The Ashes

[dww]

Good to see Rashid making the 13

Let's hope we don't use him as we did in the West Indies.

[captainfog]

Those claiming Moeen is a part timer are wrong. Since 2012 he has bowled more overs than Rashid and has got more wickets at a better average. If Rashid plays then I think it should be at the expense of a batsman, so either Balance or Bell.

[RichC]

Ryan Harris has retired and will miss the Ashes. He's been a good wicket taker for them in past Ashes series.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33394635

[captainfog]

Ryan Harris has retired and will miss the Ashes. He's been a good wicket taker for them in past Ashes series.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33394635

Don't think he would have played anyway.

Starc
Johnson
Hazlewood

It's a formidable fast bowling trio.

[Chazza]

Bairstow is in some ridiculous form at the moment.

108 today following on from 219no last week.

His championship average is currently 106.28

Ballance and Bell will need to produce.

[captainfog]

On the subject of Bell and Balance, I just looked up the county championship averages for 2015 and Bell has had one innings since the NZ series and scored a hundred. Balance has had 3 innings with a high score of 29 and an average 14.67. Bell definitely starts. Moeen Ali has been in sparkling form in limited overs cricket for his county but his form with the bat in red ball cricket hasn't been great averaging about 32 over 8 innings with just a couple of fifties under his belt. He does, however, offer a decent bowling option and if he can bowl like he did against India last summer he'll be a great asset to the side.

Bairstow has done great, but lets not forget Hales who has also done pretty well and is averaging nearly 50 and has a double century under his belt. Hales to me just looks like the real deal and he should be in the Test side. Some players you just know they've got it, I felt it about Root and Stokes and I've got the same feeling in my waters about Hales. His technique is sold and classical looking, he has every shot in the book, he's destructive and exciting and most importantly he has that steely belief and glint in his eye that all top players have.

[Buzzo]

Bells form for England is atrocious (Since his last ton - 11, 1, 0, 0, 1, 29, 12, 1) He needs a score badly to justify his place in the team. He and Balance getting skittles early was putting massive pressure on the middle order.

But I agree, he deserves the chance to put it right.

[Vermilion]

Looking forward to this, really hoping at the very least these tests are close enough to be exciting.

Would be **** if one or the other (probably the other ) teams were to go and romp it.

[RichC]

Oh dear

Bavalan Pathmanathan dies after being struck in chest by ball

A cricketer has died after being struck on the chest by a ball during a local league match in Surrey.
Bavalan Pathmanathan, 24, was batting for Manipay Parish Sports Club in the British Tamil League on Sunday at Long Ditton recreation grounds.
An air ambulance was called but he later passed away from his injuries.
In November, Australia batsman Phillip Hughes died two days after being struck on the top of the neck by a ball during a domestic match in Sydney.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/33425867

[Shaggy]

Can't ever remember so little hype or excitement for a new Ashes series. Feel strangely disengaged myself. It can only be the overkill....just far too much of it.

[Alex]

I've only just remembered it starts tomorrow.

Looking forward to the summer though. Think it should be a decent series. Aussies will probably win, but seeing some competitive games is all I really want to see.

[Chazza]

Our team is pretty much nailed on to be the same one from the last test against NZ

Lyth
Cook
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Ali
Wood
Broad
Anderson

Australian Telegraph thinks they will line up

David Warner
Chris Rogers
Steve Smith
Michael Clarke (capt)
Adam Voges
Shane Watson
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood
Nathan Lyon/Peter Siddle.

Be surprised if neither Marsh brother plays especially Mitchell.

[Liverpool]

I had to check if this was home or away.

[Liverpool]

Forgot about the Trott/Swann series

[Chazza]

Easily forgettable