Cricket

[captainfog]

More Ashes

I predict this team to start first match:

Cook
Root
Trott
KP
Bell
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Rankin



I think there will be close moments in this series, but if we perform to our potential we should win comfortably.

[captainfog]

I think Stokes is going to be awesome

Big winter for Trott and Root. Both need runs.

[Chazza]

As does Cook.

Not sure about Stokes getting in that position as Bairstow and Taylor appear to be ahead of him in the test team.

Rankin does look like an option on the bouncy pitches but Botham made a good point in that the development/A squad are touring close by so any replacements can come from that squad and won't be at home undercooked.

Personally I think we will draw the series.

[captainfog]

Cook needs runs, but he's captain and another poor series wouldn't put his place under pressure like it would Trott and Root. On the subject of Trott, he reached 40 something like 3 times in the last series, which isn't a bad lean stretch in which he was unlucky to get caught down the leg side a couple of times and was on the rough end of an lbw decision.

Bairstow has had his chance and he didn't take it and I think Stokes has moved ahead of Taylor after his performance in the last couple of one dayers. He's a potential superstar and will give us a proper 5th option with the ball, is dynamite in the field and can be a destructive lower middle order batsman. Without a stand out number 6 candidate I think they'll give him an opportunity.

I think Australia could potentially go into the series with a weaker side. No Pattison and no Starc is blow, while Harris is not guaranteed to be fit. And I don't believe the current hype about Johnson who I think still has it all to prove with the red ball. As for their batting, Watson is still a walking lbw, Clarke's back is playing up again and Warner and Smith still haven't proved themselves.

Man for man we are a better side and I think unless we play badly we should win the series comfortably. However, if we bat like dick heads again then it will be a close series and Australia will have a chance.

[Alex]

I think Smith did pretty well this past summer. I guess he could do more with the ball though.

[captainfog]

I think Smith did pretty well this past summer. I guess he could do more with the ball though.

He did do pretty well, but that is the first time he has done anything of note with the bat in the long format of the game. Still plenty to do to prove he's a top player, IMO.

[captainfog]

As does Cook.

Not sure about Stokes getting in that position as Bairstow and Taylor appear to be ahead of him in the test team.

Rankin does look like an option on the bouncy pitches but Botham made a good point in that the development/A squad are touring close by so any replacements can come from that squad and won't be at home undercooked.

Personally I think we will draw the series.

Cook needs runs, but he's captain and another poor series wouldn't put his place under pressure like it would Trott and Root. On the subject of Trott, he reached 40 something like 3 times in the last series, which isn't a bad lean stretch in which he was unlucky to get caught down the leg side a couple of times and was on the rough end of an lbw decision.

Bairstow has had his chance and he didn't take it and I think Stokes has moved ahead of Taylor after his performance in the last couple of one dayers. He's a potential superstar and will give us a proper 5th option with the ball, is dynamite in the field and can be a destructive lower middle order batsman. Without a stand out number 6 candidate I think they'll give him an opportunity.

I think Australia could potentially go into the series with a weaker side. No Pattison and no Starc is blow, while Harris is not guaranteed to be fit. And I don't believe the current hype about Johnson who I think still has it all to prove with the red ball. As for their batting, Watson is still a walking lbw, Clarke's back is playing up again and Warner and Smith still haven't proved themselves.

Man for man we are a better side and I think unless we play badly we should win the series comfortably. However, if we bat like dick heads again then it will be a close series and Australia will have a chance.

Got that wrong, Trott actually reached 40 on 5 occasions during the ashes

[Alex]

Jonathan Agnew @Aggerscricket 1h
From now on at 80 overs you get a new ball…..and all your reviews back! Bonkers. Reviews need reducing not increasing!!

Jonathan Agnew @Aggerscricket 1h
Paves the way for more speculative time-wasting LBW reviews…..Really! #ICC

Jonathan Agnew @Aggerscricket 50m
Reckon they have got just about everything wrong. No change to bad light rule. No proper punishment for time wasting and more reviews….

Jonathan Agnew @Aggerscricket 49m
….and still the ban on runners debacle waiting to destroy the finale of a test match/jeopardise a player’s career

Jonathan Agnew @Aggerscricket 48m
*Urgently hunts for blood pressure tablets*

The ICC listened....and then did what they wanted anyway.

[captainfog]

That's bonkers. We don't need more reviews.

I quite like the runners rule though, and I'm not so against the bad light rule either.

[Chazza]

Ashes: Gary Ballance, Ben Stokes, Boyd Rankin in England squad

England have given Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance a surprise call-up to their Ashes squad to tour Australia this winter.

The 23-year-old left-hander, who was born in Zimbabwe, is uncapped at Test level and has only played a single one-day international for England.

All-rounder Ben Stokes and bowler Boyd Rankin, who are also yet to play at Test level, are in the squad as well.

Spinner Monty Panesar and batsman Michael Carberry are also included.
However, seamers Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions miss out, as does opener Nick Compton.

England squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Gary Ballance, Michael Carberry, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (vice-captain), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Ben Stokes, Monty Panesar, Boyd Rankin, Steven Finn, Chris Tremlett.

Bresnan must be ****ed to not even make the squad and I am surprised Onions didn't get in.

The Wicketkeeper cover must be coming from the other squad as I can't believe we would pin it on Bairstow if Prior gets injured.

[dww]

Bresnan is travelling with them though - looks like it is just a way to get in the necessary cover. I would imagine if he recovered fully he would come into contention.

[Chazza]

Ah that makes sense then.

Apart from Anderson we have gone for a load of big quick lads who will hit the deck hard.

[captainfog]

Carberry, who has scored one Championship century in two seasons of Division Two cricket, has been preferred to Nick Compton, who has scored six Division One centuries and two more in Test cricket in the same period and is more than two-years younger.

[Neil Young]

Isn't Carberry also wicketkeeping cover?

[captainfog]

Isn't Carberry also wicketkeeping cover?

No, he's just an opening batsman, but I suppose they could play him at 6.

Bairstow is the back up wicketkeeper, which is mental considering he hasn't really kept wicket all summer for England or even Yorkshire.