Ashes 2015 - Australia tour of England July/September 2015

[richowebbo]

haha! You're just fine. I enjoy your posts.

Edit- Simon Kerrigan debuted in an Ashes test right? For some reason I remember a left arm English spinner getting absolutely walloped. May be I still hold memories of Tuffnell or Giles.

Yeah it may well have been Kerrigan who got bashed about. I've tried to block as much as that Ashes series as possible from the memory!

 

[richowebbo]

Great point and with Plunkett 30 now, I don't see him as someone who can be playing regularly, in multiple formats through the next 5 years. Every successful team in cricket history has had consistency between Test and limited over selections, so guys like Stokes, Jordan, Ali, Rashid and co should be the first on any team list and then we can have Plunkett, Woakes et al in as reserves.

I agree with you 100%. This means its time to dispense of Bell. Cook needs to start making runs or he has to be dropped, but he's still young enough to play for 4-5 years. I really don't know what Robson did to get dropped so quickly. He was young enough to improve.

It is terribly sad that the young Finn disappeared. Remember when he kept hitting the stumps on his run up last year? It was horrible to watch.

To DP458 - Lyth had 1 very good season, and the season before also looked good when I watched him. People are too quick to get on the backs of players. How is someone ever going to get better if not given the chance to improve? If he has an FC average of 42, he deserves a chance in the test team and should be given the summer. If it doesn't work out, at least he's been given a proper chance.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Mitchell Johnson was 31 when he destroyed England last Ashes. Tendulkar's career best form was between 36-38. AB de Villiers is 31. Sangakkara was in his prime from 34-37. Graeme Swann debuted at 29 in tests after making his ODI debut at 20. Ryan Harris made his debut at 31.

I think, age is a very dangerous precedent to set for a selection process. There's always an inclination to side towards the youth and understandably so since there is scope for growth, improvement and unlocking potential. But, I feel at least for test matches you should pick the best possible XI for a particular series, since there isn't an eventuality about it like the WC in ODI cricket.

Plunkett is still very young and if he can keep himself fit, he can serve England for 4-5 years which is almost 2 Ashes series. That's a lot of cricket. Same rule applies to any one at any age.

 

[dp458]

I agree with you 100%. This means its time to dispense of Bell. Cook needs to start making runs or he has to be dropped, but he's still young enough to play for 4-5 years. I really don't know what Robson did to get dropped so quickly. He was young enough to improve.

It is terribly sad that the young Finn disappeared. Remember when he kept hitting the stumps on his run up last year? It was horrible to watch.

To DP458 - Lyth had 1 very good season, and the season before also looked good when I watched him. People are too quick to get on the backs of players. How is someone ever going to get better if not given the chance to improve? If he has an FC average of 42, he deserves a chance in the test team and should be given the summer. If it doesn't work out, at least he's been given a proper chance.

I was a bit harsh on lyth, but the stocks look good for middle order, but personally I'd have preferred hales. And I was saying he should get the series, just that I think if he fails at Edgbaston that he will get the kick, but like Robson he should get a full summer

 

[dp458]

Mitchell Johnson was 31 when he destroyed England last Ashes. Tendulkar's career best form was between 36-38. AB de Villiers is 31. Sangakkara was in his prime from 34-37. Graeme Swann debuted at 29 in tests after making his ODI debut at 20. Ryan Harris made his debut at 31.

I think, age is a very dangerous precedent to set for a selection process. There's always an inclination to side towards the youth and understandably so since there is scope for growth, improvement and unlocking potential. But, I feel at least for test matches you should pick the best possible XI for a particular series, since there isn't an eventuality about it like the WC in ODI cricket.

Plunkett is still very young and if he can keep himself fit, he can serve England for 4-5 years which is almost 2 Ashes series. That's a lot of cricket. Same rule applies to any one at any age.

Totally agree about the age is only an issue for odis.
Plunkett is decent but for me he isn't anywhere near the top of the tree

Anderson
broad
Woakes
Wood
Finn
footit
James Harris
plunkett
Jordon

That's the order for me, with stokes purely as an allroiubder in the team, his bowling is about Jordon level though

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Totally agree about the age is only an issue for odis.
Plunkett is decent but for me he isn't anywhere near the top of the tree

Anderson
broad
Woakes
Wood
footit
James Harris
Finn
plunkett
Jordon

That's the order for me, with stokes purely as an allroiubder in the team, his bowling is about Jordon level though

It's easy to say Stokes is a Jordan level bowler. Numbers are big on this forum, so I'm going to find it darn tough to convince you guys but Stokes is a very fine bowler. He's been very unlucky in terms of wickets and though he will go for runs because of his aggressive nature, I expect him to pick a lot of wickets. At this present moment, he's a better bowler and batsman than Jordan.

 

[dp458]

Diffe

It's easy to say Stokes is a Jordan level bowler. Numbers are big on this forum, so I'm going to find it darn tough to convince you guys but Stokes is a very fine bowler. He's been very unlucky in terms of wickets and though he will go for runs because of his aggressive nature, I expect him to pick a lot of wickets. At this present moment, he's a better bowler and batsman than Jordan.

