Ashes 2015 - Australia tour of England July/September 2015

[MUFC1987]

I love how Clarke still almost tried to argue that 'catch' when you can see in the replay that the ball dragged along the ground for about a foot.

 

[richowebbo]

Was thinking similar. Bell has to go and I think Root should be no higher than 4.

If we're going to produce pitches like this we could even put Rashid in as two spinners might be useful.

Yeah I was thinking that as well, but it would be good to have someone who can bowl 90+ and bowl at the stumps. Whether Finn has the skill to do this is another question! You could almost dispense of Jimmy on these sort of pitches as he doesn't really bowl quick enough to be any danger if the ball isn't swinging. Be a bit harsh on Jimmy though.

Lots of people have jumped on the back of Lyth as well. I just think he needs time to flourish. Not many players come straight in and perform. My only change would be Bell in terms of players, but I don't think Ballance should bat at 3. Who the answer is, I don't know.[DOUBLEPOST=1437225079][/DOUBLEPOST]

Australia got this game in hand, despite England's effort to re-bound into the game. Just need Ben Stokes now and England may be hopeless. [HASHTAG]#AussiesGonnaDEESTRUY[/HASHTAG]!

Butler and Moeen are both good batsmen. After that, Wood and Broad can hang about if they're up for being hit my short balls. However, Australia should win this.

 

[cooks1st100]

I love how Clarke still almost tried to argue that 'catch' when you can see in the replay that the ball dragged along the ground for about a foot.

Same old Aussies, always cheating!!

So if we get bowled out today, if you were Clarke would you make England follow on? Personally I would, to put pressure on our fragile top order.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

First of all, yesterday's 'funky' declaration was one of the worst I've ever seen in cricket. It just didn't make any 'match/game sense.'

Secondly, there's a lot of talk about Ballance and specially Bell, since he's not young as well as a particular forum member who's pretty intent on making everyone here believe that he can't hold a bat. While I do believe he's a 'class' act, I think he needs to be dropped. So does Gary Ballance. Reasons?

1) Past performance are a proof of your ability at a certain level but not a guarantee for success in the future. Ian Bell has had his chances and I think change will do him and England some good.

2) I've forever said that GB isn't an international quality batsman. Why? First of all, he has the worst technique possible and secondly, he's not someone that can guts it out or win tests in a session. There's a lot of comparisons of him to Cook, but there's a major difference. Cook handles the short ball well and unless you're 90mph + he will pull and cut you all day. Ballance can only cut, not pull when the ball is directed at him simply because he's in a very poor position at impact.

I think, Joe Root needs to bat at 3. Bairstow 4. Stokes 5. Buttler 6. Ali 7.

It will give the bowling some bite, which is a bit needed.

 

[richowebbo]

Same old Aussies, always cheating!!

So if we get bowled out today, if you were Clarke would you make England follow on? Personally I would, to put pressure on our fragile top order.

I guess it depends on whether he feels his bowlers need a rest. If we're bowled out with an hour to go, I think you'd have to have a crack at our top order again!

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I guess it depends on whether he feels his bowlers need a rest. If we're bowled out with an hour to go, I think you'd have to have a crack at our top order again!

Australia need to bat again, regardless. It's pretty flat, that pitch. England are capable of piling up the pain. Clarke's bowlers would prefer Australia bat till lunch tomorrow.

 

[richowebbo]

First of all, yesterday's 'funky' declaration was one of the worst I've ever seen in cricket. It just didn't make any 'match/game sense.'

Secondly, there's a lot of talk about Ballance and specially Bell, since he's not young as well as a particular forum member who's pretty intent on making everyone here believe that he can't hold a bat. While I do believe he's a 'class' act, I think he needs to be dropped. So does Gary Ballance. Reasons?

1) Past performance are a proof of your ability at a certain level but not a guarantee for success in the future. Ian Bell has had his chances and I think change will do him and England some good.

2) I've forever said that GB isn't an international quality batsman. Why? First of all, he has the worst technique possible and secondly, he's not someone that can guts it out or win tests in a session. There's a lot of comparisons of him to Cook, but there's a major difference. Cook handles the short ball well and unless you're 90mph + he will pull and cut you all day. Ballance can only cut, not pull when the ball is directed at him simply because he's in a very poor position at impact.

I think, Joe Root needs to bat at 3. Bairstow 4. Stokes 5. Buttler 6. Ali 7.

It will give the bowling some bite, which is a bit needed.

I agree with your first point.

Your second point I do agree with to a certain extent, but GB did tough it out with Joe Root at Cardiff. His average before this summer shows he does have some international quality. I don't believe there are a lot of players better than GB at the moment, but Bairstow is one. He was very harshly treated earlier in his England career and he has consistently scored runs for Yorkshire.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Lot of respect for Jos Buttler. Lot of respect.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I agree with your first point.

Your second point I do agree with to a certain extent, but GB did tough it out with Joe Root at Cardiff. His average before this summer shows he does have some international quality. I don't believe there are a lot of players better than GB at the moment, but Bairstow is one. He was very harshly treated earlier in his England career and he has consistently scored runs for Yorkshire.

I think you guys are quite big on numbers. I also believe that's a terrible way to judge someone. I saw a lot of him in the India series, and for the first time I felt that an English batsman could also have a technique like one of our batsmen in the 90's. Just terrible. I will also assure you that our bowlers are the best people to face for the numbers. I'm sure you've heard of Ishant Sharma. He's been our spearhead for 4-5 years now and it's pretty embarrassing when he's put in the same length as Jimmy Anderson or Dale Steyn. So, if he's played 4 of his 10-12 tests against the worst bowling attack for those conditions, I don't really respect those numbers. I've seen him bat against normal bowlers, not your Boult's and Steyn's and he's just terrible. Like I said, he can't pull, he most certainly isn't a front foot player and that just means that if you don't bowl a length that allows him to cut, then he can't score. He flicks okay, but who doesn't at that level? I think Ballance can have a good career, he just needs to work on his game and I don't think an Ashes series is the place for it. He has a pretty good temperament, so he's got something going.

