Unofficial Buildup to the 2010/11 Ashes

[TumTum]

England might as well hand back the Ashes now and wait to see if they can win it back in 2013.

 

[aussie1st]

Frustrated and jaded England captain Andrew Strauss has delivered his squad a pre-Ashes rocket, declaring "we're not good enough" as the countdown begins.

Strauss's stinging spray came as former England bowler Derek Pringle urged the Test selectors to shut the door on Andrew Flintoff amid speculation the all-rounder is considering a shock comeback for this year's Ashes.

With another Ashes battle just 10 months away, Strauss questioned England's mental toughness after they crashed to an embarrassing innings defeat in South Africa.

The pressure appears to be getting to Strauss, who has withdrawn from England's upcoming tour of Bangladesh in a desperate bid to save himself from pre-Ashes burnout. He said: "I'd never forgive myself if I turned up for the next Ashes feeling exhausted. The notion that the captain must just carry on until he is mentally and physically exhausted doesn't make sense."

"We're not good enough at this stage, that's the simple answer," Strauss said in the aftermath of England's fourth-Test drubbing in Johannesburg.

"We've shown resilience and proved we can be a hard side to beat, which is an important attribute. But we're not clinical and consistent enough. That's been a trait with this team for quite a long time. We need to look at why; perhaps we don't react to match conditions quickly enough. We need to get better.

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That makes two of us Strauss! We aren't good enough either, the weaknesses have been exposed but nothing is being done on them and now they will be swept under the carpet as those players make runs in the up and coming Tests.

 

[CaptainOZ]

Full article

That makes two of us Strauss! We aren't good enough either, the weaknesses have been exposed but nothing is being done on them and now they will be swept under the carpet as those players make runs in the up and coming Tests.

Especially trying to win the Ashes in Australia. The English have an extremely tough task ahead of them. Fingers crossed it won't be another 5-0 whitewash like last time - very unentertaining.

 

[smssia0112]

Especially trying to win the Ashes in Australia. The English have an extremely tough task ahead of them. Fingers crossed it won't be another 5-0 whitewash like last time - very unentertaining.

I'd call it very entertaining.

 

[CaptainOZ]

Depends what you're into.

 

[drainpipe32]

I'm predicting a 3-1 or 4-0 win to the Aussies. Adelaide to be a draw IMO, and the Aussies to win the other ones, unless England sneak in a win.

 

[TumTum]

We need to sort our problems from the last Ashes, this might help:

 

[drainpipe32]

We're screwed :sarcasm

 

[mattfb]

Especially trying to win the Ashes in Australia. The English have an extremely tough task ahead of them. Fingers crossed it won't be another 5-0 whitewash like last time - very unentertaining.

No better way to win back the Ashes then a 5-0 tweaking.

 

[pcfan123]

Atul Sharma is playing for England so you lot are screwed

 

[drainpipe32]

*cowers*

 

[CaptainOZ]

No better way to win back the Ashes then a 5-0 fliping.

That's if you support the Ausralian side. For the unbiased viewer, lopsided thrashings are dull.

 

[smssia0112]

That's if you support the Ausralian side. For the unbiased viewer, lopsided thrashings are dull.

Who cares about unbiased viewers? Australians want Australia to win every test they play. Just as Indians want India to win, and English want England to win.

 

[CaptainOZ]

Who cares about unbiased viewers? Australians want Australia to win every test they play. Just as Indians want India to win, and English want England to win.

Some people watch just because they love cricket. Therefore, some people do care.

The England/SA test series was one example. Was just good to watch two fairly evenly matched countries go at it. Great stuff. The series ended 1-1 and the winner was Test match cricket.

 

[Covvy]

TBH I was going, and still am going for Pakistan against Australia for two reasons.

1. So we can actually have some competition
2. I don't really like our team ATM so if we keep losing new faces will come