*Official* Road to 2013 Ashes

[Howe_zat]

Originally Posted by Spark

Trent Bridge has always looked fairly pleasant for batting whenever it's been a sunny day and I've been watching.

How often has that happened, excluding days with Raina and Yuvraj Singh bowling?

[aussie tragic]

Originally Posted by Black_Warrior

Would be interested with the comparison if Clarke bats at 4 for Australia instead of Watson.

Clarke would be above Pietersen and would have to put Bell = Watson as both have uncertain form right now?

[flibbertyjibber]

Originally Posted by Howe_zat

How often has that happened, excluding days with Raina and Yuvraj Singh bowling?

Even this year when it was hot against Windies it was doing lots with the ball.

[flibbertyjibber]

Originally Posted by aussie tragic

Clarke would be above Pietersen and would have to put Bell = Watson as both have uncertain form right now?

I'd go with that with a * disclaimer for KP as if he joins in no player on either side is anywhere near his level. One of the most gifted but frustrating talents ever in my view.

[wpdavid]

Originally Posted by Pothas

When was the last time England won back to back series in Australia? Must have been a little while. Fancy they may sneak a draw.

I reckon it's about 80 years - Bodyline and the one before that.

[Howe_zat]

Yeah 1928/9 and 1932/33

Since then we've only won in 54/55, 70/71, 78/79, 86/87 and last time

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Tangles

I don't get to see much of the away series but the bowling worries me tbh. I can't see Siddle and Hilf bowling England out. If Pattinson is fit who else will step up. Cummins may not be fit and Harris seems to be done. Starc is promising but it looks like Johnson has edged back into the reckoning. The English would love to face him again.

I suspect we'll be taking a large group of quicks across. Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Pattinson, Hazlewood, Cummins*, Starc, Harris* and Butterworth/Bird/Copeland would be my choice.

If Cummins and Harris are unfit (and let's face it, they usually are), add in NCN and/or Alister McDermott as squad bowlers. Luke Feldman a possible bolter as well, IMO. That's 13 quicks that I reckon could at least handle themselves at that level. Success being a whole other ballgame though, obviously.

Hastings has done his dash, as has MJ.

[Black_Warrior]

Originally Posted by aussie tragic

Clarke would be above Pietersen and would have to put Bell = Watson as both have uncertain form right now?

I know Pietersen hasn't quite done it yet but I hope by the end of the back to back Ashes..Pietersen does more than enough to prove that Clarke at his best is still behind Pietersen at his worst!!

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

Finn is a junk red ball bowler ftr.

I wouldn't go as far as to call him junk, but a lot of people on this forum over-rate him on the basis of him blasting away ODI top orders at 90mph.

[vic_orthdox]

He strikes me like a 2008/2009 Broad; I've got no doubt that he could bowl a match winning spell, but he probably won't be a consistent threat.

He does have the knack of taking wickets even when he's bowling tripe.

[LongHopCassidy]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

He does have the knack of taking wickets even when he's bowling tripe.

You can't help but wonder why the Broads and Bothams have this gift but the Johnsons and Zaheers don't.

Were I an Indian selector my first condition for any seamer would be to be a ****ing arsey ****.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by LongHopCassidy

You can't help but wonder why the Broads and Bothams have this gift but the Johnsons and Zaheers don't.

Were I an Indian selector my first condition for any seamer would be to be a ****ing arsey ****.

Johnson's first 3 years in Test cricket were all based on the knack of taking ****loads of wickets despite bowling a load of dross.

[vic_orthdox]

Ed Cowan looks likely to sign with Notts.

Didn't work out all that well last time we had an opener sign up for a county stint in the lead up to the Ashes.

[grecian]

Originally Posted by LongHopCassidy

You can't help but wonder why the Broads and Bothams have this gift but the Johnsons and Zaheers don't.

Were I an Indian selector my first condition for any seamer would be to be a ****ing arsey ****.

I really don't think Broads got that knack at all, hence is occasional horror-figures.

Finn, does indeed though.

[SS1]

Originally Posted by grecian

I really don't think Broads got that knack at all, hence is occasional horror-figures.

Finn, does indeed though.

Broad is in a bit of a trough, no doubt. However, hes still in the top 3 wicket takers this calender year. I'm sure the other two are Anderson and Steyn as well. This idea that Broad is garbage is a nonsense.

I'm also enjoying reading folk dismiss Pietersen. Quite simply, when he's on it, he is the best batsman in world cricket. By a long, long way, he's the best batsman on either side between Australia and England. His average is still 49/50 despite his apparent problems.