The Ashes thread

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We had a thread for the world cup so why not one for the ashes. Who's going to be watching/following this? First test starts next week.

I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Australia, I think it'll be a closer series than what some people think and the score line won't reflect how close some of the tests were. Australia's batting has me worried (especially in English conditions) but their bowling should put them in front when it counts in key sessions.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/4810098-3x2-700x467.jpg

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Tonight!

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1389658673/367/9608367.jpg

[kNicKz]

I hope that England can turn it around

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Emgland win the toss and bat first. Also Cook still sounds like a ****. Not a bad toss to lose, cloudy day with the Duke should move a bit for starc and hazlewood if he's selected.

Shane Watson still in the side over marsh. Marsh makes 2 100s in his last 2 games and they still take ****ing watson

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Great southern land is now Australia's national anthem :biggums:

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That could be a costly mistake from haddin, root and ballance are the two I'm most worried about pairing up. Dropped on 0 :facepalm

[NumberSix]

I legit have no idea what the hell this thread is about.

[poido123]

Short boundaries, not much in the pitch, looks a batters haven.


I'd say this is going to a Draw, unless one team implodes badly.

[DeuceWallaces]

Cricket?

[outbreak]

Short boundaries, not much in the pitch, looks a batters haven.


I'd say this is going to a Draw, unless one team implodes badly.
Australia blew their chance early. Conditions were swinging and a bit of movement off the pitch (even some uneven bounce) but we were all of the shop. If we'd held on to that root catch we would have had them in trouble, before the match I've been worried about the root and ballance partnership and that's the one that got us on day one.

[outbreak]

Cricket?
Ashes is a five game series played every 4 years (sometimes more often depending on scheduling) between England and australia that goes back to the late 1800s.

[Dresta]

Ashes is a five game series played every 4 years (sometimes more often depending on scheduling) between England and australia that goes back to the late 1800s.
No: it's usually every two years, home and away.

[outbreak]

No: it's usually every two years, home and away.
your right don't know what I was thinking, probably about when I actually get to go myself combined with staying up all night watching lol

[nightprowler10]

I've actually seen the urn when I visited Lords a few years ago. I was the only one there and man did everything not to lift the glass and touch it.

Anyway, had completely forgotten about the schedule. Looks like Root went ham. Is this a good bowling pitch or is England just struggling?

[nightprowler10]

Cricket?
To add to outbreak's post, the whole thing is called the Ashes as a bit of a tongue-in-cheek tradition that was started in the late 1800's when England were upset by Australia IN England. There was a mock obituary issued in the papers mourning the death of English cricket. Since then there has been an Ashes series every couple of years to try and win the urn that contains the aforementioned ashes.

It's basically become the biggest crowd attraction as far as Test cricket is concerned and almost every series produces a classic match or two. Historically, Australia has kicked England's ass though.

[outbreak]

I've actually seen the urn when I visited Lords a few years ago. I was the only one there and man did everything not to lift the glass and touch it.

Anyway, had completely forgotten about the schedule. Looks like Root went ham. Is this a good bowling pitch or is England just struggling?
The pitch looked good for bowling early, was over cast and the ball was keeping low at times. Australia just couldn't get any consistent lines going though and then Haddin dropped root on 0. After the first session it looked like a good batting pitch and the small boundaries help, if Warner gets going on this pitch he could put on a show.

[CNNonceAgain]

Aus sweep tbh. 3-0. Gutted about rhino, I really don't think starc should be playing tests, and siddle is slightly over the hill and not great in english conditions. Pat Cummins has played like 5 fc games in the last 4 years, don't know why he's over there.

Twatto continues to get picked despite being a worse bat and bowl than both MMarsh and Faulkner.

Also, can anyone shed some light on why Joe Burns was left out of the last two test squads for fvcking Shaun "31 and only has a fc avg of 35" Marsh? He looked really good in his brief spell with the test team, despite not making a huge total. I understand that he's playing county cricket this year too, so he'd be familliar with the duke

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Aus sweep tbh. 3-0. Gutted about rhino, I really don't think starc should be playing tests, and siddle is slightly over the hill and not great in english conditions. Pat Cummins has played like 5 fc games in the last 4 years, don't know why he's over there.

Twatto continues to get picked despite being a worse bat and bowl than both MMarsh and Faulkner.

