plus we've seen plenty of 130kph English bowlers who have great records in English conditions, come out here and be basically cannon fodder.

The selections might be questionable but I have no problem with the Poms focussing on getting faster guys who can hit the deck, instead of yet another 'county pro' medium pacer.

 

[Cleavy]

haha! this is similar to some of that "big brain/moral victory" English thinking.

 

[eth-dog]

haha! this is similar to some of that "big brain/moral victory" English thinking.

They're great value

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Khawaja says he should be picked because he can play spin. 1. Since when did you need to play spin against England? 2. You have to still be at the crease when the spin bowlers come on. Sorry Ussie, you've been terrific over the years but time to move on.

 

[010203]

 

[Cleavy]

Revealed: the Ashes preparation plan England rejected

England rejected the opportunity to play Australia A on a major ground – possibly on a lively pitch at the MCG – in favour of the truncated preparations that have led to a 0-2 Ashes deficit with three Tests to play.

www.theage.com.au

to blame or not to blame the preparation, that is the question...?

 

[010203]

Khawaja says he should be picked because he can play spin. 1. Since when did you need to play spin against England? 2. You have to still be at the crease when the spin bowlers come on. Sorry Ussie, you've been terrific over the years but time to move on.

He seemed at peace with however his career was going to end this time 12 months ago. Different story this summer.

 

[crows dude]

Watching Highlights from a Pink ball test at Adelaide Oval against Emgland.

Side is
Harris
Warner
Lab
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Starc
Neser
Richardson
Lyon

Cummins and Haz both missing. Richo with a fiver.

 

[Rabish Binney]

To be fair with bowlers our selectors have followed the same policy for years…they are only just catching up. Neser is closer to the end than the start…he’s played 3 tests in 6 years. Boland only got a run because of injury. Fergus O’Neil has dominated FC cricket here for a couple of years and is behind the two aforementioned. Chadd Sayers played 1 test.

No they haven't

George Bailey has never said that they will only pick bowlers who can bowl at over 140 kph like Robert Key has said. If they had that mindset, then Neser, Boland, Doggett would have never been picked in the first place.

The fast bowling cartel have picked themselves for the last 6-7 years with their continuous good form, not because they can bowl fast. Your only dropping one of them if they were horrendously out of form and your certainly not dropping one of them just to pick Boland.

 

[Black Diamond]

They may not have said it publicly but it is clearly the preference and has been so for a while. I reckon it goes back to Craig McDermott's first stint as bowling coach under Mickey Arthur.

There was a noticeable change in Siddle and Hilfenhaus at that time.

Anyway, even if it is the official policy, Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood are comfortably our best fast bowlers.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

They may not have said it publicly but it is clearly the preference and has been so for a while. I reckon it goes back to Craig McDermott's first stint as bowling coach under Mickey Arthur.

There was a noticeable change in Siddle and Hilfenhaus at that time.

Anyway, even if it is the official policy, Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood are comfortably our best fast bowlers.

It's so long ago it's hazy now, but IIRC wasn't this the start of the big push for reverse swing? English and Saffas had the ball talking from the 30th over, but we couldn't get it going until it was 60+.

I remember getting angry at using Hilfenhaus to try and bowl bouncers, and Siddle eating 40 bananas a day to bowl short sh1t outside off. I thought they were trying to make everyone into McGrath-light, rather than use the skills that got them selected in the first place.

 

[Pistol Night]

It's so long ago it's hazy now, but IIRC wasn't this the start of the big push for reverse swing? English and Saffas had the ball talking from the 30th over, but we couldn't get it going until it was 60+.

I remember getting angry at using Hilfenhaus to try and bowl bouncers, and Siddle eating 40 bananas a day to bowl short sh1t outside off. I thought they were trying to make everyone into McGrath-light, rather than use the skills that got them selected in the first place.

Well we tried to get it going early but it didn't end well..

 

[Black Diamond]

It's so long ago it's hazy now, but IIRC wasn't this the start of the big push for reverse swing? English and Saffas had the ball talking from the 30th over, but we couldn't get it going until it was 60+.

I remember getting angry at using Hilfenhaus to try and bowl bouncers, and Siddle eating 40 bananas a day to bowl short sh1t outside off. I thought they were trying to make everyone into McGrath-light, rather than use the skills that got them selected in the first place.

When McDermott and Mickey Arthur came in from what I recall all of the bowlers started pitching it up way more, were bowling noticeably faster, and were generally at the stumps.

 

[Purple Suit]

I'm not going to argue with you over which stupid option is less stupid.

30-year-old Inglis will be dropped either way for a cooked 39-year-old (he turns 39 during the test) and that is the point at which the selectors will be signalling that they don't give a sh*t about the future.

The funny thing is the Ashes or maybe India too are the only series where the future should go out of the equation and you just select the best team to win. You don't blood kids in the grand final.

I don't think Usi is in the best team anymore due to his form with bat / fielding and the risk of getting injured is now too great to select him.