*Official* Road to 2013 Ashes

[GotSpin]

Some of these guys have a bad attitude Skip

[Burgey]

As I said during the last test, god knows what their selectors will do as a kneejerk reaction if they get hammered in India (which could easily happen)

It would be stupid to rip it up and start again but they may do as they seem totally confused as to what they should be doing of late.

I don't think they will do that. The selectors should know subcontinental cricket doesn't count.

[Spikey]

Some of these guys have a bad attitude Skip

yeees

[uvelocity]

boof for coach

[pup11]

Given the lack of competition and the fact that Wade averages above 40 in both tests and fc already, it might be worthwhile retaining Wade as a batsman if the selectors decided to ditch him as a keeper

Having said that, PEWS makes a good comparison between Wade and early-Prior in another thread and I think that is a more likely outcome

Anyway, 6 is not the problem for Oz as there are a number of players that could potentially bat in that position.

The problem is in 3 of the top 4 (Warner aside)

One of the most remarkable aspects of the run-spree that Clarke has been on since becoming captain is that it was something like 17 tests before he came to the wicket with at least 100 on the board

That is a disgraceful statistic and it wont change until the selectors deem that 30s are not good enough and make a change

Tbh... Wade is basically a batsman who took to keeping just to break into the Victorian set up, so if he is picked purely as a batsman in the Australian side then that won't be a big deal, but the problem is there really isn't a neat keeper in Australia atm who could hold his own with the bat too, Neville looked good for a season but Haddin coming back has put a pause on his FC career.

The lack of options that you talk about are also somewhat self created, the selectors rather than picking players with some amount of pedigree just tend pick whoever is scoring runs or taking wickets at the time of selection, so its hardly surprising to see so many mediocre players getting their hands on the baggy green.

I agree with some posters who have said that England might be tempted to prepare dry pitches for the Ashes, infact it would be madness not to do so especially after seeing the way we have played in India so far, because not only would it expose our weakness to play and bowl spin but it would also blunt our fast bowling attack, which probably is our biggest strength as a team atm.

1.Warner
2.Burns/Watson
3.Hughes
4.Ferguson/Uzi
5.Clarke
6.Bailey
7.Wade
8.Faulkner/Starc
9.O'keffe
10.Siddle/Coulter-Nile
11.Pattinson
12.Hilfenhaus
13.Lyon/Boyce
14.Henriques/Mitch Marsh

That's my squad for the Ashes series, covers most bases and provides the skipper good variety, we shouldn't repeat the mistake we committed while selecting squad for the Indian series by picking too many green batsmen, hence selection of Ferguson and Bailey, also taking too many left hand bats to England won't be a bright idea, given how well they bowl to left handers.

[Prince EWS]

Tbh... Wade is basically a batsman who took to keeping just to break into the Victorian set up

That's not even remotely true.

[Spikey]

stunning

[BoyBrumby]

Might be a new sheriff in spin town come the Ashes, according to the BBC.

If he's as effective as the last Pakistani-born leggie to turn out for another country...

[social]

Might be a new sheriff in spin town come the Ashes, according to the BBC.

If he's as effective as the last Pakistani-born leggie to turn out for another country...

No way and in the unlikely event that we are relying on spin, we truly are screwed

[Burgey]

So long as the neighbours and the police are informed when he moves in next door.

[vic_orthdox]

Might be a new sheriff in spin town come the Ashes, according to the BBC.

If he's as effective as the last Pakistani-born leggie to turn out for another country...

Could at least get it right; he's playing for Victoria.

Love watching him bowl.

[benchmark00]

Could at least get it right; he's playing for Victoria.

Love watching him bowl.

yeah horrible reporting.

[Top_Cat]

Wearing a Vic top in the pic, no less.

Found this interesting:

County news : Warkwickshire tempt Sam Hain from Australia to Britain | Cricket News | County Cricket 2013 | ESPN Cricinfo

Anyone know his story? Be a bit of a turn-up for the books if young guns at that level are leaving this country aiming to play for England wouldn't it?

I mean, on the face of it, it may be that because his parents are English therefore he just feels like he should play for England but it makes me wonder if there's more to the decision.

[vic_orthdox]

If I were an U/19 Australian player, I'd definitely take a guarantee of being a professional cricket player...

[Scaly piscine]

Might be a new sheriff in spin town come the Ashes, according to the BBC.

If he's as effective as the last Pakistani-born leggie to turn out for another country...

I like how they don't even include Maxwell in the list of spinners since 2007, but include the likes of Cameron White and Steve Smith.