Two mediocre teams

[linda]

After watching the series including being present at three of the tests I have to say you would probably have to go back to the 86/87 series to have seen two such average teams contesting the ashes .
Although at certain times their was high drama and excitement there was very little outstanding cricket .From Englands point of view there was three bowling spells from Anderson Flintoff and Broad that stood out and an Innings from Strauss and one from Collingwood .From Aus there was the Batting display at Cardiff and the rearguard at Edgbaston and bowling wise the first innings at Headingley .
A lot is being made of the fact that the statistics show that the Aus bowlers scored more Hundreds and took more wickets .I suppose that could be put down to the fact Englands bowlers had two less innings bowling at Aus and four of the Hundreds were at Cardiff in one innings .
If you take the games singlely you would say England won Lords Edgbaston and Oval and Aus won Cardiff and Headingly meaning the result in the end was probably fair.I have said all along these two teams are very evenly matched and that is how it turned out .

I dont really think one player on either side would get in a world eleven on present form .I suppose their would be a case for Clarke and Strauss but Im pretty sure there would be an equal case against .


England play SA next and personally I cant see them winning unless Pietersen and Strauss hit the heights .I dont think anyone is getting carried away over here and hopefully our players stay fit unlike last time and we are able to move forward .After last time we basically lost Vaughan Trescoth Jones and Flintoff and it fell to bits now players like Broad Bell Cook Bopara Anderson have got to step forward and take command .
Not being an expert on Aus I cant really comment to much but their may be a problem with the backbone of your team Katich Hussey and Ponting all ageing
and the bowling being very average .
I would say the rankings are pretty much correct with Aus 4 and England 5

 

[JimDocker]

I agree with the premise that neither side was brilliant, but I think you have got it wrong suggesting that Katich, Hussey and Ponting are the backbone of the Australian team.

Michael Clarke has been in great form for about 4 years now. He averaged 64 for this series with 2 centuries and 2 50s in 8 innings with 448 runs.
Since 2005 when he was recalled for The Ashes, he has averaged 54. 57. 44. 46, 63, 58, 53, 52 43, 46, 47, 56 and 64 for the last 12 series that Australia has played in.

I do not mean to disrespect Ponting by saying that Clarke has become Australia's best batsman because I rate Ponting in the best 5 batsmen that I have ever seen.

I would say that Clarke would be in a World Xl if it was picked now, but you may be right that not many others from the 2 sides would be in there.

 

[Costanza_]

Although at certain times their was high drama and excitement there was very little outstanding cricket .From Englands point of view there was three bowling spells from Anderson Flintoff and Broad that stood out and an Innings from Strauss and one from Collingwood .From Aus there was the Batting display at Cardiff and the rearguard at Edgbaston and bowling wise the first innings at Headingley .
A lot is being made of the fact that the statistics show that the Aus bowlers scored more Hundreds and took more wickets .I suppose that could be put down to the fact Englands bowlers had two less innings bowling at Aus and four of the Hundreds were at Cardiff in one innings .
If you take the games singlely you would say England won Lords Edgbaston and Oval and Aus won Cardiff and Headingly meaning the result in the end was probably fair.I have said all along these two teams are very evenly matched and that is how it turned out .

I dont really think one player on either side would get in a world eleven on present form .I suppose their would be a case for Clarke and Strauss but Im pretty sure there would be an equal case against .

Similar to some thoughts I expressed in another thread. The series as a whole was pretty uninspiring with a number of batting collapses, some poor bowling from both sides at times, few centuries and generally a pretty average standard of cricket. At the end of the day England were the better side in two tests and we were the better side in two tests - unfortunately we couldn't finish them off in Cardiff with ample time and it cost us what was otherwise a pretty even series.

I'd definately have Clarke in a World XI though. Noone else from either side would make the cut atm on current form.

 

[JimDocker]

Slight change of mind. I just had a go at picking my world Xl and I put Broad in.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

I was thinking much the same thing - the results seemed to go to the team that made less of a mess of things rather than to either team playing great cricket. Pommy mate at work agrees.

 

[Dipper]

England play SA next and personally I cant see them winning unless Pietersen and Strauss hit the heights .

It's interesting that you say the two teams are pretty evenly well matched but then this comment.

Because I'd agree with it but Australia went over there and won pretty convincingly recently did they not?

And I've no doubt if the current series had been played in Australia that we'd have lost pretty easily.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

It's interesting that you say the two teams are pretty evenly well matched but then this comment.

Because I'd agree with it but Australia went over there and won pretty convincingly recently did they not?

That surprised everyone at the time I think.

The SAF and the Ashes series I think demonstrate that the current Australian team at their best are still very very good - but we can no longer take it for granted that they'll consistently play at or near their best.

And I've no doubt if the current series had been played in Australia that we'd have lost pretty easily.

Interesting. I think we're probably in for a period of the Ashes swapping hands to the home team every series for a while.