*Official* Road to 2013 Ashes

[Red]

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.

 

[Red]

"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.

 

[Red]

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.

 

[Red]

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.

No doubt Patto'll play. imo Starc should play for LA variety and swing (prob our best weapon against Cook) and I think if Harris is fully fit he's our premier bowler for English conditions. I'll admit I've only seen limited amounts of Bird bowling, but he seems like the sort of Alderman type that'll be really good in England. No doubt however that Patto will play, and be very good.

 

[Burgey]

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

Natural length is full, always a good thing in England.

As his missus once famously said.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So hopes pinned on a 35 year old who hasn't played for 5 years. If we did that you'd all be laughing at us and saying how bad a decision it is. Not picking Johnson has improved your chances though. With so many left handers in the top squad Swann will have a field day if he gets a chance to bowl.

 

[benchmark00]

Always done well against Australia, has Swann.

 

[Spark]

Yeah look if you're talking up Swann as your kingpin I'm feeling a bit better about our chances. He won't be the one to win the series for you, Anderson and Broad will.

 

[benchmark00]

More worried about a fit Tremlett than Broad.

Is he back playing yet?

 

[Spark]

I doubt he'll play either way. Down the pecking order IMO. Assuming no one gets injured, it'll be Anderson-Broad-Finn.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Yeah look if you're talking up Swann as your kingpin I'm feeling a bit better about our chances. He won't be the one to win the series for you, Anderson and Broad will.

He isn't our kingpin but you have so many lefthanders he will do his job. Add in the fact that many of these lefthanders aren't that good anyway and you have trouble. I did say he might not get chance to bowl as our pacemen will have field day against that batting line up.

Can't see anything but a comfortable England series win. 3-0 or 3-1.

 

[benchmark00]

Finn is red ball trash, would welcome that, however I wouldn't be surprised to see Tremlett included if fit in time.

 

[NUFAN]

Yeah Anderson is the biggest hurdle. For sure. I think overall our 5 quicks are better than Englands 5 quicks. Unfortunately we are weaker in most other areas.

The left hand thing is overstated, our 11 will have 5 RHB and 6 LHB or visa versa.