Bradley Pryce and Gavin Rees need to get there act together

How do they ignore Johnathan Trott. One of 7 Englishmen to average over 40, 1 place below Viv Richards in the all time English averages. I'd get him inthe test side too.

However I still reckon we'll win the Ashes, Strauss was a great captain, but we chose the guy who turns up pissed to training sessions as captain instead. Thankfully Freds stopped all that.

 

I don't think England will beat Australia.

The Aussies are brilliant at bouncing back - a lot of their players won't be here again and will want to go out with a bang.

3-1 Aus.

 

Nah the Aussies are a bunch of **** ****s.

and hayden is going to retire which is a bit of a shame, 1 less walking wicket for Anderson and Broad.

 

I think Hayden may continue..... he is a tough ****er who won't want to go out on a bad run. He is certainly capable of turning it around.

Nobody is a walking wicket for Anderson - the only people in danger are first slip and the guys who move the sightscreen. He is so erratic - Ponting, Clarke and Hussey will toy with him.

 

Husseys inflated average is on the way down, Clarke is playing great but he struggled in England last time with Fred and Jones, Fred will be there, it's just who can replace Jones. Ponting will score runs, hopefully they'll exploit his weaknesses, I think Monty could give him trouble, he might be crap on tour but he's good in England. If he plays, Swann was great in India.

and it's being reported that hayden will announce his retirement tomorrow.

If we don'tplay Bell the bottler we'll do fine and Cook will tear it up as he start to turn 50's into 100's. Ok he's not exactly a tear it up batsmen but he'll do well.

 

I still think Hussey is a guy that will average 50+ over a long career - whatever he has left. Clarke has developed an awful lot from the guy who gave his wicket away a lot last time, more mature, yet is still brilliant to watch.

Ponting for me is the key - I think he will handle Panesar with ease, as will everyone else - I would like to see Swann given an extended run. Monty still has the body language and cricketing aptitude of a debutant. Swann has variation, and a feisty character, which is important, and none of the embarrassing batting fielding and stupid appealing which has grated me for ages.

If Ponting has a poor series England have a real chance, but if he scores over 400 runs we are in a mess.

Lee will be back to top form after personal and injury problems, whilst our selectors will stick with Bottler Bell and Scattergun Anderson, rather than quality, tough performers such as Owais Shah and Matthew Hoggard.

 

ishy, your avatar is wrong mate

Jonathan Trott :nut

**** poor.

I like that we have designated cricket threads.

 

I think Swann shouldp lay but Monty has a fairly good record in England and the selectors never have the balls to drop anyone, I guess it depends on the new coaches preferences.

I don't rate Shah although he's miles better than Bell, how Hoggard has been forgotten is beyond me, like I say hopefully the new coach brings him back. Hussey is a good player, not in the same league as Ponting, Lara and Tendulkar for me though. A step down with Kallis, Dravid etc.

I'm hoping Lee's not 100%

Trott is class TFFP, you can't argue with the facts! Averages over 40, tell me an Englishman who's capable of that.

 

The entire England batting team averages over 40 in domestic cricket except for Collingwood if I recall, and Flintoff the all-rounder.

Shah averages 40 odd. Ramps 50 odd. Key 40 odd. Bopara 40 odd. Lay off the heavy stuff son.

 

I think our selectors have gone from one extreme to the other - from being dropped twice in a series to having to make five consecutive ducks before being put on the guillotine at a selection meeting.

Panesar has to go, against the Aussies his frailties will be cruelly exposed - not a single one of them is vulnerable to left arm spin.

I would put Hussey on a par with Dravid and Kallis - though perhaps slightly above as he has the ability to play according to a situation rather than in his 'groove' if you get me. I would like to see his brother get a chance as well, top class.

Lee will be on top form come the summer, 30 wickets.

Just read on cricinfo that Hayden is likely to give the game away. Shame - would liked to have seen him gone out on a more positive note.

 

Brett Lee has traditionally been garbage against England, which is saying something, because he's garbage. He averages 40 vs England. And this is an off-form Lee, currently. He might top 50. Then...Siddle. Right-arm average. No spinner even worth mentioning. They only have to worry about Mitchell, who I think you can compensate for considering he does not swing the ball in at all.

England should fancy their chance regardless of Pietersen/Moores fracas. Especially if they pick the TFFP recipe for success.

 

I see your point - but don't forget England selectors are reluctant to go for two twirlers other than at Old Trafford.

If England are to attack Australia, Panesar has to be axed. NOW.

You seriously think Lee is garbage?

I think his form since 2006 has been excellent in Tests especially - other than the past few months.

 

He has (or had - he may be going downhill and losing some pace) all the attributes. Pace. Reasonable accuracy (since the victorious Ashes). Away swing. But somehow...he's not got that extra something. The figures say it all. He averages over 30, no better than England's bowlers and he's supposed to be a genuine fast strike bowler. I never knew a great quicky that averaged that high. His figures against England speak volumes.

If he turns out to be England's destroyer I would axe the entire team and start from scratch with youngsters.

 

not in the shorter stuff though, he probably shouldn't be playing in test cricket but I am a bit of a fanboy.