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Post by vanner on Jun 25, 2015 11:54:13 GMT 1
Thought I'd get this rolling as it's less than 2 weeks until the first test.
Australia have started their warm up game with Kent today and have a made few surprising calls in their selection. Rogers, Marsh, SPD Smith, MJ Clarke*, SR Watson, MR Marsh, BJ Haddin†, MG Johnson, RJ Harris, PM Siddle, Fawad Ahmed is the side. Interestingly the average age of the side is 32, with only 2 players under 30. England by comparison, will probably have the polar opposite and only have 3 players over the aged of 30.
I guess this means Rogers/Marsh are vying for the opening spot whilst Harris and Siddle are probably playing for 1 spot at the absolute maximum as I can't see Starc or Johnson not playing. It would certainly be harsh on Hazelwood to drop him after his recent form.. Watson and Marsh are probably going up for 1 place too and I'd imagine Voges would make the test side too.
Aussies are 36-0 off 12 as it stands. Nice to also see Kent have picked a strong team including Billings, Northeast, Denly, Key, Riley and Claydon.
On the England front Broad got a nice 7/84 and 2 good knocks with the bat which is really pleasing. Ballance, Lyth and Cook had average games at best whilst Ali continues to score runs but not take wickets.
1360 949
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Post by lenny on Jun 25, 2015 12:12:07 GMT 1
Starc is nailed on to play for the Aussies over here - he's their only bowler who can really swing it dangerously (perhaps Harris as well) and is in good form. After the way Hazlewood has bowled since coming in - average below 20 - then I think, and I've heard it touted elsewhere, too, that Johnson is the most likely of their three seamers to miss out if they want to play Harris, bearing in mind the fact that he will probably suit conditions here the least.
I'm fully expecting them to go with Rogers after Marsh's uninspiring Windies tour, Smith and Clarke are obviously nailed on and Voges probably is, too. Watson down at 6, Haddin 7, Starc 8 and two from Johnson, Harris and Hazlewood 8 and 9 with Lyon 11. Not expecting any great surprises and I think they'll stick with the same side that won in the windies bar Rogers for Marsh, with Harris a pretty decent option for the second test if needed! Scary depth in their bowling armoury.
Bell got a century for Warwickshire, as well. Ballance is a real worry as he failed again, but I have absolutely no qualms about Cook ahead of this series - he was in good nick for Essex, just got out first ball last innings, which happens to everyone. It's spin that's the real concern, though. It's the weakness in the Aussies' batting and Moeen has one red ball wicket since going back for about 200.
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Post by lenny on Jun 25, 2015 12:16:15 GMT 1
Also, what's happened to Sam Robson?! Can't hit a ball for toffee these days.
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Post by vanner on Jun 25, 2015 15:12:18 GMT 1
Also, what's happened to Sam Robson?! Can't hit a ball for toffee these days. Good he's an Aussie anyway! Aussies 205-1, Rogers out in the 80's whilst marsh is approaching his hundred. I can't see Johnson missing out personally, he was so good last time that it's almost the mental side of things that dictate his selection. One thing to say it that Ballance, Root, Buttler, Ali, Lyth and to a certain extent Stokes, won't have those mental scars that perhaps Trott, Bell, Cook, Prior, KP, Carberry do/would have. Rogers, Warner, Smith, Clarke, Voges, Marsh, Haddin, Johnson, Hazelwood, Starc, Lyon will be their 11 imo. It says something about the strength of their bowling, when Harris, Siddle and Ahmed would all walk into our side if they were English. On the flipside however, Watson and S Marsh certainly wouldn't walk into our batting lineup.
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Post by vanner on Jun 26, 2015 14:12:34 GMT 1
507/8 declared. Smith retired out and his form is frightening. Watson, Haddin and Marsh failed.
And now Johnson has a wicket early on.
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Post by lenny on Jun 26, 2015 16:31:00 GMT 1
507/8 declared. Smith retired out and his form is frightening. Watson, Haddin and Marsh failed. And now Johnson has a wicket early on. Only one of the Marshes failed! Smith looks in imperious form, but so does Root. Those two and Williamson are frighteningly similar with how they have taken their games up several levels over the last year or so. It's not so much the Aussies batting that concerns me as their bowling - I think we can match them for quality of the batting line up, we just lack the brutality that any three man seam attack they put out will possess, and Lyon is obviously a world away from any spinner we have. Really going to need Jimmy and Broad on top form this summer.
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Post by bertymax on Jun 26, 2015 16:41:37 GMT 1
Smith has been in amazing form for at least 2 years...that is ridiculous unless your Don Bradman, the guy is long overdue a dodgy run and what better time than an Ashes series.