Also, can anyone shed some light on why Joe Burns was left out of the last two test squads for fvcking Shaun "31 and only has a fc avg of 35" Marsh? He looked really good in his brief spell with the test team, despite not making a huge total. I understand that he's playing county cricket this year too, so he'd be familliar with the duke
No idea why burns was let go. Shaun marsh has had enough chances and should be dropped forever.

Starc is going to be one of the best test quicks in the world soon no idea why you think he shouldn't be in the side. Agree on twatto, he shouldn't be in the side anymore when there's multiple younger and better players.

[CNNonceAgain]

Didn't think the selection committee coulda gotten any worse than Inverarity (fvcking agar!?!?), but apparently it has.

As an individual, starc is very destructive, but his inability to sustain pressure makes it harder for the blokes bowling the other end in tests. Too frequently loses his rhythym. I think Hazelwood should've had a shot before him.

I dont think its criminal he's there, I just think there are guys I'd trust more to win a series.

I don't know how Marsh is ahead of Burns,Khawaja, Bailey, Lynn,Maddinson etc.

Woulda taken Hartley over instead of Neville too. Ashes is win now mode, it doesn't make sense to bring a guy over just so he gets experience. Don't think Neville should've leapfrogged Paine like that either

Love how desperate the selectors are to pick anyone other than Lyon. Ahmed isn't even the definitive best Victorian spinner (what happened to Jon Holland anyway?), yet they still try and put him in there just because he throws legbreaks, despite his age and mediocre record. I'd take Boyce over him anyday

[outbreak]

Didn't think the selection committee coulda gotten any worse than Inverarity (fvcking agar!?!?), but apparently it has.

As an individual, starc is very destructive, but his inability to sustain pressure makes it harder for the blokes bowling the other end in tests. Too frequently loses his rhythym. I think Hazelwood should've had a shot before him.

I dont think its criminal he's there, I just think there are guys I'd trust more to win a series.

I don't know how Marsh is ahead of Burns,Khawaja, Bailey, Lynn,Maddinson etc.

Woulda taken Hartley over instead of Neville too. Ashes is win now mode, it doesn't make sense to bring a guy over just so he gets experience. Don't think Neville should've leapfrogged Paine like that either

Love how desperate the selectors are to pick anyone other than Lyon. Ahmed isn't even the definitive best Victorian spinner (what happened to Jon Holland anyway?), yet they still try and put him in there just because he throws legbreaks, despite his age and mediocre record. I'd take Boyce over him anyday
Hollands and Paine have been rubbish lately, Paine was actually dropped from the tasmanian side this season and I think Holland was sent to his club a few times too or maybe the futures. I still like Wade as our keeper. Lyon's bowled really well but they seem to hate him for some reason. I would have liked to see O'keefe still around the squad, I don't have him ahead of Lyon but he does that containing role that Australia seems to love lately and is a solid bat as well. Who knows with some more work he could become a better wicket taker too but they seemed to give up on him quickly despite a long and solid record with NSW.

[CNNonceAgain]

I completely spaced on Wade, obviously with his success at test level (shitty glovework aside) he should be the backup. Understandable Paine got dropped actually, dunk has been in beastmode for some time now.

I wouldn't pick him as a specialist, but sok is hard done by. His fc average is phenomenal (I know scg spins more than other grounds, but still...)and he still gets leapfrogged by guys like agar, Ahmed, beer etc.

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I completely spaced on Wade, obviously with his success at test level (shitty glovework aside) he should be the backup. Understandable Paine got dropped actually, dunk has been in beastmode for some time now.

I wouldn't pick him as a specialist, but sok is hard done by. His fc average is phenomenal (I know scg spins more than other grounds, but still...)and he still gets leapfrogged by guys like agar, Ahmed, beer etc.
It's more a case of when Lyon gets used with containing fields on pitches that aren't big turners you'd be better off with someone like O'keefe doing that job while being an all rounder. Not so much now I guess with how Lyon's got on but earlier on when they kept trying random spinners O'keefe was hard done by.

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And yet again australia are left needing their tail to bail them out. We've been in this situation so often over the last few years and are lucky to have guys like johnson and starc down the order. We have a lot of guys who play shots but the only grind it out guy is rogers and he's old.

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Joe root laughing his ass off while captain cook rolls on the ground after being hit in the gonads was gold. If a player did that to an australian captain they'd hear about it in the locker room

[CNNonceAgain]

Only trail by 165 can't see there being a first innings defecit of more than20-30.

Can't believe such magnificent players of spin like Clarke and Smith got out so cheaply to moeen fvcking Ali...

