Lol, you're making out like England's batting line-up is woeful, and you're clearly over-rating your bowling attack. Slightly green pitches would be far better. England's batting is as good as it was in 2005, probably better with Prior in ahead of Jones. Our batting was saved by the top 2 (Straussy and Tresco) plus Pietersen and Flintoff. Bell had a shocker, Vaughan made 1 score of note and looked dreadfully out of touch, and Jones is crap.
Australia will not blow England away in 3 days and win 5-0 comfortably if the groundsmen make green tracks. Strauss is in fantastic form, Cook's finding his form, Shah or Bopara are stronger than Vaughan was in 2005, Pietersen's class, Collingwood's in fantastic form and in better knick than Bell was in 2005, Prior's a proper batsman far better than Jones and Read put together, Freddie needs to find some form, and then we've got a stronger tail with Broad and Swann handy with the bat.
I expect England's seamers to demand green tracks as well, and if they get them, then Australia better watch out. Freddie'll get the ball talking, Jimmy's going to be swinging and hopefully reverse swinging it with accuracy and consistency, Broad's turning into a very good bowler and Swann's drift and turn could trouble the Australian's.
It helps that Ponting's in poor form as well. I saw some stats regarding Ponting the other day, here are his stats since the 2006/7 Ashes:
Code:
Opposition Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50
v India 8 14 0 534 140 38.14 54.04 2 2
v New Zealand 2 3 0 100 79 33.33 63.29 0 1
v South Africa 6 12 0 495 101 41.25 66.62 1 4
v Sri Lanka 2 3 1 140 56 70.00 55.33 0 2
v West Indies 3 6 0 323 158 53.83 65.25 1 1
Overall 21 38 1 1592 158 43.02 60.37 4 10
and it gets even worse in this current season, here are those stats:
Code:
Opposition Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50
v India 4 7 0 266 123 38.00 50.86 1 1
v New Zealand 2 3 0 100 79 33.33 63.29 0 1
v South Africa 6 12 0 495 101 41.25 66.62 1 4
Overall 12 22 0 861 123 39.13 60.46 2 6
If Ponting continues this poor run of form, with Hussey in a poor run himself, uncertainty about the #6 position, and Brad Haddin flattering to deceive away from Australia, it could be a difficult series for them. Katich also struggled in the middle order in 2005, and Hughes is still very new to International cricket, so could get found out. Clarke also struggled in South Africa, and wasn't too strong in England last time, making only 1 score of real note. I wouldn't be too confident if I was Australia. Sure you've just beaten South Africa away, but that was mainly thanks to the bowlers, and if it wasn't for Hughes, Katich and surprisingly Johnson, I don't think Australia would have won that series as the batting just wasn't good enough.
Personally I'd be hoping for flat tracks if I was an Aussie fan as well
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