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Post by vanner on Jun 28, 2015 21:12:36 GMT 1
Fantastic knock by Bell-Drummond today, the Aussies were very impressed and Robert Key's prediction of him playing 100 tests looks a step closer.
Aussies look good and all their players showed good form bar Ahmed who was tonked in both innings. I think Harris is likely to now miss out as Hazelwood's stock has risen by not playing.
Interested to see what people would see as a good combined 11 before the series starts. This would be mine:
Cook Warner Smith Clarke Root Stokes Buttler Johnson Starc Anderson Lyon
6 Aussies, 5 English players.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2015 22:38:36 GMT 1
I hope that new coach is putting the team through their paces in the nets. Short stuff at speed to prepare for Mitchell Johnson. They haven't faced anything that fast since they were there last year.
Did well against the kiwi's but the Aussies on a different planet. If they don't put the graft in practice wise then it will be carnage again.
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Post by lenny on Jun 29, 2015 14:23:09 GMT 1
Jonny Bairstow making sure he isn't forgotten as he closes in on a double ton for Yorksire in a record-breaking 7th wicket stand with a certain Tim Bresnan (150no!) whose average with the bat this season is about 70!
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Post by lenny on Jun 29, 2015 14:24:38 GMT 1
At Chester-le-Street, as well! Obviously a ground Bairstow likes.
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Post by vanner on Jun 29, 2015 14:30:02 GMT 1
Amazing that. Shame Bresnan's international career stalled with such a bad injury. He's never been the same bowler since. He was such an integral part of our best ever test side too.
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Post by lenny on Jun 29, 2015 14:39:42 GMT 1
Hear he struggles to regularly hit 80mph these days, although he's doing very well with both bat and ball for Yorkshire this season. Maybe we should call up Sidebottom and Collingwood, make the most of our ex-players who have been in the form of their lives...
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Post by lenny on Jul 1, 2015 13:46:58 GMT 1
Squad named for the first test - Rashid is in, as is Ali. One of those two plus, presumably, Finn will be missing out - Plunkett and Foottit (who I really want to see in the test side) from the "bonding" group miss out.
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Post by lenny on Jul 1, 2015 13:48:46 GMT 1
Unrelated Yorkshire stat from the BBC after they thrashed Durham today to go top:
Yorkshire have three batsmen in the side averaging over 68 this season - Jonny Bairstow (106), Tim Bresnan (83.50) and Jack Leaning (68.50) There are also three bowlers with a bowling average of less than 24 - Adil Rashid (23.93), Steven Patterson (22.46) and Jack Brooks (22.42)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 13:55:02 GMT 1
Squad named for the first test - Rashid is in, as is Ali. One of those two plus, presumably, Finn will be missing out - Plunkett and Foottit (who I really want to see in the test side) from the "bonding" group miss out. No real surprises, the selectors are keeping faith with those who played in the NZ series. Ballance and Ali will get the nod I would think for at least the first 2 tests, with Rashid waiting in the wings for his chance should Ali fail. Plunkett and Footitt both miss out for now but I wouldn't be surprised if they come into contention sometime given how physically demanding this series is going to be.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2015 14:01:33 GMT 1
Unrelated Yorkshire stat from the BBC after they thrashed Durham today to go top: Yorkshire have three batsmen in the side averaging over 68 this season - Jonny Bairstow (106), Tim Bresnan (83.50) and Jack Leaning (68.50) There are also three bowlers with a bowling average of less than 24 - Adil Rashid (23.93), Steven Patterson (22.46) and Jack Brooks (22.42) Bairstow would certainly be worth considering on just his batting alone. Outside of Yorkshire I would like to think that the bowling exploits of James Harris is not going unnoticed by the England selectors.
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Post by lenny on Jul 1, 2015 14:41:16 GMT 1
Squad named for the first test - Rashid is in, as is Ali. One of those two plus, presumably, Finn will be missing out - Plunkett and Foottit (who I really want to see in the test side) from the "bonding" group miss out. No real surprises, the selectors are keeping faith with those who played in the NZ series. Ballance and Ali will get the nod I would think for at least the first 2 tests, with Rashid waiting in the wings for his chance should Ali fail. Plunkett and Footitt both miss out for now but I wouldn't be surprised if they come into contention sometime given how physically demanding this series is going to be. I'm sure you're right. I'd be staggered if Wood makes all 5 tests, however well he bowls.
