Ashes 2013 - Australia tour of England June/August 2013

[brem06]

It's just been announced that Joe Root will open the batting in England's warm-up game against Essex.

In related news, Dave Warner has just been sighted bowling off his long run, and reportedly practising his bouncer.

 

[hedger_14]

In related news, Dave Warner has just been sighted bowling off his long run, and reportedly practising his bouncer.

Looks like he finally realised he can't bat

You've got to think they could have found a better team to play than Essex. I can't see any benefit that England will get out of it, just because they will win, very easily. Perhaps it's a confidence thing.

They were trying to find a team that best matched the Aussies ability.

What about Maddinson? The kid can bat. 113 on debut for NSW - back to back tons for Australia A. Must be a better opener than Hughes, surely?

Been following his career before he made his debut for NSW (from my area) and I have to say he's an extremely talented batsman. Unfortunately, he's been inconsistent. When he's playing well, he plays extremely well. But when he goes through a tough patch, he'll score a lot of 10s and 20s, and never really go on to make a big score.


But either way, they need Marsh, Bailey and/or Voges in this Ashes squad. I think they're better options than Hughes, Smith and Khawaja.

 

[brem06]

Looks like he finally realised he can't bat

Or fight.

But either way, they need Marsh, Bailey and/or Voges in this Ashes squad. I think they're better options than Hughes, Smith and Khawaja.

Bailey and Voges absolutely. Voges has a pretty good county record (I think) and Bailey is a very calm, stable character who looks assured at the crease (in direct contrast to Hughes and Smith), and technically sound. I've talked up Marsh a ton of times, but nothing yet, so I've jumped off his bandwagon. Khawaja made 214 in that game that Maddinson made his NSW debut, and I still rate him as a very good batsman. Shame he likes eating too much. (I don't think Boof Lehmann will give a stuff about skin folds somehow)

 

[War]

The better the opponent is, the better Bailey bats usually. Got a bit about him. I really had hoped they would call him up. Not sure on Smith. I don't think his technique will handle the seaming conditions of England. I'd be tipping Finn to upset him with back of a length, nipping away. Caught gully. What about Maddinson? The kid can bat. 113 on debut for NSW - back to back tons for Australia A. Must be a better opener than Hughes, surely?

Ye i've always got this feeling about Bailey, even though he didn't set the world allight in the first-class season. At international level he has has stepped up and improved every game he has played.

 

[Owzat]

You've got to think they could have found a better team to play than Essex. I can't see any benefit that England will get out of it, just because they will win, very easily. Perhaps it's a confidence thing.

Might be only a few teams available and not involved in a championship match at the time. Would have thought an England vs Lions or something like that match would have been better for all involved. Maybe the aussies got dibs on the only decent team free (don't know, don't really care to be honest)

Oh, they probably picked someone they can easily dominate so they know they won't be fielding for two days or be skittled cheaply, against weaker sides they can control the game more and get everyone some runs or wickets - well that might be the plan anyway

Also I'd have probably rested Cook, Trott and Anderson too. I don't see what they'll gain from playing in the match, Anderson took 11 wickets in the ICC Trophy, Trott scored 229 runs and Cook 161. Root scored 173, but is a young batsman so worth him staying, besides you can't rest everyone, and Broad could do with finding some form.

 

[brem06]

Oh, they probably picked someone they can easily dominate so they know they won't be fielding for two days or be skittled cheaply, against weaker sides they can control the game more and get everyone some runs or wickets - well that might be the plan anyway

Usually the way. Although how many county sides do you think would be able to give England a tough contest at the moment?

 

[barmyarmy]

They should play the Lions or something then. Always hungry players there.

Bairstow for 6? Bopara? Back to Taylor?

I really don't see what the best option is there. Bairstow just doesn't feel to me like a player who is going to score test centuries.

 

[Skater]

They should play the Lions or something then. Always hungry players there.

Bairstow for 6? Bopara? Back to Taylor?

I really don't see what the best option is there. Bairstow just doesn't feel to me like a player who is going to score test centuries.

I'm a big fan of Ravi Bopara, he's shown he can be an important part of our ODI side, but his Test chances have passed I think. In 2009 he made effortless centuries against the West Indies but when the Ashes came around he was like a rabbit in the headlights. We shouldn't go back to that again.

I have my doubts about Bairstow as well. James Taylor has always looked like a very talented batsman but hasn't really had a look in for a while.

 

[Haarithan]

Bairstow for 6? Bopara? Back to Taylor?

