*Official* Road to the 2010/11 Ashes

[Oscillatingmind]

Originally Posted by Howe_zat

About New Zealand, no offense to them, but I doubt the SA-born players in the England set up are there because they expected a place in the team. They're there because they wanted to move to England.

About Ireland, it goes both ways. They are heavily dependent on county cricket and their own migrant community to form their national team, and so it is kind of expected that those with a chance at playing Tests will go on to play for England. This isn't going to change until Ireland gets its own first-class structure, which given the tiny cricket-watching population it has is not going to happen for some time.

I know that the players aren't moving to England for Cricket, or at least the large majority definitely aren't. But the whole concept of moving from place to place is fraught with difficulties when it comes to national teams. New Zealand, West Indies & Bangladesh are some of the weaker test nations, I can just imagine that if the rules are lenient (I don't know the rules there probably variable with each country) that some cricketers will venture else where to play at the highest level, like Australians in the West Indies team, or South Africans in the New Zealand team. I can't remember but I have a vague idea that theres like a 5 year waiting period before qualification, still the whole idea poses questions.

With Ireland I acknowledge all the benefits, I just hope, come the day theres a Irish test team, that All Irish players playing for or have played for england get to choose from scratch there allegiance.

[four_or_six]

Not sure where this should go. Anyway, Carberry is unable to travel with the performance squad due to recent treatment for a blood clot on his lung meaning he can't fly.

[Marcuss]

How long can't he fly for? I mean it's a long tour, can't he join up later?

[Themer]

Although I realise it quite a journey but couldn't he get on a ship out there? I know if I had half a chance of being involved in an Ashes test match I'd attempt to swim there. And I can't even swim.

[Howe_zat]

Originally Posted by Marcuss

How long can't he fly for? I mean it's a long tour, can't he join up later?

Doesn't look like it, as the performance squad are only out there until mid-December.

As for shipping, that'd be something incredibly hard to organise at short notice for one player, and would mean he probably wouldn't arrive in time for the first game. He's probably been advised not to travel much anyway.

[four_or_six]

Originally Posted by Themer

Although I realise it quite a journey but couldn't he get on a ship out there? I know if I had half a chance of being involved in an Ashes test match I'd attempt to swim there. And I can't even swim.

Europe to Australia without flying

"You can go all the way from the UK to Australia or New Zealand by sea, a slow voyage by passenger-carrying freighter or occasional round-the-world cruise. Expect this to take 32-40 days and cost around £3,500 one-way including cabin & meals."

Think he might be a bit late.

[howardj]

Anybody watch Sportsline on Sky News last night - where they had two experts (David Lord and Andrew someone or another) discussing the Aussie Ashes squad.

One of them retained Hussey and North and had Clarke as 12th man (because he hadn't done enough), the other had Mitchell Starc in and Mitchell Johnson out, while Lord had Hughes in for Katich and called Steve Harmison, Stuart Harmison. My god, it was cringeworthy.

[Spark]

Yep, drop your only two consistent bats who average 50+ over the last two years.

****ing morons.

[pup11]

Originally Posted by howardj

Anybody watch Sportsline on Sky News last night - where they had two experts (David Lord and Andrew someone or another) discussing the Aussie Ashes squad.

One of them retained Hussey and North and had Clarke as 12th man (because he hadn't done enough), the other had Mitchell Starc in and Mitchell Johnson out, while Lord had Hughes in for Katich and called Steve Harmison, Stuart Harmison. My god, it was cringeworthy.

Well..such ''experts'' are everywhere these days so just watch 'em speak if you wish to have a few good laughs.
As for Clarke being dropped, probably most Australian cricket fans would drop him at present and cricketing reason might not have much to do with that.

[Spark]

I wouldn't go so far as to say most as in a straight majority. Certainly a large - and rather stupid by and large - portion though.

Ignore them, I say. If they clearly don't know what they're talking about they aren't worth anyone's time.

[Ruckus]

Yeh totally don't get this Clarke nonsense. He is one of our only batmen who actually scores consistently. What are these people, ****ing nuts?

[andyc]

Originally Posted by DeusEx

Yeh totally don't get this Clarke nonsense. He is one of our only batmen who actually scores consistently. What are these people, ****ing nuts?

Haha yeah, seems so odd. Fails in a couple of Tests after a period of sustained brilliance and deserves to be dropped. I'm not a fan of his limited overs efforts but to say he shouldn't be in the Test team is ridiculous.

[Burgey]

Well David Lord is a rugby commentator and Andrew is likel Andrew Moore who calls nrl on 2gb and fills in for Ray Hadley on liberal radio. Though he used to do the scoring in 2ue back when they broadcast cricket.

[morgieb]

Originally Posted by andyc

Haha yeah, seems so odd. Fails in a couple of Tests after a period of sustained brilliance and deserves to be dropped. I'm not a fan of his limited overs efforts but to say he shouldn't be in the Test team is ridiculous.

Yeah, most unfairly treated cricketer ever. Should probably move to #5, though.

[flibbertyjibber]

Can't understand all the flak Clarke is getting.He is a class act having a poor run of form and he won't be helped by every man and his dog constantly criticising him in the press.Add in that there are two other players who have vastly inferior records over the last couple of years and shouldn't be in the side anyway then it makes you wonder what the Aussie medias agenda is?