*Official* Road to 2013 Ashes

[Jono]

Must be said, Benchy's been in a foul mood in the last 48 hours.

[the big bambino]

The Roar Lol. What a pack of dumb ****s they are. Might actually check in and tell them because they genuinely don't appear to realise.

[the big bambino]

Must be said, Benchy's been in a foul mood in the last 48 hours.

Fouler than usual. Please keep context and perspective.

[Spark]

The Roar Lol. What a pack of dumb ****s they are. Might actually check in and tell them because they genuinely don't appear to realise.

Isn't that the place which regularly posts "fan" articles which read like a bogan self-parody?

[the big bambino]

They call themselves legends. No self deprecation either. Just self delusion.

[Monk]

I think the selectors have done a decent job here. Not sure what else could be expected.

The choices express a desire for some batting consistency. Rogers and Khawaja over Smith and Maxwell. Tick. Faulkner over Moises- same same. Bowling attack is the best we could select. Happy to see MJ NOT named. Happy to see Harris in.

From the squad selected, I'd like to see the following for the first test...

- Rogers
- Cowan
- Khawaja
- Watson
- Clarke
- Warner
- Haddin +
- Starc/Siddle
- Harris/Bird
- Pattinson
- Lyon

Get the feeling (not sure why) that Khawaja should be our number 3. Hughes hasn't done much wrong, but I like this better. Would like to see Warner played down the order.

I also get the feeling that Starc, Harris and Bird would be the perfect bowling attack in England, but I don't think Patto can be left out.

[Monk]

"We'll have approximately 30 players in England at the start of the northern summer and the NSP can add to the Ashes squad at any stage if the need arises."

....

[Burgey]

Well that's a good thing, surely?

[Burgey]

Anyway, the main thing is the Ashes is starting to exercise everyones' minds and not this annoying subcontinental cricket parody which goes on all the time.

[Monk]

Well that's a good thing, surely?

Yeh, absolutely. The dots weren't a swear word filtered, I just put them there because you can't just post a quote without anything else!

[NUFAN]

Tbf to Invers he was just answering the question to not shut on the door on some players being pushed by the media.

For instance, If Haddin got injured I'm sure someone outside the 30 would be included in the squad.

Btw Monk, why don't you think Patto would suit English conditions. He is one of the worlds best of course he'll play but it would be a bit surprising if he didn't perform.

[Spark]

Yeh, absolutely. The dots weren't a swear word filtered, I just put them there because you can't just post a quote without anything else!

Only need one of them, then.

[benchmark00]

Yeah I actually think Patto is well suited to English conditions. Solid outswinger on the boy.

[benchmark00]

A fit bowling attack consisting of:

Pattinson
Harris
Starc
Lyon
Watson

ticks pretty much all the boxes (other than a proper style spinner). Solid variety mixed with consistency.

[Jono]

Yeah that's a very competitive attack.