Road to the 2019 Ashes

[Burgey]

Best case scenario for Aus. Wash out the whole Ashes and we retain the trophy. No way we are beating the rampaging poms otherwise. Smith will average 100 for the series and we'll still lose most games by an innings.

Be hilarious if the only washed out test is at England's favourite ground. But imagine sitting around Birmingham in the rain for five days. When the day of reckoning is at hand, the lads will be able to say they've already done their time in purgatory.

 

[howardj]

If Wade gets 50+ in the Aus v Aus game, he'll make the Test XI

Very real prospect of Wade, Carey, and Paine in the same squad

 

[Flem274*]

Australia don't need a 5th bowler. Three quicks plus Lyon.

Hazelwood had a poor summer last summer and then got injured. He hasn't done much since his return from injury.

Pattinson
Cummins
Starc
Lyon

Should be the attack.

this is how you get someone like jackson bird opening the bowling in the second test...oh, i see what you're doing. clever.

 

[wrongun]

Best case scenario for Aus. Wash out the whole Ashes and we retain the trophy. No way we are beating the rampaging poms otherwise. Smith will average 100 for the series and we'll still lose most games by an innings.

The current Haddin vs Hicks game is the best proof as to why I feel we need to go in w 5 bowlers ...the batting needs to be saved by our bowling....sure we can skittle England's top order out but the middle order will hold up and that's where a 5th will make a difference...any score of 250 and above by England and we possibly struggle

 

[harsh.ag]

Woakes
Ali
Burns
Root
Buttler
Bairstow
Stokes
Roy
Foakes +
Archer
Anderson

It's insane and whatever but will be very effective.

 

[Burgey]

Woakes underrated as a batsman imo. Not saying he should necessarily open, but I can see why you'd think he would be better in the upper order than some other blokes. Always looks a really solid player.

Burns plays for Australia, though.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I don't expect to see much of Anderson this Series. Already missing the Ireland Test and doubtful for the first Ashes Test. If he has a dodgy hamstring I can't see him playing much with all the Tests being played in a heap.

 

[Starfighter]

It's his calf though. That's different (maybe).

 

[harsh.ag]

Woakes underrated as a batsman imo. Not saying he should necessarily open, but I can see why you'd think he would be better in the upper order than some other blokes. Always looks a really solid player.

Burns plays for Australia, though.

Rory Burns

 

[Burgey]

Mate, his name is Joe Burns. ffs, come on

 

[Lillian Thomson]

It's his calf though. That's different (maybe).

Good point. I'm not sure why I wrote hamstring. I still think he'll struggle to play 5 Tests in 7 weeks.

 

[Gob]

Hope Anderson is fit for all five

 

[Starfighter]

Good point. I'm not sure why I wrote hamstring.

When taking about cricket injuries you've probably written it 14,234 times before so it's a reflexive action.

I still think he'll struggle to play 5 Tests in 7 weeks.

I hope not, the series will be a lot duller without him.

 

[Burgey]

Lets keep bagging Australia’s batting and ignore england at 8/58 vs Ireland.

 

[aussie tragic]

England warm up for the Ashes is pretty dire with 85 all out.

Surely Sibley will now get a chance for the 1st Ashes Test?

 

[Lillian Thomson]

The best thing for Australia would be for the current England top 3 to all make runs against Ireland in the second innings.

 

[aussie tragic]

After the last tour game, predicting Selectors will go with this 16 man squad for the Ashes

Bats: Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja, Smith, Labuschagne, Head, Marsh

WK: Paine, Carey

Spin: Lyon, Holland

Pace: Cummins, Pattinson, Starc, Hazlewood, Siddle

Note: I'd take Burns over Bancroft or Head and increase squad to 17 (or take only one spinner) in order to take K'Pat as extra bat, although he has done bugger all on the A tour

 

[stephen]

I really hope they leave Bancroft in the wilderness. I know Langer loves him to death though and he hit this timely 93* against Hazlewood, Starc and Holland. He's going to be in the side isn't he. What a depressing state of affairs. I'd rather Harris than Bancroft.

And Holland is rubbish. Let's leave him out of the squad. Lyon is all we need. Pick Labuschagne as the backup spinner if we must.

Single games are depressing things to be basing selection on.

 

[harsh.ag]

Hope they pick Wade ahead of Holland.

 

[aussie tragic]

Yeah ban Holland. If Lyon goes down, play Labuschagne and Marsh (with Smith part-timers) and play Cummins, Pattinson, Starc, Hazlewood which I've been waiting for ages to see