Ashes 2017-2018 countdown

horace wrote:

skully wrote:Well, the salient number is 11 wicketkeepers with 10 or more times as opener = 11/928 = 1.2% = RARE.

Anywho, who gives a shit - let Bancroft take the gloves AND open. He's a tough Wozzie, I'm sure he'll handle it.

"Tough Wozzie".... A strange concept for the softy State.

Nath wrote:CAXI playing England into form.  6/24

lardbucket wrote:What?

He's probably the best or second best pure keeper, his Test career was stymied by a very badly broken finger.  End of story. He has struggled to regain his previous batting form but finally seems to have done so.

To compare his batting or keeping unfavourably with Wade or the embryonic Harper (who may yet be good, but it's way too soon to know) is just another example of parochial bitterness twisting your reality, or tedious trolling. Very disappointing.

Whitman!s injured, so he's out of calculation. Nevill, Carey, and Paine all have skills and are in contention. Paine's age is against him but he is still younger than Haddin when his career started in earnest, and he's a far better keeper than Haddin ever was, so why not accept that he's in contention?

Wade is an obnoxious tool who can't keep and whose T20 batting skills don't translate into Test runs, so I hope he's not retained just because he's the incumbent.

lardbucket wrote:It makes more sense for this to be on this thread:

some silly old blurter that put this on the WI - England thread wrote:

Re Growls' and Beamer's comments about the forthcoming Ashes tour, I think it will be close. 

Our attack is a bit stronger but your mob bat deeper with the all rounders you will select. 

Re Jimmeh, aside from the jokes about the menu demands and his hubris, he struggled for penetration on our flat decks last time. His decline in pace was no doubt a factor and I doubt that has improved in the intervening years. 

Last time here Piggsy Stokes announced himself as a serious competitive player. I have no doubt he will have a great tour. Malfoy was serviceable last time and I expect he will be competitive again. Root will have a grand tour. 

The old Chef will have nightmares about coming back here. I hope for his sake and that of his great record that he is not embarrassed. 

The last Ashes tour here saw the retirements (forced or otherwise) of KP, the admirable Trott, the odious Prior and the even more odious Chinhead (forced to retire because he refused to carry the drinks out for Monty).

Pomgolian tours here generally unearth one or two players who rise to the occasion. Last time it was Piggsy Stokes. This time it could be Woakes, Hameed and (yes) Ballance. They are tough and skilled and should prosper here.

Oz have plenty of problems to resolve. 

Warner, the gcspoc, remains a big headed ftb. The odd synapse he gets in his noggin tells him he will dominate on our characterless tracks. He usually does but no-one will be surprised if he bombs out.

Renshaw, the kid from Qld is a gutsy promising opener. He should do well but a couple of failures will see him under pressure from Ch Nein, the NSW commentariat, the bnlg and Koala Jnr for him to be replaced by some random Spiv or WA player.

We have no number 3. Smith should probably play there. Uber Koala may be given a Test or two, provided he scores some runs in the Shield.

Smith. Great bat/vin ordinaire captain.

Handscomb. Sneaky Pete averages over 50 but will remain under pressure.

We have no number 6. The NSP are desperate for an all rounder. We have none. Maxwell is the incumbent and did ok in India but the Skipper won't bowl him. WA will scream for Donkey Cartwight or even worse M Marsh. Kjnr and NSW will argue for some ransom Spiv. The position should go to Head.

Keeper/number 7. Wade will be sacked. Did not score enough runs v the Bangles. There are a number of good young keepers playing in the Shield. They will be by-passed for Neville who is an ok keeper but a crap bat.

Cummins/Pattinson, Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood will comprise the attack.

Usually you can tell who will be in the Oz team by watching out for players appearing in early season KFC ads. The upshot of the contract dispute is that the KFC cast may no longer be the best guide. 

It is all very confusing.

I don't think Nevill is anywhere near as crappy as you have suggested; IMHO, he's a far better Test bat than Wade. The inexperienced but very promising Alex Carey may yet be promoted but I suspect Nevill, Wade, or (yes it's a long shot, but even the Cricinfo pollsters think it's not ridiculous) Tim Paine could be chosen above him for the first Test. I'd be happy with either Nevill or Paine, or even Carey, but FFS not Wade. Whiteman is of course recovering from injury and out of the picture. Runs in the first 3 rounds of the Shield will probably decide the keeping position.