BS is by far the better batsman.

Bowling wise I think he is better than Jordon just, but since he plays as allroinder wasn't going to include him on that list

Basically stokes can't be picked purely as a bowler ala vs India, in the same way Jordon shouldn't be picked at all

 

[richowebbo]

It's easy to say Stokes is a Jordan level bowler. Numbers are big on this forum, so I'm going to find it darn tough to convince you guys but Stokes is a very fine bowler. He's been very unlucky in terms of wickets and though he will go for runs because of his aggressive nature, I expect him to pick a lot of wickets. At this present moment, he's a better bowler and batsman than Jordan.

Stokes isn't yet a fine bowler. He bowls to many bad balls. When he bowls line and length, he is dangerous, as he does get the ball to nip about, but he's still a bit raw. Stokes' ability with the bat means he will keep getting picked so he should develop into a good bowler. I see him as they Flintoff type. May not open the bowling, but will be a good 3rd or 4th bowler who can pick up wickets. He's very aggresive which I like, but he needs to use that aggression to improve his cricket, not get into sledging. He's become a target for other teams to wind up, and this has so far affected his bowling.

I totally understand and agree with you about age, but England don't have many 29-33 year olds lighting the game up. In my opinion, I think it would best to pick guys who are 24-27 and let me develop together as a team. In 4 years time they could be the best team in the world if the players are given time and allowed to make mistakes.[DOUBLEPOST=1438162012][/DOUBLEPOST]

I was a bit harsh on lyth, but the stocks look good for middle order, but personally I'd have preferred hales. And I was saying he should get the series, just that I think if he fails at Edgbaston that he will get the kick, but like Robson he should get a full summer

I also would have preferred Hales, but I would have dropped Cook and had Lyth and Hales opening, because I don't rate Cook anymore.

 

[richowebbo]

Damn those coins!

 

[blockerdave]

interesting to see how Finn goes - strike rate of 48!

 

[richowebbo]

interesting to see how Finn goes - strike rate of 48!

Cor as bad as that?!

This bowling from Jimmy is why its sometimes good to lose the toss and bowl first in English Conditions. We'll need another wicket in the next 4-5 overs to really put the pressure on.

Wish I was able to watch it!

 

[blockerdave]

Cor as bad as that?!

This bowling from Jimmy is why its sometimes good to lose the toss and bowl first in English Conditions. We'll need another wicket in the next 4-5 overs to really put the pressure on.

Wish I was able to watch it!

movement and good carry - probably a good toss to have lost because i think this pitch would have really suited the aussie attack

 

[LiveLoveABD]

@ richowebbo- I agree with you part about Stokes. Don't think it's smart to even contemplate dropping Cook. Mighty fine test bat. Not captain.

I'm glad Anderson is letting some go away and bringing some back in. It's when he's at his lethal best.

I really hope England attack Smith. Leave cover open. Have four slips and a gully. Keep bowling straight at him at a good length after all his shuffle and trigger movements. No need to swing them. Then let one full out swinger at 5th stump. He's himself got an attacking mindset and will try score. There in lies the chance of him nicking off. I would also always have a short mid wicket to him, not a conventional mid wicket. Encourage him to flick, but if it seems, he can top edge it or get caught in front. Basically, you're encouraging him to play in the coventional V but bringing the length back mostly as part of set up and using the full seamer as the surprise.

 

[richowebbo]

movement and good carry - probably a good toss to have lost because i think this pitch would have really suited the aussie attack

This sounds like the kind of pitch it would be great to have Chris Woakes coming in instead of Finn. Swinging in the air and everything according to BBC. Wish I could get this damned stream to work!

 

[richowebbo]

@ richowebbo- I agree with you part about Stokes. Don't think it's smart to even contemplate dropping Cook. Mighty fine test bat. Not captain.

I'm glad Anderson is letting some go away and bringing some back in. It's when he's at his lethal best.

I really hope England attack Smith. Leave cover open. Have four slips and a gully. Keep bowling straight at him at a good length after all his shuffle and trigger movements. No need to swing them. Then let one full out swinger at 5th stump. He's himself got an attacking mindset and will try score. There in lies the chance of him nicking off. I would also always have a short mid wicket to him, not a conventional mid wicket. Encourage him to flick, but if it seems, he can top edge it or get caught in front. Basically, you're encouraging him to play in the coventional V but bringing the length back mostly as part of set up and using the full seamer as the surprise.

hmm, Cook was a mighty fine test batsmen, not so much these days. I think the captaincy has addled his brain!

This pitch and weather is why Jimmy is so good in English conditions. Hopefully early wicket will keep him pumped as the ball gets older.

That's a very in depth plan you have there! I'd bowl at Smiths stumps. Let him bob about and pin him LBW. He's is a great player though. He's horrible to watch if you're a purist (I'm not!).

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