England Ashes Squad

Tremlett's head is a bit like a cat's.

A big cat's.


With four giant quicks chosen to bounce it in from on high, perhaps the ECB anticipated those feline skullish surfaces?

MoH wrote:

Gary 111 wrote:Darren Lehmann wants wickets "as hard as a cat's head" this Winter.

I remember what happened last time a home team requested pitches made to order when playing England.

Yeah, it was a 0-0 drossfest where we were relying on Monty Panesar's batting skills to save us from a humiliating defeat to a load of guys all called Bruce.

Ballance was a no brainer ...a good domestic season followed his efforts on the Brions tour of Oz last summer when he was one of the few whose reputation was enhanced with solid performances...

much fun on the radio here today about the 3 inclusions who all come from outside pomgolia...still at least the poms have an immigation policy

I'd completely missed the fact that Stokes is a Snoozer. Obviously one who came over here at an early age rather than a KP/Trott type of import though.

Dello wrote:In my glee over Wiley Wood, I didn't register that the Wood must be Chris Wood.

Which gives the Lions the full complement of left armers: Fast (Mills), fast-medium (Willey), medium-fast (Topley) and women's cricket fast (Wood).

Ah, turns out it's Durham quick Mark Wood not Hampshire dobber Chris Wood.

Looked not bad at all, Mark Wood, when I saw him in a couple of one dayers during the season. Bit Harmison-like. Quite tall, hits the deck hard at 86-90mph. Not bad at all.

We really need to find some spinners though, which is why I'm surprised Kerrigan is the only spinner in the performance squad. Rafiq might have been worth a punt, along with Borthwick. Salter from Glamorgan looks quite promising as well. Who cares if they turn out to be shit? It's a performance squad. They might have been able to organise a couple of sessions with Shane Warne and they could have improved. Swanny's retirement is more imminent than most people think, I reckon. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he bows out after the Ashes.

Have to say I'm surprised the Bionic Elbow wasn't selected? Is he injured, or just out of favour?

irrespective of who is in/out, the squad has the look of the winning team when you remember who they are playing

I wonder how they broke the news to Monty.

Did Andy Flower ring him and say "Ur ine"?












Coat ->Door ->  Me.

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JGK wrote:I wonder how they broke the news to Monty.












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It was leaked

embee wrote:

JGK wrote:I wonder how they broke the news to Monty.












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It was leaked

You mean someone broke the seal beforehand?

skully wrote:Have to say I'm surprised the Bionic Elbow wasn't selected? Is he injured, or just out of favour?

Bresnan caught the same case of broke-e-backs that the Aussie seamers came down with during the Ashes.

The word is he'll be added to the party as and when he fixes up.

Ah, cheers D.

Henry wrote:We really need to find some spinners though, which is why I'm surprised Kerrigan is the only spinner in the performance squad. Rafiq might have been worth a punt, along with Borthwick. Salter from Glamorgan looks quite promising as well. Who cares if they turn out to be shit? It's a performance squad. They might have been able to organise a couple of sessions with Shane Warne and they could have improved. Swanny's retirement is more imminent than most people think, I reckon. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he bows out after the Ashes.

We could soon be in the position of considering not playing a spinner at all... although the resulting 10 overs per hour would mean Cook would be suspended for every other match!

beamer wrote:I'd completely missed the fact that Stokes is a Snoozer. Obviously one who came over here at an early age rather than a KP/Trott type of import though.

He was 12 when he moved over, though he'd been here on and off, I think, throughout.

He's pure northeast when you hear him, obviously.

Not so much so for the other two. Although Ballance was educated at Harrow, has been here since he was 16/17. Rankin has been here since he was 21.

The unimaginatives like horald can snigger all they want, they've all played over 70% of their FC matches - much higher a percentage with Rankin and Stokes.

But 'tee hee hee' all the same.

Brass Monkey wrote:

beamer wrote:I'd completely missed the fact that Stokes is a Snoozer. Obviously one who came over here at an early age rather than a KP/Trott type of import though.

