The Ashes 2015

[Deleted member 15344]

No need to rehash the KP debate, is he in the best 6 batters yes, is he ever going to be picked again no.

As for Cook, as you know I still dont rate him as a captain, appears to me his strings are being pulled a bit better from behind with the new management but we'll see more as the series develops. As a batter, we dont have better options (and nor do other sides!)

Liked Bells approach today, clearly out of nick and knew he only had so long before he got one with his name on so decided to almost hit himself back into form and hopefully thats worked, him firing strengthens this England side so much.

Still not convinced by Moeen (with the ball), big day for him tomorrow. Think he got gifted a couple of wickets first inns as the typically arrogant Aussie approach was to hit him out of the attack. I get that with a Swann type but some one like Moeen who bowls enough bad balls anyway just didnt see the need to take the risks they did in trying to get after him. Tomorrow at some stage the pressure goes onto him and he needs to respond (or his place comes further under pressure by Rashid), that said if this is the sort of pitch were expecting then you'll be trying to get them both in the side!

Cant disagree with much of that

ALi will have a wicket that should help a bit tomorrow but think the four seamers will be the crucial bowlers.

With Bell getting runs and Lyth looking more confident and Ballance showing he can really dig in that could be a very good top 5 then with Stokes,Buttler and ALi behind its a long line.

Wood i think is going to be the star

 

[fundy]

Cant disagree with much of that

ALi will have a wicket that should help a bit tomorrow but think the four seamers will be the crucial bowlers.

With Bell getting runs and Lyth looking more confident and Ballance showing he can really dig in that could be a very good top 5 then with Stokes,Buttler and ALi behind its a long line.

Wood i think is going to be the star

Yeah I like what Ive seen of Wood, already a little concerned how England manage him, hated seeing him in the ODI squad (albeit he performed well). Would love to see him on a proper hard and fast deck, think he may shock a few given the chance (he may have to wait till we go back down under for that now tho).

Batting depth is huge, just need to make sure weve enough bowling in it to get 20 wickets when not being gifted wickets. Not convinced that we have on flatter decks but the way modern test cricket is going the balance may be close to right

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Yeah I like what Ive seen of Wood, already a little concerned how England manage him, hated seeing him in the ODI squad (albeit he performed well). Would love to see him on a proper hard and fast deck, think he may shock a few given the chance (he may have to wait till we go back down under for that now tho).

Batting depth is huge, just need to make sure weve enough bowling in it to get 20 wickets when not being gifted wickets. Not convinced that we have on flatter decks but the way modern test cricket is going the balance may be close to right

Just a quality spinner missing ?!

 

[TheDiablo]

Just a quality spinner missing ?!

Yes. And it's so important. Moeen bowls too many bad balls to create any pressure on flat 1st innings decks, and not good enough on turning second innings ones.

I'm not sure who the answer is though, and would love to be proved wrong over the course of this series.

 

[fundy]

Just a quality spinner missing ?!

Would make a massive difference for sure (albeit theres very few left in test cricket after the recent cull on chuckers). Ideally Id like one more seamer (prob at Broads expense currently) and one more quality top 3 batter (instead of Ballance/Lyth maybe) but you can always want to improve, spin definitely the weak department currently (and although id love to be proved wrong im not convinced rashid is the answer either).

What is to like is a group of younger players all who seem happy to play for each other, several of them still got plenty to prove long term but most will you would think, given the right environment to function in

 

[richart]

However you look at it, we will be heavily reliant on Root and Andersen if we are going to win this series. Both are clearly world class currently and not a side in the world they wouldnt walk into. Hopefully the others can get to a level close to these 2!

Agree we need the others to pull their weight, but Broad bowled with more control, and swung the ball, Wood reminds me of Simon Jones, skiddy, and with a good yorker, and Stokes looks like a decent 4th seamer. Certainly stronger than Watson for the Aussies.

Moeen also picked up the Aussies two best players of spin, which should do his confidence some good.

