*Official* Road to the 2010/11 Ashes

[robelinda]

So, any chance of O'Keefe for the first Ashes test? Bag of wickets in the shield game, was backup spinner in the Pak tests in Eng, kinda like the idea of a left arm off spinner in our team.

[aussie]

Originally Posted by robelinda

So, any chance of O'Keefe for the first Ashes test? Bag of wickets in the shield game, was backup spinner in the Pak tests in Eng, kinda like the idea of a left arm off spinner in our team.

Wicets againts the joke S Australia batting line-up isn't much of a guide. Based on what i saw of him in ENG looks like an another Hauritz failure waiting to happen.

Has to be an all-pace attack starting in Brisbane. But of course i wont be holding my breath with these dumb selectors.

[robelinda]

Originally Posted by aussie

Wicets againts the joke S Australia batting line-up isn't much of a guide. Based on what i saw of him in ENG looks like an another Hauritz failure waiting to happen.

Has to be an all-pace attack starting in Brisbane. But of course i wont be holding my breath with these dumb selectors.

Siddle for the gabba?

[aussie]

Originally Posted by robelinda

Siddle for the gabba?

Depends on his form for Victoria between now & the 1st test really. Preferably i'd go for Harris, but he is still injured & needs to come back quick.

[robelinda]

Originally Posted by aussie

Depends on his form for Victoria between now & the 1st test really. Preferably i'd go for Harris, but he is still injured & needs to come back quick.

It's possible they might retain George and swap dougie for horrie

[aussie]

Originally Posted by robelinda

It's possible they might retain George and swap dougie for horrie

Ye thats possible & i can tolerate such a selection, since George looks well suited to bowling on the tradition fairly bouncy Gabba wicket.

[social]

Originally Posted by vcs

How do people see Ponting going against Swann? I think it could be a great contest, considering how well Ponting played spin in India, but Swann is in great form himself, the world's most threatening spinner ATM and never short of confidence.

Swann was averaging mid-40s in the last Ashes series until he benefitted from a dust-bowl in the last test and it would surprise me to see the same heading into the last test in Sydney

Australia is an incredibly difficult place to bowl finger spin (check out Murali and Harby's records there) and the Aussies like that style of bowling

[vic_orthdox]

Originally Posted by social

Swann was averaging mid-40s in the last Ashes series until he benefitted from a dust-bowl in the last test and it would surprise me to see the same heading into the last test in Sydney

Australia is an incredibly difficult place to bowl finger spin (check out Murali and Harby's records there) and the Aussies like that style of bowling

Still averaged in the 40s over the series.

Wouldn't be surprised to see him take a 5 wicket haul or two, but it would be an almighty effort to take one for less than 100 runs.

[vcs]

Can't do any worse than Giles did in Australia last time.

[vic_orthdox]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Still averaged in the 40s over the series.

Wouldn't be surprised to see him take a 5 wicket haul or two, but it would be an almighty effort to take one for less than 100 runs.

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.

[vcs]

Kumble was such a machine for us in the 2003-04 tour. Could have won in Sydney if he had better support.

[robelinda]

Originally Posted by vcs

Kumble was such a machine for us in the 2003-04 tour. Could have won in Sydney if he had better support.

Wouldve won if India didnt bat the first innings into the 3rd day. Studpidity. I couldnt believe he was going for 700. Turned out those couple of hours were exactly what India needed on day 5 to finish us off. Oh well. Maybe he was being kind to Mr Waugh?

[vcs]

I honestly don't think one or two extra hours on day 5 would have made any difference, India just didn't have enough firepower bar Kumble to bowl out that Aussie lineup twice on that wicket.

[robelinda]

Originally Posted by vcs

I honestly don't think one or two extra hours on day 5 would have made any difference, India just didn't have enough firepower bar Kumble to bowl out that Aussie lineup twice on that wicket.

They didnt help their cause by batting so long though.

[vcs]

Originally Posted by robelinda

They didnt help their cause by batting so long though.

There was actually a chance of losing on the last day even with the huge cushion of runs they had. India were taking wickets only through scoreboard pressure and Kumble's persistence, there really wasn't much else.