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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_O1Qp3VAAIwHSm.jpg

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next ball after I post that he's out LBW :roll:

what a ****.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B5sUf-FCEAAuUXC.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/NBCHdug.jpg

[BlackWhiteGreen]

WHERE IS YOUR GOD OUTBREAK

Not sure this is going to be a microcosm of the series, England have had the breaks in this innings and there was a point just before the Warner wicket where I thought Aus could well chase it down. Happy though, after the struggles we had against the Windies and the way Aus manhandled them I was concerned this could wind up 4 or 5-0. Plenty of cricket still to go though.

[outbreak]

WHERE IS YOUR GOD OUTBREAK

Not sure this is going to be a microcosm of the series, England have had the breaks in this innings and there was a point just before the Warner wicket where I thought Aus could well chase it down. Happy though, after the struggles we had against the Windies and the way Aus manhandled them I was concerned this could wind up 4 or 5-0. Plenty of cricket still to go though.
I was expecting a closer series and ive said before our batting line I'll has big holes. I expected more from our bowler tbh, johnson bowled trash and they were all stuggling for consistency. I really hope watson gets dropped and retires. Haddin too if along with averaging 18 in the last 12 months he's now going to drop catches

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second test tonight. Australia win the toss and will bat, haddin and watson out neville and marsh in. bring it on

[Cactus-Sack]

Interested to see what Neville can do. I expect Smith, Clarke, Votes to bounce back.

Wonder who will replace Rogers at the top after this series. Considering that the only alternative is Shaun Marsh, I think we may end up stuck with Twatto.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

So yeah this is more like what I expected. Sounds like an absolute road.

[outbreak]

Interested to see what Neville can do. I expect Smith, Clarke, Votes to bounce back.

Wonder who will replace Rogers at the top after this series. Considering that the only alternative is Shaun Marsh, I think we may end up stuck with Twatto.

Instead of marsh I'd rather burns or silk. Burns debuted down the order but is an top order player at domestic level. Probably others i corget at 5 in the morning too.

Cactus it was overcast early but the ball did nothing barely any swing no pitch movement and no pace. It could open up abit in the later days though so I'm hoping it doesn't stay this way all test. Warner went out so stupidly. Take 10 off a spinners first over then try and smash the last ball too when your teams already going at 5 an over lol

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Australia win the second test by 405 runs. Dominant win set up by Smith and Rogers first innings scores. England collapsed hard in the second innings.

Rogers retired hurt in the second innings with a dizzy spell, hopefully nothings wrong with him I haven't heard any more news besides he did not go to the hospital which seems odd. He will be retiring after this series so hopefully he can make it through and put up some more big runs to cap off his career.

[Dresta]

Typical England batting collapse :lol

[Cactus-Sack]

If only rogers could've gotten one more run, I think that would've taken him to 11 consecutive innings of 50+. Dizziness sounds like a symptom of post concussion syndrome. Too bad we didn't get to see what marsh and Neville can do with the bat. Still don't know what is going on with haddin, heard the cops found a "suspicious" package outside of his house.

Pathetic chase by England, even with an insurmountable lead you'd expect more effort. Especially because cook, root, broad and Anderson are the only guys who aren't in danger of being dropped.

It'll depend on how Mitch marsh plays, but this would be my lineup after rogers

Watson
Warner
Smith
Clarke
Voges
Burns
Haddin(I guess?)
Johnson
Starc
Hazelwood
Lyon


Obviously if mitch does well, i wouldnt drop him for twatto. Burns should be in the team, but he hasnt had a lot of success opening the batting.

Silk had a bad shield season, khawaja missed it, how about cowan? Had a good season for tassie, isnt that old and plays the same role as rogers, might be worth a look at.

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God no please not watson, I like to think he has played his last test with how terrible he has been over the last few years. The police said they found an explosive device opposite Haddin's house but it appears to have been discarded and not linked to him in any way. Don't know whats going on with him besides personal problems but the times right for him to leave the side anyway. My team for after this series would be

Burns
Warner
Smith
Clarke
Voges
Marsh
Neville (or handscomb/wade)
Johnson
Starc
Hazelwood/Cummins/Pattinson depending on everyones health
Lyon

I'm also a Cowan fan so I wouldn't mind him getting another shot (I think he was unfairly dropped), he wasn't terrible and we do need someone who can grind it out like Katich and Rogers did but right now I'd rather give Burns a shot. I thought he had a decent record batting top 3 in the shield? I have a feeling the spot will be Shaun Marsh's until he loses it to whoever had a good shield season this year out of the young crop. Guys like Burns, Silk and Khawaja have a chance if they do well this year. Quiney is also another (although old) who was in good form, got a chance then got dropped without really doing too much wrong. Long term I'd be looking at Lynn and Maddinson to replace Voges too. Bancroft is one to watch too but he lacks the experience right now.