Trevor Bayliss seems to be getting a lot more out of the players than Moores. Bit like Lehman did when he took over the Aussies. Didn't change the team much, but just got better performances out of the same players.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Yes. And it's so important. Moeen bowls too many bad balls to create any pressure on flat 1st innings decks, and not good enough on turning second innings ones.

I'm not sure who the answer is though, and would love to be proved wrong over the course of this series.

I dont think we are alone though - test cricket isnt littered with too many top quality spinners

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Would make a massive difference for sure (albeit theres very few left in test cricket after the recent cull on chuckers). Ideally Id like one more seamer (prob at Broads expense currently) and one more quality top 3 batter (instead of Ballance/Lyth maybe) but you can always want to improve, spin definitely the weak department currently (and although id love to be proved wrong im not convinced rashid is the answer either).

What is to like is a group of younger players all who seem happy to play for each other, several of them still got plenty to prove long term but most will you would think, given the right environment to function in

Right now i think Broad is earning his place in the side - bowled very well in the first innings

Think Lyth could very well turn into a Langer for us Ballance at the moment is digging in but is the one at risk

 

[fundy]

Agree we need the others to pull their weight, but Broad bowled with more control, and swung the ball, Wood reminds me of Simon Jones, skiddy, and with a good yorker, and Stokes looks like a decent 4th seamer. Certainly stronger than Watson for the Aussies.

Moeen also picked up the Aussies two best players of spin, which should do his confidence some good.

Trevor Bayliss seems to be getting a lot more out of the players than Moores. Bit like Lehman did when he took over the Aussies. Didn't change the team much, but just got better performances out of the same players.

Haha hes a strong 4th seamer cos hes better than Watson - not the biggest recommendation lol!!!!! How Watson is is their side Im really not sure (and expect Mitch Marsh replaces him in 2nd or 3rd test).

Yes Moeen got their big 2, but in fairness both of them gave it away trying to get after him (for no real reason imo), as I say lot to prove for me (and I still have him as a part time not front line spinner). That said he may be the best test match number 8 there is!

No real shock that Moores replacement is getting more out of them, dont know enough of Bayliss to have a strong opinion but its started pretty well for him (it actually started when Moores and his restrictions went if being pedantic)

 

[fundy]

Right now i think Broad is earning his place in the side - bowled very well in the first innings

Think Lyth could very well turn into a Langer for us Ballance at the moment is digging in but is the one at risk

Broad looks a little short of overs again to me, should of played a bit more since end of NZ series. Expect he improves as the series goes on.

Jury still out on both Lyth and Ballance for me, the plus for both is temperament, both have some technical issues to address, but its very early for both and both should be given plenty of time to prove themselves

the 2 really exciting ones are Butler and Stokes, both still got plenty to prove and improve but both could be massive players for a long long time to come at the very top level

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Broad looks a little short of overs again to me, should of played a bit more since end of NZ series. Expect he improves as the series goes on.

Jury still out on both Lyth and Ballance for me, the plus for both is temperament, both have some technical issues to address, but its very early for both and both should be given plenty of time to prove themselves

the 2 really exciting ones are Butler and Stokes, both still got plenty to prove and improve but both could be massive players for a long long time to come at the very top level

As a Somsert guy been a massive fan of Buttler for years but also Stokes - he was a breath of fresh air when he first arrived and i think he could become as dangerous as Freddie with the ball but far better with the bat. His potential is massive.

 

[fundy]

As a Somsert guy been a massive fan of Buttler for years but also Stokes - he was a breath of fresh air when he first arrived and i think he could become as dangerous as Freddie with the ball but far better with the bat. His potential is massive.

Worryingly he could be as bad as Freddie in the bar off the pitch too!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Worryingly he could be as bad as Freddie in the bar off the pitch too!!!!!

not always a bad thing - did you see the business about his OCD with the sweeping of the bat

 

[richart]

Haha hes a strong 4th seamer cos hes better than Watson - not the biggest recommendation lol!!!!! How Watson is is their side Im really not sure (and expect Mitch Marsh replaces him in 2nd or 3rd test).

