England v Australia - THE ASHES

[ToffeeDoug]

The matches against NZ well prepared England for the Aussies. And I am glad you won. Any team that has Brad Haddin included in it, is a team I want to see lose.

England had to play a very sharp NZ outfit whereas the Aussies had an inept West Indies' team, bottom of the 2nd division Kent and mid-2nd division Essex.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

There's room to drop Bell if he doesn't perform, I think we will come into some form though, it's a hell of a luxury having Ali that low in the order and I think it will win England the series keeping him there in the same way that Haddin does a massive job for the Aussies low in the order.

I love England having Ali in the team but would love it even more if he batted at 5 and became a supporting spinner to a front-line spinner. I'm worried that Ali will be wasted at 8 if the tail don't try to bat with him...I'm looking at Broad here.

 

[Elong]

I love England having Ali in the team but would love it even more if he batted at 5 and became a supporting spinner to a front-line spinner. I'm worried that Ali will be wasted at 8 if the tail don't try to bat with him...I'm looking at Broad here.

I think Ali will score more runs at 8 than at 5. He's too happy to throw the bat at stuff and if England are 40-3 he isn't the guy I want coming in. Give him a license doing what he's doing down there.

People used to say the same about Adam Gilchrist being too low in the order, but it's a fantastic option to have and if he manages the strike correctly he will give a lot of hope to the tail end and encourage them to bat longer and more sensibly. He scores a boundary an over and a single, that's good scoring, and when England are finally dismissed they have the momentum going into the field.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

There's room to drop Bell if he doesn't perform, I think we will come into some form though, it's a hell of a luxury having Ali that low in the order and I think it will win England the series keeping him there in the same way that Haddin does a massive job for the Aussies low in the order.

Haddin not so much these days.. avg of 15 in the last few years in test cricket. Dont think they see him as a genuine batsmen now.

 

[Elong]

Haddin not so much these days.. avg of 15 in yhe last few years tests.

Last Ashes series he was a pain in the arse.

 

[Walken]

I think Ali will score more runs at 8 than at 5. He's too happy to throw the bat at stuff and if England are 40-3 he isn't the guy I want coming in. Give him a license doing what he's doing down there.

People used to say the same about Adam Gilchrist being too low in the order, but it's a fantastic option to have and if he manages the strike correctly he will give a lot of hope to the tail end and encourage them to bat longer and more sensibly. He scores a boundary an over and a single, that's good scoring, and when England are finally dismissed they have the momentum going into the field.

I'd say you are right mate, as with most things cricket, I'm just glad he has done well as he is clearly a talented cricketer, and pretty much being asked to learn on the job as a spinner, which is a really big ask

 

[ToffeeDoug]

I think Ali will score more runs at 8 than at 5. He's too happy to throw the bat at stuff and if England are 40-3 he isn't the guy I want coming in.....

The same could have been said about Gower back in the day when we were 30-2. I'll be truly annoyed when Ali is left 21 not out batting at 8 because the tail were skittled.

 

[Elong]

I'd say you are right mate, as with most things cricket, I'm just glad he has done well as he is clearly a talented cricketer, and pretty much being asked to learn on the job as a spinner, which is a really big ask

I was awful with my predictions last Ashes! lol

I think he's got a bundle of talent and has seriously addressed his issues with the short ball, he's a lot taller on it and prepared to tuck his bat into his ribs instead of ducking and waving wildly, good for him, it's a nightmare trying to get over an issue like that.

Spin-wise, he's learning fast, and it helps that Root can be used as a golden-arm.

 

[Elong]

The same could have been said about Gower back in the day when we were 30-2. I'll be truly annoyed when Ali is left 21 not out batting at 8 because the tail were skittled.

I don't think he's quite as good as Gower yet mate

 

[ToffeeDoug]

I don't think he's quite as good as Gower yet mate

Oh god no, Gower was sublime class, but there are certain similarities of style and a penchant to flash at a wide one.

 

[Walken]

I was awful with my predictions last Ashes! lol

I think he's got a bundle of talent and has seriously addressed his issues with the short ball, he's a lot taller on it and prepared to tuck his bat into his ribs instead of ducking and waving wildly, good for him, it's a nightmare trying to get over an issue like that.

Spin-wise, he's learning fast, and it helps that Root can be used as a golden-arm.

yeah, but in fairness the last ashes was warped by our pathetic collapse, KP and Stokes aside, this aussie team are not ATG's, how many would get into the 2005 aussie team, well clarke was actually in it, Warner at a really big push, starc and johnson as back up to the far superior mcgrath and warne, Smith is hideously overrated and his average will come down, nothing to really be afraid of, we just bottled it big time in oz. Theres defo a player there in Moeen, he will pitch up with tripe every now and again, but as I said he's learning on the job, that will happen, I like him though

 

[Elong]

Oh god no, Gower was sublime class, but there are certain similarities of style and a penchant to flash at a wide one.

I know what you mean, that ability to counter attack is something you can't buy, Clarke has it, Pieterson has it, the likes of Lara and Gower had it too. In a few years perhaps that could be Ali too, for now it's fantastic to get him into Ashes cricket with some protection, the Aussies have been doing this for decades.

 

[Elong]

yeah, but in fairness the last ashes was warped by our pathetic collapse, KP and Stokes aside, this aussie team are not ATG's, how many would get into the 2005 aussie team, well clarke was actually in it, Warner at a really big push, starc and johnson as back up to the far superior mcgrath and warne, Smith is hideously overrated and his average will come down, nothing to really be afraid of, we just bottled it big time in oz. Theres defo a player there in Moeen, he will pitch up with tripe every now and again, but as I said he's learning on the job, that will happen, I like him though

Warner wouldn't, Langer and Hayden were the classiest opening pair of the decade. Johnson was a backup back then for Kasprovic, I'd take Johnson over him now though. I'd take Smith over Damien Martyn, other than that, no body. In saying that, in the current team I'd only swap Anderson for Hoggard, both teams are poor in comparison to that series, the best test series I've ever seen.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

I know what you mean, that ability to counter attack is something you can't buy, Clarke has it, Pieterson has it, the likes of Lara and Gower had it too. In a few years perhaps that could be Ali too, for now it's fantastic to get him into Ashes cricket with some protection, the Aussies have been doing this for decades.

I can still picture the disgusted look on Gooch's face in Oz in about 1990 as non-striker when Gower was batting in the over before lunch and swung Merv Hughes (I think it was) down to be caught on the long-leg boundary.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Warner wouldn't, Langer and Hayden were the classiest opening pair of the decade. Johnson was a backup back then for Kasprovic, I'd take Johnson over him now though. I'd take Smith over Damien Martyn, other than that, no body. In saying that, in the current team I'd only swap Anderson for Hoggard, both teams are poor in comparison to that series, the best test series I've ever seen.

An alltime great Aus side just past its peak and an all time great England team coming into its peak ... what a series.

The aussies miss a true leader like ponting. As much as I dislike him he was a great leader.