England Squad for Ashes

[Slax]

Squad:
Nasser Hussain (capt); Marcus Trescothik; Michael Vaughan; Mark Butcher; Graham Thorpe; John Crawley; Andrew Flntoff; Alec Stewart (wk); James Foster (wk); Ashley Giles; Richard Dawson; Darren Gough; Andy Caddick; Matthew Hoggard; Stephen Harmison; Simon Jones.

The sign is pretty clear that England now view Stewart as their no. 1 keeper for a while to come by offering him an ECB contract.

 

[wagstaff]

Originally posted by Slax
Squad:
Nasser Hussain (capt); Marcus Trescothik; Michael Vaughan; Mark Butcher; Graham Thorpe; John Crawley; Andrew Flntoff; Alec Stewart (wk); James Foster (wk); Ashley Giles; Richard Dawson; Darren Gough; Andy Caddick; Matthew Hoggard; Stephen Harmison; Simon Jones.

Can't believe John Crawley has managed to get back in the mix this English summer after some of his efforts against Australia. Was clearly not up to in on the last Ashes tour. Thankfully Dominic Cork wasn't picked.

Put simply, there isn't a hope in hell that England will win this summer's Ashes series. Another easy win by Australia will do further damage to the so-called 'ultimate battle'.

 

[Dipper]

All the talk here is how our only chance is 'to fight fire with fire' in the shape of our young quicks who we hope will ake a liking to the bouncier Aussie pitches.

Basically they're talking about Jones & Harmison, it's a long shot but you never know.

I doubt Gough will make it though.

 

[wagstaff]

What odds Thorpe getting another two month hamstring injury, thereby being unavailable for most of the series like he was in 2001?

 

[catattack]

Pretty good team, but they will not get within a counrty mile of the Aussies!!

 

[Nightmare]

Ashes to Ashes

It is weird that the Aussies never scheduled a test match to be played in Perth against the Saffers - oh yes, I know why, perhaps it had something to do with Donald and Pollock on a bouncy track: does anyone out there think that Perth maybe a suitable graveyard for the Waugh twins? They don't like hooking. Surely order of the day is for plenty of chin music for Mark and Steve from the new young bucks then.

We may lose heavily, but I doubt it will be 5-0.

I agree with the comment earlier that Dominic Cork has been left to stew in Derby for the winter - delighted - quite annoying that he is going to Sri Lanka however.

 

[Booze Hound]

I am just amazed at the stupid itinerary that Lords has agreed to.

Only two full warm up games before the first Test, only one First Class game after that outside the Tests and splitting the series either side of a Mickey Mouse one day tournament (pologies to Mickey Mouse).

Damn stupid having the team go to this Sri Lanka event too. It means that many of the squad will have been playing without a worthwhile break since April 2001 and won't get one for another year.

How to burn people out.

 

[GoEagles]

Fairly good squad named. Hope to see a bit of young Jones over here - is he better suited to the test matches or one dayers?

Also pleased that Gough was named. Hope he's injury free and back to his best

 

[Richie Benaud]

It should be a marvellous Ashes series this summer in Australia but I think with their super batting line up and their deadly pace attack, Australia will be far too good for England.

 

[Nightmare]

Simon Jones

Jones is undoubtably more suited to the five day game - he will go for a few, but seeing as the only one in the aussie top seven who likes to hook is Gilchrist - Ponting as well sometimes - I think the top five or six might receive a bit of short stuff.

He has got good wheels though, and his co-debutant tourist, Harmison, can actually bowl quicker.

I doubt Gough will start the tour fresh - I can't remember the schedule for the series, but I am sure at least one of them will play at Perth. My side for the first test is unchanged:

Tresco
Vaughan
Butcher
Thorpe
Hussain
Stewart
Flintoff
Giles/Dawson - Dawson can turn it, which is more than Giles can
Gough (Harmison if injured)
Caddick
Hoggard

 

[Nightmare]

had a bit to do with Nasser's dreadfully tedious tactics in trying to get rahul out - paid him and the little master way too much respect

 

[Queenslander]

How pathetic are the Poms????? Why are they touring a couple of old farts? Don't they have new blood?


