*Official* Road to the 2010/11 Ashes

[King Pietersen]

Originally Posted by Marcuss

Hilfeh, Bollinger and Hauritz eh?

Comeback please

Also found it funny when people replied to wfdu's post by comparing Siddle to Broad, our best seamer apparently

Good old Ben. I told him to come back to CW on Twitter, and apparently he changed his e-mail and password on his account so he couldn't get back on it. Shame, would have been hilarious to see his reaction to this series, doubt he'd have lasted long on here though TBH.

[andyc]

Originally Posted by Marcuss

Hilfeh, Bollinger and Hauritz eh?

TBF that bowling line up never played, so you can't prove me wrong

[GIMH]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

To put that into context, in the 2000s, here is the list of 5 wicket hauls taken by spinners:

• 2010: Danish Kaneria - 5/151
• 2009: Suliemann Benn - 5/155
• 2007: Anil Kumble - 5/84
• 2006: Monty Panesar - 5/92
• 2005: Danish Kaneria - 7/188
• 2004: Danish Kaneria - 5/125
• 2004: Daniel Vettori - 5/152
• 2004: Upul Chandana - 5/101
• 2004: Upul Chandana - 5/109
• 2004: Anil Kumble - 8/141
• 2003: Anil Kumble - 6/176
• 2003: Anil Kumble - 5/154
• 2003: Ray Price - 6/121
• 2001: Daniel Vettori - 5/138
• 2001: Daniel Vettori - 6/87

Have bolded the ones that are at an average of less than 20. No right arm offspinners amongst them, for the record.

So Swann's 5/91 the second best on this list. Reckon he can get himself on there again in this game.

[vic_orthdox]

Think Kumble's 5/84 (and maybe his 8/141), and Vettori's 6/87 are "better" than Swann's 5/91.

[GIMH]

Missed the 6fers somehow; was the 5/91 I was looking at.

Still, decent nonetheless.

[vcs]

Kumble was absolutely sensational in 2003-04. Given the form and class of the Aussie batting lineup at the time, and the support (or the lack of it) that he had, it was an incredible effort.

[MW1304]

Originally Posted by treamcast34

My attack:

Anderson
Broad
Swann
Onions

Sidebottom 12th man. I don't rate Bresnan at all.

Hilfenhaus scares me. If not for continual injuries he would be right up there with Steyn and Johnson for the title of world's best quick, and if you disagree, you just haven't seen enough of him. Hilfenhaus, Johnson and Bollinger is a better trio of pacemen than what we have, even more so in Australian conditions. Throw Smith into the mix (although thankfully at 20 he's going to be inconsistent) and they've got some X factor in there. We haven't seen Bollinger vs Strauss as yet - he's their best opening paceman since McGrath and that includes Lee. If Strauss can get on top of him it will go a long way toward retaining the urn.

The other thing that people don't seem to realise is how good a test bowler Watson is becoming. His return from injury in the last Ashes was terrible with the ball, and he didn't fire a shot in the T20 cup, but his ODI and test bowling since the Ashes have been very impressive - genuine wicket taker and near on the form all rounder in the game at present. Anyone who's thinking his T20 performance is indicative will get a rude shock.

Let's be honest here - simulate the 2009 Ashes series 10 times and we probably win twice. We took less wickets, scored less runs, and in Cardiff we dodged one hell of a big bullet. Statistically this series was the first of its kind in the sport, ever. Once in a blue moon stuff. Now we're crowing because we beat them in what is ultimately a hit and giggle format; nice to get the win and break the drought; but it's not cricket.

I worry with these victories that, much the same as when we got over them in 2005, we are starting to think we're the better side when in reality the convicts are still a ways ahead. Swann is in the form of his life but he and Hauritz are in the same ball park for ability, and Smith's potential goes above and beyond the both of them. They've got this kid in Phil Hughes who we think because we got him out early a few times as a 20 year old in his first tour of England, isn't much chop, but he has a test average of 51 and an FC average of 60.

Cardiff sticks in my mind - when the ball wasn't swinging a mile we looked so incredibly blunt it could drive a man to tears. Broad and Anderson especially. How are we going to go on Aussie decks?

We also can't forget how important Flintoff was in the last series. If he doesn't come up for the fifth test do we break the Ponting/Hussey partnership? Without his one-legged heroics at Lord's how much closer would they have gotten to completing that outlandish run chase?

We're going to have to play very well to beat them in their backyard, and we're going to have to do it without the man who inspired us last year. Hopefully Strauss keeps heads from inflating ahead of the trip.

Just came across this absolute gem.

Wish I could sig the lot tbh.