I'm not a fan of Bairstow, but it's hard to look past the momentum and runs he's amassed recently.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Ah yes the man who cant buy a run and the twenty20-turned-test-kinda-of-batsmen leading the counter attack... Funny how badly this backfired on England...

Cricket is a constant evolution. Just like life. Stokes is a seriously gifted talent. He's not your typical slogger. He's just a naturally attacking stroke maker who has a solid technique. Just because he can play t20 doesn't mean he can't play tests. And hey? If he's a t20 specialist I think you'll admit he's adapted quite well to the test format.

 

[richowebbo]

I think you guys are quite big on numbers. I also believe that's a terrible way to judge someone. I saw a lot of him in the India series, and for the first time I felt that an English batsman could also have a technique like one of our batsmen in the 90's. Just terrible. I will also assure you that our bowlers are the best people to face for the numbers. I'm sure you've heard of Ishant Sharma. He's been our spearhead for 4-5 years now and it's pretty embarrassing when he's put in the same length as Jimmy Anderson or Dale Steyn. So, if he's played 4 of his 10-12 tests against the worst bowling attack for those conditions, I don't really respect those numbers. I've seen him bat against normal bowlers, not your Boult's and Steyn's and he's just terrible. Like I said, he can't pull, he most certainly isn't a front foot player and that just means that if you don't bowl a length that allows him to cut, then he can't score. He flicks okay, but who doesn't at that level? I think Ballance can have a good career, he just needs to work on his game and I don't think an Ashes series is the place for it. He has a pretty good temperament, so he's got something going.

I'm not a fan of Bairstow, but it's hard to look past the momentum and runs he's amassed recently.

Sorry, what's a terrible way of judging a player? His average or his innings at Cardiff?

I am constantly on GB's back, I really don' rate him but you can only beat what's in front of you. Yes India's attack is poor, but he still made the runs. I wouldn't have him at 3 but he could do a job at 4 or 5.

I also disagree with you about the Ashes series. I think its the perfect place to learn about your game. Australia are the best team in the world at the moment. If you're saying you can't count his runs against a poor attack, but shouldn't be playing against the best, but he can have a career, he can't really win can he?!

 

[richowebbo]

Australia need to bat again, regardless. It's pretty flat, that pitch. England are capable of piling up the pain. Clarke's bowlers would prefer Australia bat till lunch tomorrow.

I just wonder whether Clarke might think there is something in it still late on and fancy a crack at our very dodgy top 4. Cook probably won't bat that long again and GB and Bell are in terrible form. I think Lyth will be really, really feeling the heat. I feel for the lad because opening is really tough and by the constant changing of Cooks partner, we are sending out a clear message that says "if you don't immediately make runs, you're out". I think maybe we as England fans were spoilt having Strauss, Cook and Trott for so long. If it was up to me, Hales would have been picked for this summer as I really like watching him bat. Sorry, back to the point, if Australia do bat and rack up a 400-500 lead, its not beyond England to bat it out on what is a flat pitch. Should be a great last couple of days!

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Sorry, what's a terrible way of judging a player? His average or his innings at Cardiff?

I am constantly on GB's back, I really don' rate him but you can only beat what's in front of you. Yes India's attack is poor, but he still made the runs. I wouldn't have him at 3 but he could do a job at 4 or 5.

I also disagree with you about the Ashes series. I think its the perfect place to learn about your game. Australia are the best team in the world at the moment. If you're saying you can't count his runs against a poor attack, but shouldn't be playing against the best, but he can have a career, he can't really win can he?!

Well, I think I probably didn't communicate it better. An Ashes series will test your stomach for a fight, but if there's something technically wrong in your game then you need to go back to the drawing board. This is the marquee series for England in cricket and at this point, form is an issue that's hard to deal with. The last thing you want is dealing with technical issues and not knowing whether the guy is actually good enough? Sure, you can only beat what's in front of you but a lot of people go gaga about his numbers. I just feel, it's a bit wrong to judge someone on numbers unless the guy has played 4-5 years.

I certainly don't have anything against Ballance. Heck, don't we love the romance about an underdog making it big? I said similar things about Hashim Amla at one point and I know how that panned out. I've been wrong before, will be wrong again as well. I just feel that at this moment, Gary Ballance isn't the right answer for no's 3/4/5 in the English side.

I hope I communicated it better.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I just wonder whether Clarke might think there is something in it still late on and fancy a crack at our very dodgy top 4. Cook probably won't bat that long again and GB and Bell are in terrible form. I think Lyth will be really, really feeling the heat. I feel for the lad because opening is really tough and by the constant changing of Cooks partner, we are sending out a clear message that says "if you don't immediately make runs, you're out". I think maybe we as England fans were spoilt having Strauss, Cook and Trott for so long. If it was up to me, Hales would have been picked for this summer as I really like watching him bat. Sorry, back to the point, if Australia do bat and rack up a 400-500 lead, its not beyond England to bat it out on what is a flat pitch. Should be a great last couple of days!

I really liked the way Cook and Compton complimented one another. It will be seriously harsh if they don't give Lyth the full series at least. He looks the part. Alex Hales? Jeez. SERIOUS talent there!

Who was that chap down under? Carberry or someone? Sheesh.

 

[Markkkkk]

Wood's average is higher then Bells since the 2013 Ashes...