The Ashes Oracle

Time to re-boot this for the 2010-11 series ...

So what is Horrie going to do this time round?

Stink the joint up.

England 3 - Oz 1 ...
Bell to score 3 tons and SiBo to pick up four 5 fers ....
.
.
.
.
I'll fetch me coat!

Actually, funnily enough, I think Belf might do OK. There's no Warnie to torment him, the decks will be flat, and we don't have any real world-beating bowlers in our ranks these days.

I reckon Colly might top the run-scoring for you guys.

skully wrote:Actually, funnily enough, I think Belf might do OK. There's no Warnie to torment him, the decks will be flat, and we don't have any real world-beating bowlers in our ranks these days.

I reckon Colly might top the run-scoring for you guys.

Johnson would be my pick from your lot.
A pity Bung's gawn ....

I think Ashes 10-11 might be a batathon. Both sides look to have decent flat-track top 7s with no stand-out bowlers. Could Swanny be the difference?

Swannie could well make the difference - being the only classy spin specialist in both squads - and if the decks are flat and low, then moreso.

But he's had a brilliant 2 seasons and is long overdue a barren patch ...

I'd like to see us take the lanky 6'5" Finn Down Under, but can't see it somehow, not as long as the hangers-on like SiBo dig in.

Bring it on. Nowt like an Ashes battle.

skully wrote:Bring it on. Nowt like an Ashes battle.

Never has been .... and never will be.
Long may that continue.
You bas*ards ....................

Merlin wrote:Swannie could well make the difference - being the only classy spin specialist in both squads - and if the decks are flat and low, then moreso.

But he's had a brilliant 2 seasons and is long overdue a barren patch ...

I'd like to see us take the lanky 6'5" Finn Down Under, but can't see it somehow, not as long as the hangers-on like SiBo dig in.

I'd have Finn pencilled in already - especially as Harmy seems to be a busted flush as far as England is concerned.

JKLever wrote:Leading run-scorer (Eng/Aus): Bopara/Katich
Leading wicket-taker (Eng/Aus): Swann/Johnson
Biggest under-achiever (Eng/Aus): Pietersen/Hughes
Biggest over-achiever (Eng/Aus): Anderson/Hauritz
Retired at the end of the series: Nobody
Series result: 1-3

Yeah, fail.

Ok 2010 Version...

Leading run-scorer (Eng/Aus): KP/Ponting
Leading wicket-taker (Eng/Aus): Broad/DougtheRug
Biggest under-achiever (Eng/Aus): Strauss/Clarke
Biggest over-achiever (Eng/Aus): Bresnan/DougtheRug
Retired at the end of the series: Nobody
Series result: 1-3 to Aus

Here goes:

Leading run-scorer (Eng/Aus): Bell/Clarke
Leading wicket-taker (Eng/Aus): Swann/Random ugly fast bowling bloke
Biggest under-achiever (Eng/Aus): Broad/Another random ugly fast bowling bloke
Biggest over-achiever (Eng/Aus): Bresnan/Yet another random ugly fast bowling bloke
Retired at the end of the series: Jimmikins
Series result: 0-4 to Aus

It's too early. Cricket may not still exist by the time winter comes around.

Under a Tory government, life as we know it may not exist.

Too early.

Dello wrote:It's too early. Cricket may not still exist by the time winter comes around.

Under a Tory government, life as we know it may not exist.

Too early.

Under the last Tory Government (1979-1997) - England won 3 out of 9 Ashes series (33%)
Under the last Labour administration (1997-2010) - England won 2 out of 7 Ashes series (29%)
Under the last Liberal goverment (1905-1915) - England won 3 out of 5 Ashes series (60%)

A vote for Brown is a vote for Ponting!

Leading run-scorer (Eng/Aus): Strauss/Clarke
Leading wicket-taker (Eng/Aus): Broad/Johnson
Biggest under-achiever (Eng/Aus): Swann/Ponting
Biggest over-achiever (Eng/Aus): Onions/Bollinger
Retired at the end of the series: M.Hussey
Series result: 2-2

I'm with Dello. Way too early.

Who knows what injuries, controversies, loss of form, etc may affect the final team make-ups.

I shall peak into my crystal ball around mid October.

skully wrote:I'm with Dello. Way too early.

Who knows what injuries, controversies, loss of form, etc may affect the final team make-ups.

I shall peak into my crystal ball around mid October.

That's why gypsies have glass babies.

Henry wrote:Leading run-scorer (Eng/Aus): Strauss/Clarke
Leading wicket-taker (Eng/Aus): Broad/Johnson
Biggest under-achiever (Eng/Aus): Swann/Ponting
Biggest over-achiever (Eng/Aus): Onions/Bollinger
Retired at the end of the series: M.Hussey
Series result: 2-2

I don't think Strauss will do as well as you've suggested (sadly I'm expecting Pietersen to do well this time around, with no Warne against him) and I reckon Katich will be our high scorer. Onions and Hilfenhaus to top the bowling. Cook, Swann, Johnson and Watson to under-achieve (Watson dropped). Onions and will do well, but Bell will be the real English over-achiever with 2 centuries and 3 fifites, not far behind Pietersen. Harris will be the surprise packet for Australia, and Hauritz's performances will be better than Swann's on this occasion. Hussey and Strauss will retire at the end of the series. 3-2 to Australia.

Straussy will be almost 34 at the end of the ashes. A bit young to be retiring, imo. And I don't think KP was ever worried about Warne when he faced him. KP probably had the better of him in their duels. It surely couldn't be a 5-0 disaster for England like last time.

What's with all the predictions of Bell having a bumper series? He'll be pretty solid, averaging around 40, but I can't see him reeling off hundred after hundred.

I'm not expecting anything more than a 40 average from Belf, but that would be enough from him. He has definately started to grow some testicles, but I'm not sure whether they are quite big enough for the Ashes yet, I'd like to be proven wrong of course but I do still worry that he is just going to crash and burn.

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.

Basically, if the ball doesn't swing, he's screwed, as he proved in 2006-07 when he skidded on beautifully to the Aussie bats, and bowled a powder puff bouncer that just looked so much slower than the 140kph that was showing on the speed gun.

I suspect Jimmy will strip a lot fitter and a lot quicker - having had his lengthy winter R and R - picking up loadsa Bangle and Pak wickets this summer to boost his confidence, and thus turn up at Brisbane come November, hot to trot. Onions however I do have doubts about ... Broad and/or Finn (if given the opportunity) could well prove the pick of the quicks.

No, he'll be his usual gash self when the ball doesn't swing and a handful when it does!