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Post by vanner on Jul 1, 2015 15:02:46 GMT 1
Just landed over in Oz. The papers are full on laughing at us and this 'New England' hype. Haddin in particular with some scathing comments. Looking forward to wearing my barmy army shirt next week
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Post by lenny on Jul 2, 2015 19:33:59 GMT 1
Not a good day for the Aussies against Essex. Mined plenty of runs, M Marsh making a ton (although Clarke's tepid form continues) but have been frustrated by Westley (144) and Bopara (86no). Nathan Lyon has horrendous figures of 19-0-110-0, Starc bowling well again and Harris injured and Johnson (plus Smith) rested. Happy to see Hazlewood's wicket column as 0, too!
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Post by lenny on Jul 4, 2015 12:36:36 GMT 1
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Post by vanner on Jul 4, 2015 13:11:39 GMT 1
Their Simon Jones I guess.
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Post by mrbunny on Jul 4, 2015 19:19:04 GMT 1
Shame but as lenny says it helps our chances and after their fans laughing at the Jones injury in Brisbane it is hard to feel sympathy for a convict.
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Post by vanner on Jul 5, 2015 8:58:13 GMT 1
Been watching an Australian preview of the ashes today, they are absolutely gutted he's out. A lot of the media here think Johnson will miss him the most as he did the dirty work with Siddle at times and made MJ's life a lot easier. I think he would have played at least 2 tests so it's a bit of good news from our perspective on the playing side of things at least.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2015 10:32:59 GMT 1
The lad Cummins who is replacing him looks handy though. He 6/79 on debut against South Africa and regularly bowls at 90mph, he has suffered with back problems over the last few years though.
England can only dream of the Aussies abundance of quicks who can bowl 90mph+.
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Post by lenny on Jul 5, 2015 11:43:19 GMT 1
How many do we have in the county championship with that sort of pace these days? Wood, Foottit apparently gets around that and swings it both ways... Anyone else? I'm sure there are, but my knowledge is limited.
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Post by vanner on Jul 5, 2015 12:39:20 GMT 1
How many do we have in the county championship with that sort of pace these days? Wood, Foottit apparently gets around that and swings it both ways... Anyone else? I'm sure there are, but my knowledge is limited. Finn, Mills and Meaker all bowl very quickly. Mills has injured quite a few England batsmen in the nets! The biggest hurdle is the pitches over here suit swing/seam bowlers over fast bowlers. That's why we produce bowlers like Woakes, Anderson and Onions whereas the Aussies rarely do (Siddle and Hilfenhaus being good recent examples). History has shown that very few genuine fast bowlers have avoided some kind of career threatening injury and a lot have spent more time injured than fit such as Bond, Jones and Harris.
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Post by lenny on Jul 5, 2015 14:10:46 GMT 1
How many do we have in the county championship with that sort of pace these days? Wood, Foottit apparently gets around that and swings it both ways... Anyone else? I'm sure there are, but my knowledge is limited. Finn, Mills and Meaker all bowl very quickly. Mills has injured quite a few England batsmen in the nets! The biggest hurdle is the pitches over here suit swing/seam bowlers over fast bowlers. That's why we produce bowlers like Woakes, Anderson and Onions whereas the Aussies rarely do (Siddle and Hilfenhaus being good recent examples). History has shown that very few genuine fast bowlers have avoided some kind of career threatening injury and a lot have spent more time injured than fit such as Bond, Jones and Harris. I discounted Finn as he tends to bowl low/mid 80s these days. Other two are good shouts though. The reason Starc terrifies me so much is his ability to swing it at 90mph. Really think he's going to be the star of the bowling this summer - looks how Boult ripped through us every time he played, and he's a fair bit slower!!]
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2015 16:07:35 GMT 1
How many do we have in the county championship with that sort of pace these days? Wood, Foottit apparently gets around that and swings it both ways... Anyone else? I'm sure there are, but my knowledge is limited. Finn, Mills and Meaker all bowl very quickly. Mills has injured quite a few England batsmen in the nets! The biggest hurdle is the pitches over here suit swing/seam bowlers over fast bowlers. That's why we produce bowlers like Woakes, Anderson and Onions whereas the Aussies rarely do (Siddle and Hilfenhaus being good recent examples). History has shown that very few genuine fast bowlers have avoided some kind of career threatening injury and a lot have spent more time injured than fit such as Bond, Jones and Harris. Shame that Mills has had more than his fair share of injuries. Watched him on a televised T20 the other night and he bowled exceptionally well.
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Post by lenny on Jul 5, 2015 16:36:13 GMT 1
Know he was rated very highly by the Essex staff, haven't heard much over the last year or two.
Jonny Bairstow doing it yet again, 91* as Yorkshire fold around him. Boy's got to be in the test side soon - he's got to the stage where a century will knock down his average for the season! Long term replacement for Bell? Short-term option in place of Ballance with Root at 3 if GB doesn't rediscover his imperious best? Got to fit him in somewhere if he keeps this up.
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