Ashes Touring Squad

WCE2000

Club Legend
Jul 19, 2000
2,608
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the pub
Whats ur tip for the ashes squad.
In 1997 they took 17 overs, so heres my squad for 2001, starting with the strongest XI:
1. Michael Slater
2. Simon Katich
3. Justin Langer
4. Mark Waugh
5. Steve Waugh - captain
6. Ricky Ponting
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Brett Lee
9. Jason Gillespie
10. Colin Miller
11. Glenn McGrath

12. Martin Love - what a season, 638 runs at 106
13. Damien Martyn
14. Andrew Symonds
15. Shane Warne
16. Stuart MacGill
17. Matt Innesss - hes only 22, 100 career wkts at 25, hes got the number on the board.

Australia have a distinct lack of depth in bowling (when you compare it with the batting depth). The top 4/5 bowlers are as good as an attack as their has ever been, however the quality of bowlers drop dramatically.
They may well take 3 spinners over, but if they do that, with the injury prone Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee, we may go into some Tests with only 2 quicks, which on the seaming English wickets is not a good idea.
I would suggest Bichael, Inness, Warne and MacGill are fighting for 3 bowling spots.

Couple of suprise picks in my squad. I think the top 11 was obvious, got to give Hayden the bullet, try Katich as an opener - do something to fill in the other opening role. Martin Love, great season, good career, still young, give him a run.
Matthew Inness, has a shocking action, but hes got the numbers on the board in the best first class competition in the world.
 

ant

Premiership Player
Oct 17, 2000
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Just reposting my reply here.

1. Michael Slater
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Justin Langer
4. Mark Waugh
5. Steve Waugh - captain
6. Ricky Ponting
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. Brett Lee
10. Jason Gillespie
11. Glenn McGrath
11. Colin Miller
13. Damien Martyn
14. Simon Katich
15. Andy Bichel (Stuart MacGill)
16. Damien Fleming
17. Wade Seccombe (Matthew Elliott)

The batting is self explanatory.
Though dependent on the Indian tour, I think Hayden has done enough so far to get a spot. With this in mind, the top six pick themselves, with Martyn and Katich as reserves.

As for our supposed lack of bowling depth, I think McGrath, Lee, Gillespie, Fleming and Bichel are a formidable pace attack while Warne and Miller are two quality spin bowlers. The best bowling attack in the world with PLENTY of depth.

One of two selections I wasn't sure of was whether to take MacGill, in which case Bichel may be the one to miss out in my team . I lean towards Bichel, based on the seaming English conditions I expect we'll face.

WCE2000, you haven't picked a spare keeper, and I think one is probably needed so I've gone for Seccombe, based on the fact he was picked for the 'A' side, though I'm not completely sure about this one. Elliott would be the extra bat should we only take the one specialist keeper, as he's another top order batsmen in a team with only two regular openers.

Anyway, I'll be interested in what everyone thinks, we'll all have different opinions I presume.
 

WCE2000

Club Legend
Jul 19, 2000
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the pub
I didn't choose a spare keeper, because i believe keepers are very unimportant.

Ive seen Ponting keep a few times when Healy left the field, so he could fill in for Gilchrist if he had to.
 

Darky

Brownlow Medallist
Dec 7, 2000
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Ponting and Langer might keep wickets for the odd tour match, or Martyn if he is selected to go. Reserve keepers are usually flown out if required.
The squad i posted somewhere else on this board was from memory :
S.Waugh (c), Gilchrist (vc), Hayden, Slater, Langer, M.Waugh, Ponting, B.Lee, Gillespie, Warne, McGrath, Katich, Lehmann, MacGill, Dale, Symonds or Bevan
Symonds and Bevan have both shown their ability as spinners when given the chance, and I think that provided it doesn't detract from their batting, they should be developed into all-rounders.
In past tours we have seen the selectors pick a seemingly balanced squad, only for one of the pace bowlers to get very little top-class cricket. In 1989 in was Greg Campbell and in 1993 it was Wayne Holdsworth. For this reason I've picked a squad which might appear one bowler short (most people would probably nominate Colin Miller). Also in recent tests, Australia has managed to bowl most sides out cheaply using three or four bowlers so any additional bowlers would be very unlikely to see any Test action. Hence, it might be a good chance to use the tour matches to develop a current part-timer into something more closely resembling an all-rounder.


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Listen through your eyes - See through your ears - Become one with the source
Light and sound are but one - in the heart of creation the rest is for you to discover
 

Mags

Premiership Player
Suspended
Sep 14, 2000
4,069
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Melbourne
Other Teams
Collingwood and Newcastle
1. Michael Slater
2. Matthew Elliott
3. Justin Langer
4. Mark Waugh
5. Steve Waugh - captain
6. Ricky Ponting
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. Brett Lee
10. Jason Gillespie
11. Glenn McGrath
11. Colin Miller
13. Damien Martyn
14. Simon Katich
15. Ian Harvey
16. Damien Fleming
17. Andy Symonds (He Will Be Over There Anyway)
Spare Keeper. Darren Berry For Tests And Brad Haddin For One Dayers

[This message has been edited by Mags (edited 22 January 2001).]
 

