England's finest opportunity in two decades

blahblahblah · 19-11-2010, 11:57 AM

Through most of the last two decades, the result of an Ashes series in Australia has been a foregone conclusion even before the first ball has been bowled. England last won a series in Australia in 1986-87, by a 2-1 margin. Since then, they've lost five in a row, and each emphatically. In 25 Tests during this period, England have lost 18 and won three, one of which was a dead rubber.

However, there's reason to believe things could be different this time around, as much due to England's excellent recent form as Australia's problems with form and fitness. England are ranked higher in the ICC Test rankings, and have a better win-loss ratio in the last two years, winning 12 and losing four, to Australia's 12-6. In the corresponding two-year period before the previous Ashes series in Australia, Australia had won 15 matches and lost only two. Both those losses had come against England in 2005, but apart from that Australia had won almost everything, including beating South Africa in five out of six Tests, home and away, in 2005-06.

The batting and bowling stats between these two teams have never been this close recently, and that must surely fill England with hope. (The fact that Australia have named 17 players in the squad for the first Test shows how uncertain they are about their best combination.) In these last couple of years, there is little to choose between the overall numbers of the two teams, but one unusual number is the ratio of centuries to fifties for Australia - that's an aspect they're normally very good at, but during this period they've only managed to convert 24 out of 93 scores of 50-plus into hundreds; England have converted 27 out of 86.

The Numbers Game: England's finest opportunity in two decades | Regulars | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

Burgey · 20-11-2010, 01:22 AM

If England win this series I will walk down Martin Place at lunch time naked. It cannot happen.

flibbertyjibber · 20-11-2010, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgey

If England win this series I will walk down Martin Place at lunch time naked. It cannot happen.

It will happen but you won't do that as you are all talk and no action.

Burgey · 20-11-2010, 02:37 AM

Lol.. Spare me.

Spare us all actually..

fredfertang · 20-11-2010, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgey

If England win this series I will walk down Martin Place at lunch time naked. It cannot happen.

Presumably we can rely on ripper to capture this moment for posterity?

Faisal1985 · 23-11-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgey

If England win this series I will walk down Martin Place at lunch time naked. It cannot happen.

Now that's called blind love.

GIMH · 24-11-2010, 02:37 AM

People on Martin Place will be wishing they were blind come the end of the series, that's for sure

Faisal1985 · 25-11-2010, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

People on Martin Place will be wishing they were blind come the end of the series, that's for sure

What is Martin Place? Another name for a ground

any how....England's finest opportunity in two decades .....seems to have been fading unless Broad compensates for that lazy stroke to give Siddle the Hatrick.

PhoenixFire · 25-11-2010, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

People on Martin Place will be wishing they were blind come the end of the series, that's for sure

marc71178 · 11-01-2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgey

If England win this series I will walk down Martin Place at lunch time naked. It cannot happen.

When's this happening out of interest?

19-11-2010, 11:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
blahblahblah International 12th Man Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: As always, my room Posts: 1,731	England's finest opportunity in two decades Through most of the last two decades, the result of an Ashes series in Australia has been a foregone conclusion even before the first ball has been bowled. England last won a series in Australia in 1986-87, by a 2-1 margin. Since then, they've lost five in a row, and each emphatically. In 25 Tests during this period, England have lost 18 and won three, one of which was a dead rubber. However, there's reason to believe things could be different this time around, as much due to England's excellent recent form as Australia's problems with form and fitness. England are ranked higher in the ICC Test rankings, and have a better win-loss ratio in the last two years, winning 12 and losing four, to Australia's 12-6. In the corresponding two-year period before the previous Ashes series in Australia, Australia had won 15 matches and lost only two. Both those losses had come against England in 2005, but apart from that Australia had won almost everything, including beating South Africa in five out of six Tests, home and away, in 2005-06. The batting and bowling stats between these two teams have never been this close recently, and that must surely fill England with hope. (The fact that Australia have named 17 players in the squad for the first Test shows how uncertain they are about their best combination.) In these last couple of years, there is little to choose between the overall numbers of the two teams, but one unusual number is the ratio of centuries to fifties for Australia - that's an aspect they're normally very good at, but during this period they've only managed to convert 24 out of 93 scores of 50-plus into hundreds; England have converted 27 out of 86. The Numbers Game: England's finest opportunity in two decades \| Regulars \| Cricinfo Magazine \| ESPN Cricinfo __________________ http://erdos.posterous.com/

20-11-2010, 01:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Burgey Cricket Web Staff Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Castle Posts: 35,138	If England win this series I will walk down Martin Place at lunch time naked. It cannot happen. __________________ WWCC - Loyaulte Mi Lie "People make me happy.. not places.. people" "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." - Samuel Johnson "Oh my God, there's a castle! A castle!"

24-11-2010, 02:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
GIMH Eternal Optimist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Shake my tree where's the apple for me? Posts: 43,601	People on Martin Place will be wishing they were blind come the end of the series, that's for sure __________________ Watch out, for as soon as it pleases them they’ll send you out to protect their gold in wars whose weapons, rapidly developed by servile scientists, will become more and more deadly until they can with a flick of the finger tear a million of you to pieces RIP Craigos. A true CW legend. You will be missed.

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20-11-2010, 02:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Burgey Cricket Web Staff Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Castle Posts: 35,138	Lol.. Spare me. Spare us all actually..

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