Author Topic: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18  (Read 103492 times)

Offline Lfsea

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #120 on: November 5, 2017, 10:53:39 am »





As much as I loathe lauding Aussies, Smith's record is even more ridiculous when you factor in the ordinary start to his Test career.

First 13 Tests - 796 runs @ 33.16
Next 43 Tests - 4,574 runs @ 69.30

Offline Yorkykopite

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #121 on: November 5, 2017, 11:18:42 am »

Root is having to face the new swinging ball frequently and that for me gives him the edge IMO.


Not that often. Usually he middles it.
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Offline Klippity Klopp

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #122 on: November 5, 2017, 11:36:07 am »
Not that often. Usually he middles it.

 ;D

Offline Gerry Attrick

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #123 on: November 7, 2017, 09:48:41 am »
Finn is out with a knee injury. Seems likely Plunkett will be called up now.

Offline Lfsea

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #124 on: November 7, 2017, 10:53:45 am »
Finn is out with a knee injury. Seems likely Plunkett will be called up now.

Shite news that. The bowling squad looked light as it was and it looks really thin now.

Have a worrying feeling we're going to get dicked.

Offline Yorkykopite

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #125 on: November 7, 2017, 12:06:05 pm »
Shite news that. The bowling squad looked light as it was and it looks really thin now.

Have a worrying feeling we're going to get dicked.

You had high expectations of Finn?
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Offline Lfsea

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #126 on: November 7, 2017, 12:44:14 pm »
You had high expectations of Finn?

Not particularly, and I certainly wasn't dreaming of him taking 14 in a Test at the WACA (as nice as that would have been), but a 30 average, 100+ wicket bowler is a strong commodity we could have done without losing on this tour. England's bowling looks wafer thin to me, if Stokes as we all suspect, will play no part. Crane is unlikely to bowl at all, Ball has has almost no time in the Test arena, and Overton is essentially an unknown (himself with a litany of behavioural problems in his near past).

I don't see then, how losing Finn at this stage, can be seen as anything for but a negative for the touring party.

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #127 on: November 7, 2017, 12:52:57 pm »
Moeen’s fitness is the big concern at the moment. Out of the upcoming warm up game. If he misses the first Test do we play Crane (and lose a very useful number 7)?

Offline Circa1892

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #128 on: November 7, 2017, 12:59:15 pm »
Moeen’s fitness is the big concern at the moment. Out of the upcoming warm up game. If he misses the first Test do we play Crane (and lose a very useful number 7)?

I guess we'd have to. Losing Moeen and Stokes would be a disaster - two of the worlds best all rounders both missing...

Offline Frank Becton

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #129 on: November 7, 2017, 01:00:19 pm »
Finn is out with a knee injury. Seems likely Plunkett will be called up now.

I hope so, I would have preferred Plunkett over Finn anyway, he has aggression, and gets pace and bounce which Finn given his height should also do but he has never quite been good enough for me.
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Offline Klippity Klopp

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #130 on: November 7, 2017, 02:09:52 pm »
I hope so, I would have preferred Plunkett over Finn anyway, he has aggression, and gets pace and bounce which Finn given his height should also do but he has never quite been good enough for me.

I'd have had both in the origianl squad certainly over Ball.

Offline Frank Becton

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #131 on: November 7, 2017, 02:22:54 pm »
I'd have had both in the origianl squad certainly over Ball.

True, anyone but him, terrible selection.
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Offline Yorkykopite

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #132 on: November 7, 2017, 02:33:12 pm »
Not particularly, and I certainly wasn't dreaming of him taking 14 in a Test at the WACA (as nice as that would have been), but a 30 average, 100+ wicket bowler is a strong commodity we could have done without losing on this tour. England's bowling looks wafer thin to me, if Stokes as we all suspect, will play no part. Crane is unlikely to bowl at all, Ball has has almost no time in the Test arena, and Overton is essentially an unknown (himself with a litany of behavioural problems in his near past).

I don't see then, how losing Finn at this stage, can be seen as anything for but a negative for the touring party.

He blows hot and cold does Finn. In recent years it's mainly been cold. I was surprised to see him in the original party. I'm not sure his loss really amounts to much - nothing like Mark Wood's at any rate.

Plunkett's elevation is also a surprise. How many overs did he bowl with the red ball for Yorkshire last season? Not very many. However he's a better option than Finn I think, less likely to be taken apart - and he does add that extra bit of pace to England's attack. He's also a better batsman than Finn.