Yes Moeen got their big 2, but in fairness both of them gave it away trying to get after him (for no real reason imo), as I say lot to prove for me (and I still have him as a part time not front line spinner). That said he may be the best test match number 8 there is!

No real shock that Moores replacement is getting more out of them, dont know enough of Bayliss to have a strong opinion but its started pretty well for him (it actually started when Moores and his restrictions went if being pedantic)

Aussies basically playing four bowlers, and one looks injured. You need a five man attack, unless you have four world class bowlers. I think all the England bowlers will chip in over the series, just as they did in 2005.

Moeen bowled superbly against India last year, got injured, and then came back too soon in the Windies. The more he bowls, starting tomorrow, the better he should become.

I stll feel we have a good collapse awaiting in the batting. Personally would put Root in at four and Bell at five. Bell struggles against the newer ball, which he always seems to come in against. Having your best batsman at five is too low for me, and we are not always going to recover from 40 odd for three.

 

[fundy]

not always a bad thing - did you see the business about his OCD with the sweeping of the bat

No didnt see that, amazing how many players have these sort of things tho. Played club cricket for years with Nic Pothas before he went to Hampshire, there was a man who hadevery little superstition possible!!!

 

[fundy]

Aussies basically playing four bowlers, and one looks injured. You need a five man attack, unless you have four world class bowlers. I think all the England bowlers will chip in over the series, just as they did in 2005.

Moeen bowled superbly against India last year, got injured, and then came back too soon in the Windies. The more he bowls, starting tomorrow, the better he should become.

I stll feel we have a good collapse awaiting in the batting. Personally would put Root in at four and Bell at five. Bell struggles against the newer ball, which he always seems to come in against. Having your best batsman at five is too low for me, and we are not always going to recover from 40 odd for three.

Brave man who moves Root from 5 after the success hes had to date. Bells been about long enough to be good enough to bat at 4 thats for sure, just not at his best of late. May be coming to the end, fair chance he doesnt go on much past this series unless he gets a shedload

 

[richart]

Brave man who moves Root from 5 after the success hes had to date. Bells been about long enough to be good enough to bat at 4 thats for sure, just not at his best of late. May be coming to the end, fair chance he doesnt go on much past this series unless he gets a shedload

Do you really think a change of position would affect Root ? Just feel that Bell will get more runs coming in at 200 for three, than 40 for two. He batted at six for years, then five, and only recently moved to four when Pietersen was dropped.

Steve Smith batted six when he first came into the Aussie team, and quickly moved up to three. Clarke moved up from five to four and hasn't done too badly. Your best batsmen should be at three or four so they can have the biggest influence on the game. When Bell retires/is dropped Root will move up anyway.

 

[fundy]

Do you really think a change of position would affect Root ? Just feel that Bell will get more runs coming in at 200 for three, than 40 for two. He batted at six for years, then five, and only recently moved to four when Pietersen was dropped.

Steve Smith batted six when he first came into the Aussie team, and quickly moved up to three. Clarke moved up from five to four and hasn't done too badly. Your best batsmen should be at three or four so they can have the biggest influence on the game. When Bell retires/is dropped Root will move up anyway.

No, in fairness he'll probably get even more at 4 as longer to bat but he did look a little vulnerable when he started at 3 (clearly a far better player now), would just leave as is for now rather than have an excuse for his form deteriorating

 

[richart]

No, in fairness he'll probably get even more at 4 as longer to bat but he did look a little vulnerable when he started at 3 (clearly a far better player now), would just leave as is for now rather than have an excuse for his form deteriorating

I agree, leave for this series, but going forward ....

Amazing change in Root since he was dropped in Australia. Out there he was just looking to survive. Now he is looking to dominate bowling attacks. Love his straight bat drive off the back foot. Reminds me so much of Geoff Boycott.oo:

 

[fundy]

OK thats Broad proving me wrong this morning, utterly superb spell hes bowled, bit harsh only to have the one wicket so far, now over to you Moeen