Burgey
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With just over a year to go until the one series in world cricket which really counts, it's time for a countdown thread.
There was a bit of Ashes overkill around the last few series, what with them being moved around all over the place and having two lots back-to-back, but it doesn't take long before true lovers of the game grow tired of endless series involving the lesser cricketing nations taking up space on the calendar. True it is that supporters of those countries might enjoy them, but those series are really the romantic comedies of cricket - they're there to pass the time and to giggle at in between the important things in life, namely The Ashes.
With a year to go, there are a lot of questions over both sides, though they each have decent warm up series against less important nations which hopefully allow them to tweak their teams and get the combinations right. Australia has SA and Pakistan coming here then have to travel away to play India in 19th century playing conditions where the bowling will be opened with spinners wearing top hats and bow ties. It isn't proper cricket, but it's good to indulge other countries and give them a bit of encouragement as a warm up to the one big series.
For its part, England is getting the charity tours out of the way early, having just been to Bangladesh and now heading to India. I think this strategy is clever, as they will then be at home to SA and the Windies in real cricketing conditions where the bowlers sometimes present a straight seam, before heading down under.
Team-wise, barring injury I'd say the certainties to play for the hosts are Warner, Smith, Hazelwood, Starc and Lyon. England will certainly have Cook, Root, Stokes, Anderson, Ali and Broad in the side. The other spots are pretty much up for grabs IMO.
The other point of interest, especially for neutrals (not that what they think matters) is the new stadium in Perth might be completed ahead of schedule, and therefore if the next Ashes test isn't the WACA's last, it may be the new stadium's first.
Anyway, all Anglo-Australian banter welcome. Usual rules apply. Mods, please sticky this thread asap; a subforum will be opened up in due course, neutral fans are irrelevant and no threads can be started or posts made by any CW member with less than 500 posts.
Fire away.
There was a bit of Ashes overkill around the last few series, what with them being moved around all over the place and having two lots back-to-back, but it doesn't take long before true lovers of the game grow tired of endless series involving the lesser cricketing nations taking up space on the calendar. True it is that supporters of those countries might enjoy them, but those series are really the romantic comedies of cricket - they're there to pass the time and to giggle at in between the important things in life, namely The Ashes.
With a year to go, there are a lot of questions over both sides, though they each have decent warm up series against less important nations which hopefully allow them to tweak their teams and get the combinations right. Australia has SA and Pakistan coming here then have to travel away to play India in 19th century playing conditions where the bowling will be opened with spinners wearing top hats and bow ties. It isn't proper cricket, but it's good to indulge other countries and give them a bit of encouragement as a warm up to the one big series.
For its part, England is getting the charity tours out of the way early, having just been to Bangladesh and now heading to India. I think this strategy is clever, as they will then be at home to SA and the Windies in real cricketing conditions where the bowlers sometimes present a straight seam, before heading down under.
Team-wise, barring injury I'd say the certainties to play for the hosts are Warner, Smith, Hazelwood, Starc and Lyon. England will certainly have Cook, Root, Stokes, Anderson, Ali and Broad in the side. The other spots are pretty much up for grabs IMO.
The other point of interest, especially for neutrals (not that what they think matters) is the new stadium in Perth might be completed ahead of schedule, and therefore if the next Ashes test isn't the WACA's last, it may be the new stadium's first.
Anyway, all Anglo-Australian banter welcome. Usual rules apply. Mods, please sticky this thread asap; a subforum will be opened up in due course, neutral fans are irrelevant and no threads can be started or posts made by any CW member with less than 500 posts.
Fire away.
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