I really like the idea of having Bopara back in the test side now. Never his fan, never will. But his positive body language could do wonders now against an already shambolic Aussie side. That, and the fact that I don't rate Bairstow.

 

[MUFC1987]

Might be only a few teams available and not involved in a championship match at the time. Would have thought an England vs Lions or something like that match would have been better for all involved. Maybe the aussies got dibs on the only decent team free (don't know, don't really care to be honest)

Oh, they probably picked someone they can easily dominate so they know they won't be fielding for two days or be skittled cheaply, against weaker sides they can control the game more and get everyone some runs or wickets - well that might be the plan anyway
.

I find it hard to believe that they have to pick a team who just happens to be available. The fixtures for this tour would have been sorted before the county fixtures were, so surely they'd have free reign. Just seems to me like a challenge would have been better for players who haven't all played FC cricket for a while, rather than knocking over Essex cheaply and dispatching some pies to the boundary.

 

[Skater]

I am reminded of this, in 2005 before the last Ashes Test the Australians played Essex: Essex v Australians at Chelmsford, Sep 3-4, 2005 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

A certain Alastair Cook made 214 and was described as 'one for the future'!

Bopara made 135 too...

 

[brem06]

I am reminded of this, in 2005 before the last Ashes Test the Australians played Essex: Essex v Australians at Chelmsford, Sep 3-4, 2005 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

A certain Alastair Cook made 214 and was described as 'one for the future'!

Bopara made 135 too...

I clearly remember waking up to the news that Essex had piled on 500 in 90 overs thinking - wow, this is life after McGrath and Warne.

That match was also the beginning of the end for Jason Gillespie, who midway through the Ashes was having the ball bouncing back off the pickets faster than he was bowling.

 

[War]

Somerset v Australians, Taunton, 1st Day : Shane Watson to open in Ashes - Darren Lehmann | Cricket News | Australia in England - The Investec Ashes | ESPN Cricinfo

WELL DONE LEHMANNN!!!

 

[Owzat]

I find it hard to believe that they have to pick a team who just happens to be available. The fixtures for this tour would have been sorted before the county fixtures were, so surely they'd have free reign.

Tourists might be given "free reign", not so sure home sides would have such luxury. And we're just entering T20 season domestically, while the county fixtures may not have been decided per se, don't they always play T20 around the same time of year?

Just seems to me like a challenge would have been better for players who haven't all played FC cricket for a while, rather than knocking over Essex cheaply and dispatching some pies to the boundary.

I'd suggest it is what I said latterly, trying to make sure those who need runs or wickets can easily get them. Nothing more disastrous and embarrassing than a decent county racking up 340/3 and/or getting England batsmen who could do with time in the middle out for single figures.

I doubt England care if the runs are made from net bowlers or international class, I think they care more that they get runs. I doubt they care if they knock over blind pew or the wall for a wicket, as long as they get rhythm and some wickets and confidence.

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They should play the Lions or something then. Always hungry players there.

I agree, makes much more sense. They can then call upon players from different counties rather than play one county who may well leave out key players to avoid injury anyway, and as you say it gives it a quasi competitive edge as the kids have something to prove.

Bairstow for 6? Bopara? Back to Taylor?

I really don't see what the best option is there. Bairstow just doesn't feel to me like a player who is going to score test centuries.

I have been wondering if Taylor won't become the forgotten man of cricket. England try batsmen, then go back to Bopara, and it might be a while before they go back to Taylor. He made slow runs, and not many at that, albeit vs South Africa and snared by Morkel twice, run out once.

2012 Headingley vs South Africa : 34 runs off 104 balls (b Morkel)
2012 Headingley vs South Africa : DNB
2012 Lords vs South Africa : 10 runs off 25 balls (c Smith B Morkel)
2012 Lords vs South Africa : 4 runs off 23 balls (run out)

Started out with a fighting thirty, but fighting was about the size of it. Size might count against him, he does rather look like a boy playing against men.

And why Bairstow over Taylor? Well crucially Bairstow made 95 and 54 in that same Lords Test, maybe he won't score Test centuries but in his 54 at Lords alone he made more runs than Taylor's 48 aggregate in three innings. He has a significantly higher SR, over the 50 mark you would expect of a Test batsman, and while averaging only 31, just missed out on a hundred and has three fifties. Still a work in progress, but Taylor doesn't look a Tendulkar or that likely to be one holding England together.

Taylor is still young, worth resting someone for an easier home series or for a tour and giving him another go.

 

[barmyarmy]

Well a debut series against Steyn and Morkel is hardly a fair test on which to be disregarded afterwards.