The Ashes Oracle

lardbucket wrote:Can anyone tell what phase of the Anderson Cycle will be operating in 2010-11? I sense it will be at one of its more gashworthy extremes, but am interested in advice from those who have followed the cycle over a longer period.

I'm a bit worried about this prediction now. He has reached ultimate gashlordiness a bit early for my liking, and may well be swinging back to something considerably less than total filth by the time the Ashes start.

Jimmy's problem is that he doesn't have a plan B when the ball doesn't swing.

But England will still have him as one of their first names on the team sheet come the first ashes test.

He's their strike bowler, don't you know.....

I think you might just find that Jimmy won't be getting his way all that often in future ... he's been summarily dropped on two seperate occasions now (okay, both times in the shortened game) ... but with the likes of new kids on the block Sherherezad and Huckleberry knocking on the Test Match door, November's Brisbane team sheet will be a pointer as to which direction Strausser and the Flower chap want to go ...and before that, the Paksters tests here ... but then, I would expect Jimmy to play given overhead conditions.

I suspect Jimmy probably knows that his place in the squad is no longer a certainty ...

Just so long as we don't pick Bresnan

And Jimmy didn't exactly respond very well to being dropped from the T20 team- Had a whinge, and has since proceeded to bowl gash ever since. Sook.

At this stage right now, i'd go with Shahzad for the first test over Anderson.

What does that evil octopus have to say about all this?

doremi wrote:What does that evil octopus have to say about all this?

... not much, as it turns out.

Maybe it's worth reviving this thread for some updated predictions from those forumers who haven't turned up their toes just yet:

(dons eternal optimist's hat, on loan, thanks. An injury to Onions stymies my earlier predictions on this thread)

Leading run-scorer (Eng/Aus): Bell/North
Leading wicket-taker (Eng/Aus): Swann/Hilfenhaus
Biggest under-achiever (Eng/Aus): Pietersen/Johnson
Biggest over-achiever (Eng/Aus): Tremlett/Paine
Retired at the end of the series: Haddin, Hussey, Pietersen, Anderson, Strauss
Series result: 5-0 to Australia

Basil wrote:Just so long as we don't pick Bresnan

ah ...

*peers into crystal ball*

I predict Tremlett will hit the pitch hard and Anderson's ribs even harder...

Damn you crystal ball, one month too late.

lardbucket wrote:Can anyone tell what phase of the Anderson Cycle will be operating in 2010-11? I sens it will be at one of its more gashworthy extremes, but am interested in advice from those who have followed the cycle over a longer period.

Indeed Lardy...

Love hindsight, more bollo chatted on this thread too

Gold.