The Ashes: (England tour of Australia)

[LiveLoveABD]

I love England's and specially Root's approach leading up to this. Wish I could place a wager on England for some vCash.

 

[AliB]

I love England's and specially Root's approach leading up to this. Wish I could place a wager on England for some vCash.

I have 86m, unfortunately can't transfer a penny.

Looking forward to see the Mitch J heroics recreated..

 

[blockerdave]

c'mon england!

the aussies are over-talking their bowling attack. Starc has never looked good in the Ashes. Hazelwood is bang average. Cummins not fit enough to last a series...

grind them down, take them deep, keep them in the field. watch them fall over.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

c'mon england!

the aussies are over-talking their bowling attack. Starc has never looked good in the Ashes. Hazelwood is bang average. Cummins not fit enough to last a series...

grind them down, take them deep, keep them in the field. watch them fall over.

Hazlewood is average? Johnson was piss poor in the Ashes before his earth shattering Ashes. Cummins lasted in India just fine and they were tougher conditions.

Past performances are no guarantee for success. IMHO, England have the better AR and balance, Australia the better bowling attack. Both teams have two gun batters and the rest is pretty much equal. Considering Australia are at home, I'd give them an advantage but the lead up to the series seems to suggest England are very calm and composed while Oz are concentrating on rubbish mind games.

 

[Dutch]

About to head off from Ipswich Town (hour from Brisbane) on the train. Gates open at 830......very excited. Lots of sunshine here at the mo! I have been quite surprised about the number of Aussies I have spoken to that dont actually give a toss about the cricket.

 

[zimrahil]

About to head off from Ipswich Town (hour from Brisbane) on the train. Gates open at 830......very excited. Lots of sunshine here at the mo! I have been quite surprised about the number of Aussies I have spoken to that dont actually give a toss about the cricket.

So jealous, have a great day watching England reach 350-2 at stumps

 

[blockerdave]

About to head off from Ipswich Town (hour from Brisbane) on the train. Gates open at 830......very excited. Lots of sunshine here at the mo! I have been quite surprised about the number of Aussies I have spoken to that dont actually give a toss about the cricket.

Enjoy mate. Terribly jealous!

 

[blockerdave]

Hazlewood is average? Johnson was piss poor in the Ashes before his earth shattering Ashes. Cummins lasted in India just fine and they were tougher conditions.

Past performances are no guarantee for success. IMHO, England have the better AR and balance, Australia the better bowling attack. Both teams have two gun batters and the rest is pretty much equal. Considering Australia are at home, I'd give them an advantage but the lead up to the series seems to suggest England are very calm and composed while Oz are concentrating on rubbish mind games.

Don't disagree. There is a large element of wishful thinking in my post...

But, I can only go by what I see. I know Hazelwood has a decent record but going by 2015 Ashes, the only time I saw him, he was shite. And the difference between Hazelwood and Johnsons, beyond the obvious one of pace, was Johnson had shown glimpses of that terrifying ability - e.g. Perth in 2010/11.

I think England's batting is stronger - I put Bairstow in the bracket of Cook, Root, Warner and Smith (whom I assume you mean to be the gun batters on either side)... but I guess a lot will depend on whether he is batting having spent 2.5 days in the field first as Aussies rack up 600...

The weirdest thing about this series is almost no result would surprise me. I think both sides have strengths and weaknesses and expect a close series, but equally the weaknesses of one side or the other could become overwhelming and they get stuffed.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Don't disagree. There is a large element of wishful thinking in my post...

But, I can only go by what I see. I know Hazelwood has a decent record but going by 2015 Ashes, the only time I saw him, he was shite. And the difference between Hazelwood and Johnsons, beyond the obvious one of pace, was Johnson had shown glimpses of that terrifying ability - e.g. Perth in 2010/11.

I think England's batting is stronger - I put Bairstow in the bracket of Cook, Root, Warner and Smith (whom I assume you mean to be the gun batters on either side)... but I guess a lot will depend on whether he is batting having spent 2.5 days in the field first as Aussies rack up 600...

The weirdest thing about this series is almost no result would surprise me. I think both sides have strengths and weaknesses and expect a close series, but equally the weaknesses of one side or the other could become overwhelming and they get stuffed.

Agree with most of it. I personally feel that Hazlewood is a world class bowler. That's the only difference. And if you were to ask me, I'd take the gloves off Johnny and play him as a specialist bat. His ability demands he not bat lower than 5, specially considering the amount of batting problems ENG have in the middle order. I also feel Aus have the better top order compared to England unlike you but that's down to them playing at home.

 

[blockerdave]

Agree with most of it. I personally feel that Hazlewood is a world class bowler. That's the only difference. And if you were to ask me, I'd take the gloves off Johnny and play him as a specialist bat. His ability demands he not bat lower than 5, specially considering the amount of batting problems ENG have in the middle order. I also feel Aus have the better top order compared to England unlike you but that's down to them playing at home.

I would play bairstow as a specialist bat too especially with stokes not there

 

[everway9]

Hi everyone.

I'm new here so a big HELLO to all.

I'm not a full time cricket fan and only really watch when big tournaments are on like the World Cup and Ashes so there's lots I don't know. So please go easy on me.

I just started watching the 1st Ashes test at the Gabba and immediately noticed lots of blue lines/markings. I'm guessing that they are preset markings for fielders and bowlers. But is that correct? I've never really noticed lines like that before, not blue ones anyway. But hey... I'm not the most observant type.

Many thanks in advance.

Andrew

 

[Aislabie]

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are currently bowling at a very similar pace to one another (roughly 87-88 mph for Hazlewood, 88-89 mph for Starc).

Also, Cook's shot was awful for a player of his quality, but everyone looks bad when they get out.

 

[Gamer Pradosh]

Up at 5:30am India, just to watch the Ashes...

 

[Dutch]

Heart in mouth time here in Brizzy When Cook went but its been real attritional test match cricket. Aussies are quiet; rain coming in now....not much though

 

[Dutch]

Mmm still wet!