I'd have gone with Coad, who did bowl a lot for Yorkshire last season - and with great success. 
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Offline Gerry Attrick

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #133 on: November 7, 2017, 02:37:23 pm »
Tom Curran has actually been named as his replacement. That surprises me, I thought they'd go with somebody more experienced this time with Crane, Ball and Overton already in there.

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #134 on: November 7, 2017, 02:46:46 pm »
This sounds an interesting listen for those of us into self harm...

Ashes 2017-18: Inside story of England's 5-0 defeat in Australia in 2013-14
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/41859201

Offline El Lobo

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #135 on: November 7, 2017, 02:50:29 pm »
Its all a bit shit at the moment.....but the Aussies aren't in particularly good form either are they?

Could be decided on which of the few class players involved actually turn it on.
If he's being asked to head the ball too frequently - which isn't exactly his specialty - it could affect his ear and cause an infection. Especially if the ball hits him on the ear directly.

Offline Frank Becton

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #136 on: November 7, 2017, 07:57:21 pm »
Tom Curran has actually been named as his replacement. That surprises me, I thought they'd go with somebody more experienced this time with Crane, Ball and Overton already in there.

Me too.

Its all a bit shit at the moment.....but the Aussies aren't in particularly good form either are they?

Could be decided on which of the few class players involved actually turn it on.

There are question marks about them for sure, but I just don't feel confident of our batting against Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins.
« Last Edit: November 7, 2017, 07:58:59 pm by Frank Becton »
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Offline dudleyred

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #137 on: November 7, 2017, 09:23:52 pm »
Starc with two hat tricks today isn’t a bad way to step up his comeback!

Bit fearful without stokes and Ali - huge pressure on cook, root and bairstow

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #138 on: November 7, 2017, 11:23:58 pm »
Starc with two hat tricks today isn’t a bad way to step up his comeback!

Bit fearful without stokes and Ali - huge pressure on cook, root and bairstow

Don’t panic, think it was only two in two days. He’s not all that.

Offline GreatEx

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #139 on: November 8, 2017, 02:42:58 am »
There are question marks about them for sure, but I just don't feel confident of our batting against Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins.

Pretty much. Australia has glaring weaknesses in batting (can only really depend on Warner, Smith and maybe Handscomb; that young opener from South Australia looked really good last year, too) and wicket-keeping (no one really putting their hand up) but if the bowlers stay fit they will win comfortably.

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #140 on: November 8, 2017, 07:17:20 am »
England 137-2 last I looked. Stoneman has made a 50, Cook didn’t make many.

It’s a day nighter so presume the ball will start misbehaving in the evening session? Isn’t that what’s happened in the day night Tests at Adelaide previously?

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #141 on: November 8, 2017, 09:01:25 am »
190/5 now. Root made a 50 too, Bairstow not many. Woakes in at 7 which feels a little high but obviously Moeen still not playing.

Offline archie

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #142 on: November 8, 2017, 09:25:01 am »
any radio comms for this?

Offline Klippity Klopp

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #143 on: November 8, 2017, 10:36:04 am »

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #144 on: November 8, 2017, 10:55:14 am »
Malan and Overton both out now. Will we make a mighty 300? At least most batsmen got in and had some time in the middle.

Offline CheshireDave

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #145 on: November 9, 2017, 09:14:18 am »
Another day, another injury. This time Jake Ball. Sprained ankle.

Looks like they are playing quite well in the CA XI game. Anderson and Woakes picked up a couple of wickets each.
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Offline Klippity Klopp

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #146 on: November 9, 2017, 09:35:43 am »
Another day, another injury. This time Jake Ball. Sprained ankle.

Blessing in disguise that.

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #147 on: November 9, 2017, 11:44:43 am »
Blessing in disguise that.

Hardly overflowing with options. Does that make it likely Overton will play the first Test? Assuming Moeen is fit you’d then have Jimmy, Broad, Woakes and Overton as the four seamers.

Crane has taken three wickets, seems to be doing ok to be fair.

Offline dudleyred

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #148 on: November 9, 2017, 12:15:57 pm »
Hardly overflowing with options. Does that make it likely Overton will play the first Test? Assuming Moeen is fit you’d then have Jimmy, Broad, Woakes and Overton as the four seamers.

Crane has taken three wickets, seems to be doing ok to be fair.

Think it cements Overton doesn’t it

Issue with Crane is he’d need an early wicket in the test as the Aussies just go after any newbie spinner - who was it who played one test in England last time they were here? Never to be seen again?!

