The Ashes 2015

[Tongo]

So it starts tomorrow. Australia were firm favourites but the loss of Ryan Harris is a huge blow. I still think they are favourites but that has levelled the field somewhat.

What has been interesting is the amount of chat about the verbal battle and sledging. Surely if you know there's going to be a load of sledging then it has lost its usefulness? I'd have thought the whole point of sledging was the element of surprise to unnerve your opponent. If you know Mitchell Johnson's going to chat away after each ball it surely loses it's effect.

 

[chrisd]

H

Surely if you know there's going to be a load of sledging then it has lost its usefulness? I'd have thought the whole point of sledging was the element of surprise to unnerve your opponent. If you know Mitchell Johnson's going to chat away after each ball it surely loses it's effect.

Not if he get in the batsman's head it doesn't

 

[Tongo]

H

Not if he get in the batsman's head it doesn't

Doesn't say much for the batsman's mental strength if he knows sledging's coming and still lets it effect him!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Two approaches I like to sledging. One, Sachin Tendulkar. He said nothing, his face never changed. The Aussies gave up sledging him as it had no effect. Two, Tony Greig. "If anyone tried to sledge me I would take my gloves off, put my bat down and offer to have a word with them, just the two of us". They are not his exact words but it was the general gist.

If I was the size of the late Mr Greig I would have taken his approach. As I was not I followed Sachin. Occasionally I would grin at a bowler who sledged me as that made them really angry and they lost control of their bowling. The worse thing you can do is react or bite back. As Johnson is huge and fast I would just turn my back on him when the vitriol came down. He would soon give up if he saw he was not getting a bite as you look pretty stupid snarling at the back of someone.

 

[G.U.R]

Freddie Flintoff said recently that when he wet out he was expecting abuse and that it would have been more off putting had it been silent.


Oh and we'll be lucky to get nil, especially if Bell plays.

 

[Captainron]

If either Bell or Balance struggle in the first two tests they are likely to get dropped. Bairstow is next in line on form but not sure who else would be on their radar?

 

[Tongo]

If either Bell or Balance struggle in the first two tests they are likely to get dropped. Bairstow is next in line on form but not sure who else would be on their radar?

Hales possibly but the relative lack of championship games in recent weeks may count against him as the selectors will have probably forgotten his early season form.

 

[Snelly]

Excited and looking forward to 11am.

I am feeling pretty positive about the Ashes and think England have enough new blood in the team to make a fight of it. Of course, I would be very surprised if we win but disagree with the posts above that think we will be thrashed. I believe we will certainly win a Test and maybe even two.

Much closer than most people think is my view of this series and I hope I am right.

 

[Fish]

I'm far from a cricket fan but find myself at home today due to the mother-in-law falling very ill in the night and I just received a free Sky Sports day pass via email to watch it on my NowTv box, so it would be rude not to have it on, hope we win the toss and bat first and put up a good score, not that I'll be paying too much attention

 

[bladeplayer]

3 down already , gona be hard now ..

43/3 not even off 87 balls .. OUCH !!!

 

[Snelly]

Oh dear.

3 down and Bell has 56 runs in his last 9 innings.


Come on Joe Root. Should be alright now that there is a Sheffield lad at the crease.

 

[Tongo]

Oh dear.

3 down and Bell has 56 runs in his last 9 innings.


Come on Joe Root. Should be alright now that there is a Sheffield lad at the crease.

What'll happen is that Stokes will be in in a minute, will probably be out fairly soon, get scapegoated for England's poor performance and Bell will retain his place in the team cos he has the right technique and is wonderfully orthodox / textbook.

Joe Root is again being asked to save England.

 

[G.U.R]

The Aussies have worked Bell out, he should have been dropped before the West Indies tour and Bairstowe given games.

 

[Khamelion]

The Ashes, England Cricket, :rofl:, as you may guess, I'm not a cricket fan. Flippancy aside, it would be good for the team to do well, but I'll not bet my house on it.

 

[Fish]

I know I got it for free today, but I think I'll be turning over shortly, its like watching paint dry :smirk:

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The ECB need to hire 2 x former SAS soldiers as bodyguards on permanent duty to go everywhere with Joe Root. They also need to hire a professional driver, give Root a Volvo XC90 and let him be driven everywhere in it (big enough for him and his gear, wonderfully safe). The driver can pick up his coffin and put it in and out of the car, another person will carry it to and from the dressing room, don't want a back strain. He should never be allowed to have a kickaround with his mates, sorry Joe. Next, a food taster, you can never be too careful.

All in all, this bloke needs to be looked after and protected as what a mess we would be in without him.

 

[Fish]

I know I got it for free today, but I think I'll be turning over shortly, its like watching paint dry :smirk:

Thought my free pass was only for the Ashes, just flipped it and now watching the golf, what a result

 

[fundy]

The ECB need to hire 2 x former SAS soldiers as bodyguards on permanent duty to go everywhere with Joe Root. They also need to hire a professional driver, give Root a Volvo XC90 and let him be driven everywhere in it (big enough for him and his gear, wonderfully safe). The driver can pick up his coffin and put it in and out of the car, another person will carry it to and from the dressing room, don't want a back strain. He should never be allowed to have a kickaround with his mates, sorry Joe. Next, a food taster, you can never be too careful.

All in all, this bloke needs to be looked after and protected as what a mess we would be in without him.

he really is top top class, aussies gonna regret dropping him on 0 thats for sure

 

[Tongo]

The ECB need to hire 2 x former SAS soldiers as bodyguards on permanent duty to go everywhere with Joe Root. They also need to hire a professional driver, give Root a Volvo XC90 and let him be driven everywhere in it (big enough for him and his gear, wonderfully safe). The driver can pick up his coffin and put it in and out of the car, another person will carry it to and from the dressing room, don't want a back strain. He should never be allowed to have a kickaround with his mates, sorry Joe. Next, a food taster, you can never be too careful.

All in all, this bloke needs to be looked after and protected as what a mess we would be in without him.

Yes, saved England again after Cook and Bell showed their Ashes experience to the full.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Bell is so inconsistent. Can be very good but too many poor scores as well. As for Cook, I hope he's on borrowed time and out before ;ong with Root as skipper. His form has been too poor for too long as a senior player and I don't think his tactics as a captain are as dynamic as many others around the world these days.