Ashes 2006 / 2007

[animal magic]

yeah fletcher is so stubborn its beyond a joke particulary over monty and jones, jones should never play for england again just not good enough

[Red Chilli]

I found Shane Warne's banter to Ian Bell funny, calling Bell the Shermanator

[Beachy]

Spot on Goochie, except maybe the last bit

Indeed. We started doing it a few years ago.

One of the selection panel travels everywhere with the team, and the captain and coach no longer have a direct say on who gets picked.

[ningnangnong]

9 for at lunch.

[ningnangnong]

The Ashes are back where they belong.

[ARIMAN]

Lots of reasons why Australia caned England

1) England have been distinctally average since 2005 - but lost the focus after the last Ashes - as usual England

2) Australia improved since the last Ashes - got rid of Gillespie and Katich

3) Losing Troy Cooley

4) No Vaughan (the best captain for years - and I think distinctly against the persona of Flecther) and No SJones (the key bowler in the last series) and No Tresco (an attacking opener who couldnt be replaced)

5) Flintoff has played badly, as batsmen,bowler,captain

6) Gerraint Jones - why?

7) Why no Monty Panesar?

8) No reverse swing (conditions, different ball)


Congratulations to Australia, one of the greatest teams every. It`ll be a sad day not to see McGrath, Warne and Ponting when they do they retire. Great players

Hopefully they`ll be in England in 2009

Duncan Flecther - replace him with Tom Moody

[Beachy]

The English lads on here have been notable by their absence!

[Shaggy]

[red_in_oz]

Duncan Flecther - replace him with Tom Moody

I wouldn't say no to that. It would be good to have an Aussie in charge who understands the ruthlessness Australia show in every Test series they play - be it against Bangladesh or versus India, in India.

England don't seem to have that.

I've lived in Australia for 15 years now and one thing I've seen the whole time is a ruthless, almost angry, streak. That's why Australia beat everyone.

It's not technical skill. We've seen Muralitharan as good as Warne. Tendulkar as god as Ponting.

It's fight, self-belief and the desire to HAVE TO win.

Aussie teams in the 80's were all chummy and friendly and England could beat them. Even in 2005, the Aussies looked to be a bit too friendly with England.

I didn't seee any of that this time. Australia have looked ruthless to a man.

England neeed to learn to play that way if they want to win the Ashes - then keep them.

All the great teams have that ruthless desire to win. Look at Liverpool in the 70's and 80's. What was the most offensive word around Melwood under Bob Paisley? "Complacency". He hated it.

We didn't have the most skilful players in the world, but we had a ruthless desire to win every year: "First is first, second is nowhere".

The England cricket team could do with plenty of that attitude.

[Red Chilli]

Thing is though Martin, Murali isn't as good as Warne in most people's assessment and Australia have better players from 1-11 than England. It's not just their competitive edge, the are technically better and more suited to Australian conditions.
The conditions (for swing) played a big part in England's 2005 victory. We were peaking as a team whereas Australia came to it under prepared. The similarities with this tour are incredible in terms of injuries, preapration, form and the ability to strike in crucial sessions.
Their competitive edge is only part of their success but they thoroughly deserve to win.

Oh FAO ningnangnong, the Ashes always reside at Lords in England regardless of who holds them so yes, they are where they belong

[bacon]

I wouldn't say no to that. It would be good to have an Aussie in charge who understands the ruthlessness Australia show in every Test series they play - be it against Bangladesh or versus India, in India.

England don't seem to have that.

I've lived in Australia for 15 years now and one thing I've seen the whole time is a ruthless, almost angry, streak. That's why Australia beat everyone.

It's not technical skill. We've seen Muralitharan as good as Warne. Tendulkar as god as Ponting.

It's fight, self-belief and the desire to HAVE TO win.

Aussie teams in the 80's were all chummy and friendly and England could beat them. Even in 2005, the Aussies looked to be a bit too friendly with England.

I didn't seee any of that this time. Australia have looked ruthless to a man.

England neeed to learn to play that way if they want to win the Ashes - then keep them.

All the great teams have that ruthless desire to win. Look at Liverpool in the 70's and 80's. What was the most offensive word around Melwood under Bob Paisley? "Complacency". He hated it.

We didn't have the most skilful players in the world, but we had a ruthless desire to win every year: "First is first, second is nowhere".

The England cricket team could do with plenty of that attitude.

I reckon they are just better !!

[ningnangnong]

Oh FAO ningnangnong, the Ashes always reside at Lords in England regardless of who holds them so yes, they are where they belong

[SouthAfricaRed]

Thing is though Martin, Murali isn't as good as Warne in most people's assessment

Very Debatable

Murali will beat all Shane Warne's records. He set a record today that will take a long time to better. He has now taken 10 wickets in a match against all Test nations.

It's impossible to compare the two though as Shane Warne had to compete with better bowlers in his own side. They are both Great and to have both playing at the same time is incredible.

I think Murali's achievements are unfairly dismissed, because of the controversy over his bowling action. Fact is he has been tested many times and passed the tests. What more can he do?

Man for man though Australia have no Equal at present. The only thing against them is the age of their players. If they dont start exposing younger players to the Test arena, it will prove a major problem for them.

The difference in this Ashes Series has been Ponting, Clarke and Hussey's batting and McGrath, Clark and Warne's bowling. Of these players, only Clarke is younger than 30

[Red Chilli]

Very Debatable

Murali will beat all Shane Warne's records. He set a record today that will take a long time to better. He has now taken 10 wickets in a match against all Test nations.

It's impossible to compare the two though as Shane Warne had to compete with better bowlers in his own side. They are both Great and to have both playing at the same time is incredible.

I think Murali's achievements are unfairly dismissed, because of the controversy over his bowling action. Fact is he has been tested many times and passed the tests. What more can he do?

Man for man though Australia have no Equal at present. The only thing against them is the age of their players. If they dont start exposing younger players to the Test arena, it will prove a major problem for them.

The difference in this Ashes Series has been Ponting, Clarke and Hussey's batting and McGrath, Clark and Warne's bowling. Of these players, only Clarke is younger than 30

In my opinion, on a pitch which is flat and isn't turning, Warne is the superior bowler. On turning pitches then it is debatable.
Murali may break all Warne's records but that doesn't make him a better bowler, Warne is easily the best spin bowler ever in my opinion.

[SouthAfricaRed]

In my opinion, on a pitch which is flat and isn't turning, Warne is the superior bowler. On turning pitches then it is debatable.
Murali may break all Warne's records but that doesn't make him a better bowler, Warne is easily the best spin bowler ever in my opinion.

Murali has taken 10 wickets in a match in South Africa on pitches that dont spin. I saw it with my own eyes

If Murali's stats (Most Wickets, Better Strike Rate, Better Economy rate, Double 5WI, Double 10WM) doesnt qualify him as the better bowler, then what do you base your criteria on?

I accept that it's your opinion that Warne is the Best ever that you've seen play, Many will agree with you, but it's difficult to classify a player as the Best Ever. Each Era will produce it's Greats. Comparing different Era's are impossible

It's the old story. Who is the Best Footballer ever - Pele, Maradona or Ronaldinho. IMO it's King Kenny