Offline Gerry Attrick

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #149 on: November 9, 2017, 12:18:23 pm »
Think it cements Overton doesn’t it

Issue with Crane is he’d need an early wicket in the test as the Aussies just go after any newbie spinner - who was it who played one test in England last time they were here? Never to be seen again?!

Kerrigan? Seem to remember him going for 50 odd off about 10 overs.

Offline Yorkykopite

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #150 on: November 9, 2017, 12:21:18 pm »
Kerrigan? Seem to remember him going for 50 odd off about 10 overs.

This is where it seems crazy England haven't taken Rashid. He's survived all that in the past and emerged a very fine bowler. A match-winner in fact. Bash him for six - and all spinners get that - and he has the temperament to forget about instantly and recover his cool. Plus he can bat.
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Offline dudleyred

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #151 on: November 9, 2017, 12:22:05 pm »
Kerrigan? Seem to remember him going for 50 odd off about 10 overs.

That’s him!

I’d be nervous seeing crane in first test if no turn

Offline Gerry Attrick

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #152 on: November 9, 2017, 12:25:40 pm »
This is where it seems crazy England haven't taken Rashid. He's survived all that in the past and emerged a very fine bowler. A match-winner in fact. Bash him for six - and all spinners get that - and he has the temperament to forget about instantly and recover his cool. Plus he can bat.

Agree, Rashid can be erratic on occasion but he's capable of turning matches in a few overs. Plus he's enjoyed plenty of success on Australian pitches in the Big Bash, it's a totally different format of course but it counts for something I reckon.

That’s him!

I’d be nervous seeing crane in first test if no turn

I'm nervous about every bowler in the squad not named Anderson or Broad  ;D

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #153 on: November 9, 2017, 12:28:50 pm »
Agree completely on the Rashid shout. Useful batsman too. If Crane plays then good luck to him but feel he’s on a hiding to nothing.

Offline Welshred

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #154 on: November 9, 2017, 12:32:31 pm »
Crane has played, and taken wickets, in Shield cricket so the Aussies know how good he can be.

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #155 on: November 9, 2017, 12:32:47 pm »
This is where it seems crazy England haven't taken Rashid. He's survived all that in the past and emerged a very fine bowler. A match-winner in fact. Bash him for six - and all spinners get that - and he has the temperament to forget about instantly and recover his cool. Plus he can bat.

Yeah, Rashid's omission is a little odd. Even though Crane is a newcomer to the Test arena and an unknown quantity for the Aussies, I'm sure from their perspective they'd much rather face a 20 year old kid on home soil than a tricky, match-winning bowler like Rashid who they know can take wickets and turn games.

And as you point out, Rashid is more than capable with the bat. Those runs might well be needed with Stokes likely out of the series and the middle order being already fragile.

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #156 on: November 9, 2017, 12:50:55 pm »
I think most of us England fans are expecting a defeat here, if not a rout. Are the Aussies confident of victory?

Time for predictions folks. 3-1 to Oz for me.
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Offline El Lobo

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #157 on: November 9, 2017, 01:04:09 pm »
I think most of us England fans are expecting a defeat here, if not a rout. Are the Aussies confident of victory?

Time for predictions folks. 3-1 to Oz for me.

Still think we'll win personally, 2-1
If he's being asked to head the ball too frequently - which isn't exactly his specialty - it could affect his ear and cause an infection. Especially if the ball hits him on the ear directly.

Offline Gerry Attrick

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #158 on: November 9, 2017, 01:07:16 pm »
I think most of us England fans are expecting a defeat here, if not a rout. Are the Aussies confident of victory?

Time for predictions folks. 3-1 to Oz for me.

3-1 to Australia seems about right to me. I reckon we can win a test, but not much hope beyond that.

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Re: The Ashes: England in Australia 2017-18
« Reply #159 on: November 9, 2017, 01:10:41 pm »
Depends how we start and the itinary isn’t in our favour.

Aussies haven’t lost in Brisbane in nearly 30 years! Would bite your arm off for a draw there.

Day/nighter in Adelaide next. At least we’ve played there now and maybe conditions will be good for Ninny but feels a bit more of a lottery and who has best use of conditions. Could go either way.

Third Test at the WACA. We’ll lose, we always do.

If we come out of those 3 Tests only one down then we can go into Melbourne and Sydney with some optimism and we only need to draw the series to keep The Ashes. However it’s not unimaginable that we could be 3-0 down at that point and if that happens the way momentum builds it would be far more likely to finish 5-0 then 3-1 or 3-2.

I’ll say 3-1 to the Aussies. Hopeful for better but a fear in the back of the mind it could get hideous.