Ashes scenarios. Post your thoughts and fears.

It's therapeutic, even cathartic.

ENGLAND BOWLING.

James ANDERSON. The "Anderson cycle" was always a misleading cliche'. A cycle has something like a predictable regularity about it. Whereas everyone knows that Jimmy is more a boxa chacklits. Generally hot when there is anything in the air, less redoubtable by far if there is nothing moving. (True of most bowlers to some extent, of course.) Always likely to go for a few in his first three overs, his fortunes and analyses diverge greatly after that point. Is a great worry if the Test pitches are as unremitting as expected, and weather conditions true. Always likely to take wickets, but if it's at 40 a throw ..... hmmmm.

Stuart BROAD. Can win a match, can still also be ineffectual. (The England attack lacks a nagger.) Has developed pace and aggression, which generally augurs well in Oz. Too much aggression (uncontrolled short bowling, or petulance) is a hazard with him, esp if things are already going pearshaped (again, true of many seamers to an extent). Is learning maturity by degrees, however. Unlikely to be a flop, might be a considerable success.

Graeme SWANN. The most chilling thought for Pom eyes is that he may be the main strike bowler, if - as is entirely possible - none of the seamers is gaining purchase in this or that innings. Is plucky and resourceful enough (or big-headed and clever enough) to do pretty well. This won't be enough if he is the sole spearhead. This is the point where you wonder at the wisdom of the four-bowler attack. I am inclined to think that if conditions are batting-friendly, there is hardly enough breadth for the chosen four to hunt with suficient variety in a pack.
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Steven FINN. Hearty player with a calm head beyond his age and experience (having derived confidence from participation in a resilient, esp by England standards in the past 25 years successful team). Has the height and bounce to hurt. Unlikely to come apart at the seams, even if targeted. The problem is I am not sure if he is a matchwinner yet, more likely to participate substantially in a bowling attack if England do well, somewhat against the odds.

Paul COLLINGWOOD: Nobody's idea of a frontline bowler, not strong or fast or varied enough to allow a four'man attack in Oz, unless conditions are unusual.

And ...??

Kevin PIETERSEN. A relief or surprise bowler at best, you have to say.

Chris TREMLETT. Absent so long, an unknown quantity if he replaces one of the seamers above.

Monty PANESAR. As Tremlett, but perhaps even more of a long shot.

Tim BRESNAN. Strong heart and al ways persevering, but you have to think not fast or tricky enough in Oz to threaten enough, if conditions and teammates are not taking a hand.


PROGNOSIS>> Climate may be other than expected. Australian batting may subside (not inconceivable, given the current precariousness of the old "all-winning aura".)

Otherwise, if England are to win the Ashes, you have to say it is likely to be as a result of outscoring the hosts in high-scoring games. This seems somewhat unlikely to me.

Womens Weekly contacts Midge's mum again for an update on how he doesn't talk to her anymore

Zoo weekly does a Lara Bingle photo shoot and she reveals (what everyone has already seen thanks to Fev) and that she was Pup's beard and the meat in the Roy/Pup sandwich

Men's Health does a story on Oz's new ironman Shane Watson ...

Better Homes and Gardens does a feature on Dougie's Rug

Simon Katich breaks his thumb a month out from the first test.

Four and Twenty Pies sponsors Haurie

JGK wrote:Simon Katich breaks his thumb a month out from the first test.

by poking 0 in the eye?

more like a dream come true

Click to see Horrie's dreams come true....

cripes...my respect for jgk woofing powers goes to stratospheric levels

Can't have been much of a break if it happened BEFORE the Tests in India and was only discovered as a break upon his return.

Spivs are pretty tough though




look at Watto

What's your point? Katich is a Wozzie, and Watto's still a Billy.

horace wrote:cripes...my respect for jgk woofing powers goes to stratospheric levels

Yes, well obviously I knew about this before my post but I would say that my powers are in fine form in the F1. I backed Lewis for the title about 4 races ago and then after the last race backed Vettel. I didn't think to back Alonso. Might be too short now.

Fears- Anderson will be completely innefective (though I wont be surprised), we'll suddenly be struck down with injuries (Swanny is due one), KP wont come good.

Hopes- Anderson can find some movement, Swann has a good series, Finn surprises the Aussies, Bell and Cook make runs, KP returns to form dramatically, the series is played in a good spirit. England win the f*cking ashes.

so Trev...if the Aussies manage to win the series you will be among the first to graciously acknowledge the victory?

Yes.

good for you

Well we might win a test. Though only if Ricky gets lucky with the bookies again.

My big fear is yet another farquin drubbing. Listen up you pommie drongos spouting crap in the media, our record down under reads 1-0-9 in the last 2 series FFS

Hence my big hope is we just compete whatever the score. Nothing worse than seeing inevitable cricket like the MCG on our last tour.

Indeed, realistically I just hope we compete. If the series is still live by the final test (Australia 1 up for example) then I will be extremely happy.

JKLever wrote:My big fear is yet another farquin drubbing. Listen up you pommie drongos spouting crap in the media, our record down reads 1-0-9 in the last 2 series FFS.

Ah, but you negect to point out that that these two tours were very much in the Warne Era, something we are now very much post of.

In 2002-3 our bowling was a bit scatter gun with everyone chipping in. Injuries to all bowlers meant that only Jason Gillespie played all 5 Tests. He took 20 wkts @ 24.60. McGrath (in 4) took 19 @ 20.00, Warne (3) took 14 @ 24.78, Bichel (3) took 10 @ 35.10, McGill (2) took 12 @ 40.50, and Lee (3) took 13 @ 41.23. For England only Caddick 20 wkts at 34.50 (10 of them in the dead rubber T5) and White 14 @ 38.00 got into double figures.

In 2006/07, it was a stellar bowling effort with McGrath, Clark, Lee and Warne all taking 20 or more wickets (the 1st time 4 bowlers managed 20 or more wickets each in a Test series).

This time around our weaponry looks very dodgy.

The pessimist in me says lets just avoid being total pants and take it from there!

I fear the very solid looking England top 7. And Broad and Swann could be the difference in the series.

I also fear our duke ball bullies and the Kookaburra!

funny to see bradders on a thread that asks forummers to "post your thoughts" . .. but it explains Nigel's absence . .

embee wrote:

Men's Health does a story on Oz's new ironman Shane Watson ...

....got that one right

KP to have a field day against a misfiring bowling attack riddled by injuries, and ends up averaging 50+ for the series.