He was 12 when he moved over, though he'd been here on and off, I think, throughout.

He's pure northeast when you hear him, obviously.

Not so much so for the other two. Although Ballance was educated at Harrow, has been here since he was 16/17. Rankin has been here since he was 21.

The unimaginatives like horald can snigger all they want, they've all played over 70% of their FC matches - much higher a percentage with Rankin and Stokes.

But 'tee hee hee' all the same.

Plus Rankin is from Northern Ireland, and although it is officially the 'England & Wales Cricket Board' there's a fairly well established president that players born anywhere within the UK tend to play for England. If not we wouldn't have been able to call on the marvellous talents of Gavin Hamilton.

A few random thoughts:

Bairstow is drinking in the Last Chance Saloon - he has competition in the squad from Balance, and serious competition from Buttler in the Development squad.

Buttler is emerging as the frontrunner as long-term replacement for Prior

The selectors felt the need to get another left-handed batsman in the party - hence Ballance leapfrogging Taylor.

Compton's stats demanded his inclusion in the squad ahead of Carberry - you have to think that something in Compton's character counted against him.

We have four fit (cross your fingers) fast bowlers who are 6'4" or more - an Aussie selector's wet dream.

I'm surprised that there's no place in the Development Squad for Borthwick who is in the process of reinventing himself as a middle-order batsman who bowls leggies.

Basil wrote:A few random thoughts:

Bairstow is drinking in the Last Chance Saloon - he has competition in the squad from Balance, and serious competition from Buttler in the Development squad.

Buttler is emerging as the frontrunner as long-term replacement for Prior

Surely Davies or Bedwetter would be a better bet at present than Buttler? He doesn't even keep in FC cricket regularly and his FC batting average of 32 is well below the other two I mentioned who are around the 40 mark.

Buttler can play a great ramp shot and smash big sixes down the ground, which is great for the death overs of an ODI/T20, but not convinced he's good enough (or ever will be good enough) at crafting an innings in testing conditions?

I'm not sure Bairstow would have gone were it not for his convenient ability to be backup keeper as well as a number 6 candidate, meaning they have room for another bowler/all-rounder.

The successor to Prior is really up in the air right now, it depends who can find the right balance between their batting and keeping.

Has to be Davies, for me. He's a tidy keeper and he scores runs. Averaging mid-40s in both FC and List 'A' this season. Jonny Knicks is lucky to be on the boat, IMO.

Gary 111 wrote:

Basil wrote:A few random thoughts:

Bairstow is drinking in the Last Chance Saloon - he has competition in the squad from Balance, and serious competition from Buttler in the Development squad.

Buttler is emerging as the frontrunner as long-term replacement for Prior

Surely Davies or Bedwetter would be a better bet at present than Buttler? He doesn't even keep in FC cricket regularly and his FC batting average of 32 is well below the other two I mentioned who are around the 40 mark.

Buttler can play a great ramp shot and smash big sixes down the ground, which is great for the death overs of an ODI/T20, but not convinced he's good enough (or ever will be good enough) at crafting an innings in testing conditions?

For some obscure reason, Bedwetter has completely dropped off the radar.
What did he do (or not do) that warranted this immediate and dramatic omission and shift over to the Butler?
As Gaz points out, Buttler has never kept in FC cricket . . . so how come he's being "groomed" for the future #7slot?
Wierd.
I personally do not rate him as a Test player meself . . . maybe in 5 years time . . . maybe . . . perhaps . . .possibly.

Bairstow is just a pretty f***ing awful waste of space.
Period

Davies  . . . Slurrey boy ???   Nah.. I'd stick with the Bedwetter.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/michael-clarke-in-doubt-for-first-ashes-test-20131003-2uula.html

Clarke in doubt for Brissie.

Nahhhh. They're just saying that so that he doesn't have to f*ck around with those ridiculous and mundane ODIs

nup...follow up stories suggest pup is in doubt for the 1st test