Nov 25-29: 1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane

[War]

For once I won't blame the selectors for that. I'm sure it was in writing that they had to name their Ashes squad today direct from CA. So they are the ones to blame for this whole mess.

Yea now reading the article is the CA was pushing for them to name some sort of squad early. So yea for once they get a pass.

I'd like to know the reason why Hughes has been dropped. I know he hasn't had the best season starting from English cricket to Shield but I didn't think that was enough for him to be dropped.

Yea, but of course dont bring that logic to the selectors. Although again i may cut them some slack for not picking Hughes (although i dont agree), given that means they see Katich/Watson as the main opening slot & they are reluctant to toggle with that ATM. Given thats basically the only stable runs that has been coming from AUS in the last 18 months of inconsistent batting.

But JESUS...did you hear Hilditch again on Hughes: The Ashes 2010-11: Xavier Doherty's chance to go all the way | Cricket News | The Ashes 2010-11 | ESPN Cricinfo

Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said Phillip Hughes was disappointed to miss out, but the team did not need cover for the openers Simon Katich and Shane Watson. "We would consider him in a middle-order position," Hilditch said, "but at the moment we think the two young players from Australia A we picked are in a bit better form and ready to go."

Everytime one these folks explain some of the selection they make. They just expose how out of depth they are & why as we all say, a new selection panel is needed.

 

[JD10]

Lol, you think England are so good, that they can beat Australia with only 10 players

I'm thinking you either missed out Cook as an opener or Bell in the middle order. Hmm, I think Trott would do a decent job opening considering he sort of did it anyway against Pak this summer after Cook fell early.

Yeah Bell i forgot sorry mate

 

[MUFC1987]

He hasn't been holding the bat the right way for the last year. Dreadful performances and Bell's got a chance of actually playing longer than another year.

I expect Colly to retire from tests after this series then retire from international cricket after the world cup.

I really don't get this. Since the last Ashes, Collingwood has had what, one bad series against Pakistan? That's it in terms of Test cricket. You don't drop a key batsman after two Tests with the record he's got. That's without thinking about how good he is when the pressure's on and when we need to save a game or about who we would bring in. I like Morgan, but he's not got the game to replace the likes of Pietersen and Collingwood at the moment, no matter how bad their form gets.

 

[JD10]

I'd drop cook for Morgan and put Trott opening because against Pakistan he was basically opening with Cook getting out cheaply and very early

 

[Themer]

I really don't get this. Since the last Ashes, Collingwood has had what, one bad series against Pakistan? That's it in terms of Test cricket. You don't drop a key batsman after two Tests with the record he's got. That's without thinking about how good he is when the pressure's on and when we need to save a game or about who we would bring in. I like Morgan, but he's not got the game to replace the likes of Pietersen and Collingwood at the moment, no matter how bad their form gets.

Collingwood has really struggled over this last year and at his age I feel we should be trying to replace him with a younger batsmen who's excelled over the last season. Time to allow Morgan, Taylor and Hildreth to get themselves into the team.

As much as I like Collingwood I really feel we should be trying to move forward

Themer added 1 Minutes and 13 Seconds later...

I'd drop cook for Morgan and put Trott opening because against Pakistan he was basically opening with Cook getting out cheaply and very early

I wouldn't drop Cook after he's just scored a century in the tour match and I still have my reservations over how well Morgan will adapt to Test match cricket.

 

[MUFC1987]

Collingwood has really struggled over this last year and at his age I feel we should be trying to replace him with a younger batsmen who's excelled over the last season. Time to allow Morgan, Taylor and Hildreth to get themselves into the team.

As much as I like Collingwood I really feel we should be trying to move forward

Sure, next year, maybe, if he doesn't perform. I'm just saying there's no chance that he will and he shouldn't be, dropped during this series.

 

[JD10]

Collingwood has really struggled over this last year and at his age I feel we should be trying to replace him with a younger batsmen who's excelled over the last season. Time to allow Morgan, Taylor and Hildreth to get themselves into the team.

As much as I like Collingwood I really feel we should be trying to move forward

Themer added 1 Minutes and 13 Seconds later...



I wouldn't drop Cook after he's just scored a century in the tour match and I still have my reservations over how well Morgan will adapt to Test match cricket.

Morgan hit a game changing ton against Pakistan aswell ?

 

[Themer]

Morgan hit a game changing ton against Pakistan aswell ?