NICK THE PIE MAN

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 9, 2000
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M.Slater
M.Hayden
J.Langer
M.Waugh
S.Waugh (c)
R.Ponting
A.Gilchrist (vc)
B.Lee
S.Warne
J.Gillespie
G.McGrath

A.Bichel
C.Miller
N.Bracken
S.Katich
D.Martyn
M.Elliot


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"Collingwood forever"

[This message has been edited by NICK THE PIE MAN (edited 22 January 2001).]
 

Dipper

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 28, 2000
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Hey there Aussies I thought I'd give you a bit of a preview of the possible England line up for the Ashes so that you can start pissing your pants with fear-LOL!

ATHERTON-solid,slow scorer with poor record against Australia/McGrath
TRESCOTHICK-new left handed opener,has looked good,plays straight & will hit anything short or full
HUSSAIN-good captain,was a good player but had a terrible 2000 must improve
THORPE-good solid left hander,vital player
STEWART-great player of pace,crap against spin,Warne tends to sort him out
VAUGHN-young solid right hander yet to make big score
WHITE-fast bowling all rounder,brought up in Australia has come on in last year,is good hard hitting bat
CORK-great swing bowler in English conditions (hasn't done it abroad)can bat a bit
GILES-left arm spinner bowled well in Pakistan,useful bat
CADDICK-good bowler in helpful conditions,swing & seam,batting has improved
GOUGH-talismanic fast bowler,always gives everything,important that he bowls well

Well I'm pretty sure you blokes won't be losing any sleep over this side but who knows we may surprise you,but don't expect Warne or any of the other spinners to play a big part the pitches over here haven't been turning at all the last couple of years & Warne was hardly devestating last summer playing for Hampshire,probably best off only bringing 2 with you.We have a better chance in the Tests than the 1Ds where we are pretty useless.As long as Graeme Hick plays no part in the series then we have a chance,I'm sure as soon as your blokes see his name on the team sheet they must think to themselves s**t these poms must be hard up!
Anyway I'm looking forward to it already & as long as we give you a game I'll be reasonably happy.
Cheers
 

NICK THE PIE MAN

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 9, 2000
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Hey Dipper.
what happened to the Hollioake brothers Ben and Adam? Last i heard they were the best thing since sliced bread in English cricket.

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"Collingwood forever"
 

ant

Premiership Player
Oct 17, 2000
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Last time Aust. brought over Gilchrist, and with it being a very long tour, I think another keeper should be taken. Otherwise, Gilchrist would have to play nearly every match, and I don't think it would help the team to have a non specialist like Ponting or someone else spending the day crouching behind the stumps. The team isn't always going to be able to accomodate all the players with enough match time so it's not like we need another player.

As Darky said, we can always fly one over if there is an injury. I believe a spare keeper is essential for the Ashes tour.
 

BUBBALOUIS

Club Legend
Jan 9, 2001
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Ant, you wont believe this but i actually agree with you about a second keeper. Anyway here goes for my touring party.

1/ M.SLATER
2/ M. HAYDEN
3/ J, LANGER
4/ M. WAUGH
5/ S.WAUGH
6/ R. PONTING
7/ A. GILCHRIST
8/ B. LEE
9/ S.WARNE
10/ D. FLEMING
11/ G.MCGRATH

12/ J.GILLESPIE
13/ C.MILLER
14/ M. ELLIOTT
15/ D. MARTYN
16/ S.KATICH
17/ B. HADDIN
 

ant

Premiership Player
Oct 17, 2000
4,249
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O.T.H. near Sophia's Bush
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Thanks BUBBA, I certainly had to read your post twice. While we're being civil, I have to say you've picked a nicely balanced team
smile.gif
 

Dipper

Norm Smith Medallist
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NTPM-call me a conspiracy theorist but I have a hunch that the Hollioake were a pair of infiltraters on the payroll of the ACB sent over to destroy our team for the 1997 Ashes but the stupid thing is we're quite capable of putting out a losing ashes side with out any help from Australia after all we've been doing it for the over 100 years.

Gonzo-old Dipper really would laugh if the series was level going into the last Test & Tuffers was recalled on a dusty wicket & bowled us to victory that really would be my ultimate victory even better than 5-0,can always dream ay?

GoEagles-I have no idea where that one came from it's knocked me for 6 a bit i just hope the England selectors don't look at this BB we don't need to give them any more silly ideas than they already have.(I was never a big fan of the fat man-now if you'd said BBGoochie that would have been a different matter)
 
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