The Ashes Test Series 2009 !!!

[rooboy_88]

What do people see as being the 16 that goes to England to defend The Ashes.

P.Jaques
S.Katich
R.Ponting
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
A.Symonds
B.Haddin
B.Lee
M.Johnson
B.McGain
S.Clark

N.Hauritz
B.Hilfenhaus
P.Siddle
S.Watson
M.North

Hughes from NSW could more than well be considered for an opening spot, if Symonds is to be used as a batsman only then why not bring in North from WA who is predominantly a batsman who bowls very handy off spinners.

 

[year of the roo]

Krezja over Hauritz, a loaf of bread over Watson. Hayden will play one last Ashes series. North won't be on the plane.

 

[CrazyQ]

Ahhh, already given up V RSA havent you?

 

[NICK_ROOBOY83]

Ahhh, already given up V RSA havent you?

No, its just that we know will cream you guys in the next 5 tests we play... So we are looking at our next opponent.

 

[CrazyQ]

KP will destroy Australia like he always does

 

[NICK_ROOBOY83]

KP will destroy Australia like he always does

His had more success against your mob then us.

 

[Rick18]

It might not be 16 on the plane:

CRICKET Australia is contemplating a break from the long tradition of taking large touring parties to England by slashing the 2009 Ashes squad to as few as 13.

Just one tour after cutting the Ashes squad from the conventional 17 to 16 members, CA is pondering lopping up to three more players from the party.

With just four tour matches scheduled to complement the five Ashes Tests, CA is loath to have up to three tourists on the sidelines and starved of cricket.

A party of anywhere from 13 to 16 tourists has been floated, with 16 shaping as the least likely option.

Up to four back-up players - most likely a batsman, fast-bowler, spinner and 'keeper - would be put on standby to come into the national team from their County or League sides to play in the tour games or replace injured players.

A Cricket Australia source said last week the size of the touring party was yet to be settled, with a decision unlikely to be made before the middle of next month.

"The make-up of that squad is incredibly up in the air," he said.

"It could be anywhere from 13 to 16 in that group."

He said fringe players might be better served playing County or League cricket than biding their time with the touring squad.

"Why would you have 15 or 16 there when they're just going to be carrying bags or sitting watching the blokes in the nets?

"The thinking is why would we carry 15 around as the whole group when the reality is three blokes are there without much of a prospect of playing any cricket?"

If the party were trimmed to 13 the selectors would give a "heads up to three or four (players) to get themselves over there and place themselves somewhere nearby".

But the source signalled a more politically acceptable option might be to trim the squad by one, as it did in 2005, to 15.

That would still leave four players sitting idle for much of a tour that featured just four support matches.

Australia was caught out by a lack of preparation in its disastrous 2005 Ashes tour, when it played a sole three-day match, after a number of one-dayers, before the Test series.

The 2009 schedule has the one-dayers at the end of the tour, but also allows little opportunity for the players to be match-hardened in time for the Tests.

After the ICC World Twenty20 series in June, Australia has just two four-day games, against Sussex and England Lions, to prepare for the First Test at Cardiff from July 8.

A three-day match against Northamptonshire follows the second Test at Lord's, and a two-day clash with Kent is sandwiched between the fourth and fifth Tests (at Headingley and The Oval). The Test tour, from the first four-day game to the final day of the fifth Test, has been squeezed into 62 days.

In contrast, Don Bradman's 1948 Invincibles played 34 games from the end of April until mid-September.

The CA source was disappointed at the 2009 schedule, which tossed up the prospect of Australia being ambushed by England as it had been in 2005.

"I think we got caught out a bit going into the last Ashes tour.

"That's just the unfortunate part of the matter. I don't think it's ideal."

Rushing players into the national team from County or League cricket is not without precedent.

Stuart Clark was called in as fast-bowling cover on the last tour when Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee were injured.

In 1997 Tasmanian all-rounder Shaun Young was plucked from Gloucestershire to play in the sixth Test to replace the injured Jason Gillespie.

On the same tour, Darren Berry was coaching in the English minor leagues when called up to replace reserve 'keeper Adam Gilchrist, who seriously injured a knee in a training mishap.

And in 1981 Mike Whitney was famously plucked from the Lancashire League to play in the decisive fifth Test at Old Trafford. Whitney took four wickets.

 

[ErrolSt_Boy]

What happens if people get injuried if the squad only 13?

 

[NICK_ROOBOY83]

What happens if people get injuried if the squad only 13?

Most of our quality players will be over there playing county cricket anyway, so this really isn't such a big deal as its been made out to be.

 

[DarwinRoo]

Krezja over Hauritz, a loaf of bread over Watson. Hayden will play one last Ashes series. North won't be on the plane.

If Hayden plays in the Ashes I will barrack for the Poms.

 

[CrazyQ]

No, its just that we know will cream you guys in the next 5 tests we play... So we are looking at our next opponent.

Maybe next 4

 

[NICK_ROOBOY83]

If Hayden plays in the Ashes I will barrack for the Poms.

Ouch!

There's nothing that would make me follow the poms.

Maybe next 4

Hey, it's not over yet.

 

[Rick18]

If Hayden plays in the Ashes I will barrack for the Poms.

Soft.

 

[year of the roo]

If Hayden plays in the Ashes I will barrack for the Poms.

Fill ya boots mate, whatever.

 

[Atavistic]

Will Warnie make a comeback and win the series single handedly?

 

[mark73]

Will Warnie make a comeback and win the series single handedly?

I hope not, for England's sake. When it comes to Warne, I think every English cricketer has scars that just won't wash off.

 

[DarwinRoo]

Soft.

The bloke doesnt deserve his place in the team now so why should he be rewarded with a trip to the England for the Ashes.

He should quit now or be told to **** off back to the Bulls as far as I am concerned.

If Hayden is picked then Australia are not fair dinkum about winning.