He didn't could score another run for the rest of the series and is quite fallible outside offstump.

I'm just saying there's no chance that he will and he shouldn't be, dropped during this series.

If he doesn't score in the first two or three test matches he most definitely should be close to the chop.

 

[MUFC1987]

If he doesn't score in the first two or three test matches he most definitely should be close to the chop.

That would be madness. As I already pointed out, he had one bad series against Pakistan, that's it. You don't drop a proven player, with a great record in Australia, just because he gets a few low scores. Knee-jerk reaction.

This is especially bizarre when you think Bell has cemented his place in the team more than Collingwood. I know who I'd rather have at the crease when we need runs.

 

[Papa_Smurf]

That would be madness. As I already pointed out, he had one bad series against Pakistan, that's it. You don't drop a proven player, with a great record in Australia, just because he gets a few low scores. Knee-jerk reaction.

This is especially bizarre when you think Bell has cemented his place in the team more than Collingwood. I know who I'd rather have at the crease when we need runs.

This. And throughout his career, Colly has produced match-saving knocks just after he's had a poor series. And tbh, he wasn't the only one who was terrible against Pak - apart from Trott, no one else seemed convincing from the top order from both England and Australia.

 

[Themer]

I just think England are going to want to dispense with him. He's been a great servant over the years but for me he's starting to get on, has struggled for runs for a while now (he was awful during the Ashes last time round bar one superb knock) and England will want to look towards the future after this series.

 

[MUFC1987]

I just think England are going to want to dispense with him. He's been a great servant over the years but for me he's starting to get on, has struggled for runs for a while now (he was awful during the Ashes last time round bar one superb knock) and England will want to look towards the future after this series.

ONE SERIES!

Look it up. It's been one series. Against Bangladesh and especially before that in South Africa, he was at least solid, if not relatively brilliant.

EDIT: Just checked and he was no worse than KP and Strauss against Pakistan and topped the averages away to SA. Hardly a crisis year.

 

[Themer]

I'm not saying he's been the worse player in the world but he hasn't looked even close to form this year and a terrible series could do in his career for good.

Hoggard had one bad match and was banished forever more. Collingwood could very well see himself booted out if he continues his mean trot especially at his age.

 

[War]

I wouldn't drop Cook after he's just scored a century in the tour match and I still have my reservations over how well Morgan will adapt to Test match cricket

He didn't could score another run for the rest of the series and is quite fallible outside offstump..

Obviously Cook has saved his face temporarily before the 1st test. But quite clearly the SA attack was nothing special, he still remains quite vulnerable & the chances of the AUS attack failing him within thethe first 3 test is VERY high. Thus the idea of Trott moving up to open & Morgan coming in very likely to occur during the Ashes.

On Morgan i think you are being too pessimistic over his future test match credentials, after just one series. He faced a top-class PAK attack in very bowler friendly conditions in his debut series, they exposed a little flaw with his outside off-stump play for sure. But its not a technical flaw that IMO that will be hard for him to adjust, since i've seen batsmen with worst flaws i.e Cook, Sehwag, Gayle, Graeme Smith etc have serious technical flaws & managed to survive in test or adjust & become better players.

I'd be stunned if Morgan doesn't go on to have a longggg test career for ENG.

War added 7 Minutes and 39 Seconds later...

ONE SERIES!

Look it up. It's been one series. Against Bangladesh and especially before that in South Africa, he was at least solid, if not relatively brilliant.

EDIT: Just checked and he was no worse than KP and Strauss against Pakistan and topped the averages away to SA. Hardly a crisis year.

Indeed, just one series. Not sure where Mr.Themer is going with all this talk that ENG may want to dispense with Colly. His position is quite safe ATM.

Even if he fails in the Ashes, although pressure will obviously surround his position given his age. He should certainly be given another series @ home next summer vs SRI to recover before any talk of him being dropped should be considered.

 

[Themer]

Indeed, just one series. Not sure where Mr.Themer is going with all this talk that ENG may want to dispense with Colly. His position is quite safe ATM.

Even if he fails in the Ashes, although pressure will obviously surround his position given his age. He should certainly be given another series @ home next summer vs SRI to recover before any talk of him being dropped should be considered.

I just don't want us to keep him in the team if he's averaging something which I believe someone else could come in and do but for longer than a year. I know I'm probably being very hard on him but I don't want to see us resting on our pretty decent results of late. I'm really excited about James Taylor, I implore England to give him a game in the near future.