This ASHES WILL be another white-wash Aussie win!

C'mon Aussie, C'mon.........................

 

[Nightmare]

reply to the Queenslander

It isn't as if your team are spring chickens
You may well win this year as you have done for the last six or whatever, but I can assure you it won't last - remember the 80s?
You were bloody hopeless.

 

[red+black]

Originally posted by Booze Hound
Damn stupid having the team go to this Sri Lanka event too. It means that many of the squad will have been playing without a worthwhile break since April 2001 and won't get one for another year.

How to burn people out.

This Sri Lanka event? The ICC Trophy? I think New Zealand appreciated the money from winning the last one. I'll admit that the timing is ridiculous, so close to the World Cup, but it is a worthwhile tournament. Still remember how well we did(n't) last time!

The problem, as you have mentioned, is Mickey Mouse one day tournaments. God I'm so bored of one day cricket these days, even though the Australian team does their best to make it look attractive. I wish they would forgo the tri-nations here, and just play best of 3 or 5 against each of the two touring nations. Tournaments like the ICC Trophy and the World Cup are important, most other one day matches though are pure fluff.

PS: this is my first post back in this forum for close to 4 months. I feel like a stranger !

 

[Dipper]

Re: Simon Jones

Originally posted by Nightmare
He has got good wheels though, and his co-debutant tourist, Harmison, can actually bowl quicker.

I think this is a myth, I don't believe that Harmison is quicker than Jones in fact I don't think he's that quick at all really.

It's funny but we're going on baout how quick these 2 are & they get compared with Brett Lee in our press from that point of view but on thre last Ashes trip Gillespie bowled quicker than either of them & he actually bowls a decent line & length as well.

Harmison is shocking for bowling short down the leg side lathough he usually doesn't get collared for it as the batsmen leave alone it's so wide but I fear Jonesy could get caned by the Aussies particulalry if he ever has to bowl to Gilchrist.

Still I'm glad we've picked them, I'd rather have wayward pace than accurate non swinging medium crap that has been served up by some of our bowlers lately.


Also I was amused to see Mark Waugh pull a ton out of the bag for my boys Essex yesterday we weree a dodgy 3/90 & he came back like he'd never been away to make a nonchalant (aren't all his innings) ton.Apparently Harmison didn't cause him too many headaches, hooking or no hooking.

 

[Nightmare]

reply to Dipper

Yes, leave out the Essex chat - it is the biggest armpit in SE England, and receives grief for its women...

Regarding Jones and Harmison, both bowl at a consistent late 80s and Harmison has bowled the quickest delivery of the Summer. I didn't mention Dizzy. He is a top class bowler and can bowl sharp.

Go and discuss your cricket with Goochie, preferably in Essex.

 

[Dipper]

I'm being caned by the Surrey mafia


As for Goochie he was my hero, but I wouldn't actually want to enter Essex I live just inside the eastern border of London & even i look down my nose at those degenerates in their white socks.

Still at least we didn't buy all our championships in the 80's & early 90's we created our sides with a bit of help from a very green Chelmsford wicket.So who are Surrey going to sign this year from another county?


On the original subject, Jones & Harmison have both been timed regularly in the high 80's but that's not quick enough to really cause problems on it's own, I've read accounts from players & umpires on the circuit & they reckon that Jones at times has been as quick as virtually anyone for a number of years but he didn't show that in his 1 Test.

They both need to bowl a lot more balls in the right palce but whether they can is the big question, Lee is the same he sprays it around a bit.

Thats' why Gillespie is so good he's quick, he swings it, he gets big bounce & he's a lot more accurate than those 3.It's often underestimated how quick he is, i think he bowled one at 94mph last year.