[Cactus-Sack]

Lynn has been high on my list for a few years now, but its not fair to bring him in unless they plan on giving him a real shot (I.e two seres min. with no threat of dropping him) because he's making so much playing in the various t20 comps around the world.

I'm fine with Neville being there going forward. He's not the best glove man, but he's better than wade, and isn't giving up much of a batting edge.

If it means keeping Watson and Smarsh out, im happy to see burns open, because hes not going to get his preferred batting spot of 3 or 4 anyway.

Too bad maddinson and silk got moved into the middle order this season, they were really the only openers under thirty who look like they have potential.

Considering that Voges, Clarke and Smith are all handy with the ball, i dont think we should feel compelled to pick an all rounder. Perhaps;

Warner
Cowan
Smith
Clarke
Burns
Voges
Haddin/Neville

..could be worth a shot.

I think Hazelwood has really shown his worth this series. Im interested to see how pattinson and cummins look on the A tour. Hopefully we can have the four young quicks healthy going forward

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I have Lynn there for when Voges goes. Voges is 35 so who knows how long he will hang around, I've always liked him but he hasn't established himself yet and will always be one injury or bad run away from retiring.

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Ballance has been dropped for Bairstowe. Not sure I like this move when Ballance can still grind it out a bit. I'd have dropped Lyth who hasn't looked ready for test cricket yet.

Has anyone seen the Shane Warner ad for Marshall they keep playing? Hilarious that he'd agree to be in an ad where he's boning someone else wife :roll: one of the GOAT characters in sports.

http://cdn.scahw.com.au/cdn-1ce8bef9b396e80/ImageVaultFiles/id_179156/cf_7/shane-warne-glass-royal-ascot-628.JPG

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2015/06/30/1227422/091886-528549c2-1e12-11e5-b495-42244395819b.jpg

http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/07/28/1226687/123857-shane-warne-at-ascot-royal.jpg

http://static.sportskeeda.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/120107-warne.jpg

and that's elizabeth hurley he just feels up in public lol

[outbreak]

Third test tonight. Neville has kept his spot.

[Cactus-Sack]

Kinda hope he struggles, I'd like Haddin to be able to go out properly

[Cactus-Sack]

This should be voges last test. Fvck it, play hadz as a batsman.


Cmon mitchy, now is your chance.

[Cactus-Sack]

Aight. Forget what I said about Neville earlier, hope he gets a century.

[Cactus-Sack]

It would appear im a walking jinx

[outbreak]

This should be voges last test. Fvck it, play hadz as a batsman.


Cmon mitchy, now is your chance.

Haddins averaged like under 20 for the last two years he is rubbish. This batting line up has the same issue that keep coming up
Aside from rogers noone is a text book trchnique grind it out type guy. We always risk losing quick wickets at the top and with clarke aging we don't have a middle order that can take that. Our tail has helped hide it but we have a fragile batting order

[nightprowler10]

Finn owning right now.

[outbreak]

Australia are officially ****ed lol.

Those 2 johnson bouncers though were amazing.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/video?v=johnson-brings-the-heat_1227463873284&vc=215

[nightprowler10]

04W24W0W04100000W40000110W020000401000W00000000010 1000011W0011200010040040000W1W30000000000000400000 000000001004W

^Australia's innings.

[Dresta]

I think both these teams are pretty average, which makes this not nearly as exciting as the Ashes used to be (at least when England were shit, Australia were awesome). The Aussies are just completely incapable of batting in English conditions (except for Rogers).

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04W24W0W04100000W40000110W020000401000W00000000010 1000011W0011200010040040000W1W30000000000000400000 000000001004W

^Australia's innings.

:roll:


I've read that we faced 111 deliveries and only 8 were going on to hit the stumps. Why were we pushing forward against swing? Surely after the first couple of wickets someone in the change rooms would tell the other players to wait and leave more?

[Cactus-Sack]

Pathetic...

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http://img42.com/yjcFk+

http://img42.com/gfGhu+

http://img42.com/oRL8t+

http://img42.com/uxFMg+

[Cactus-Sack]

Rest Starc and Johnson next game, i wanna see cummins and give siddle a farewell match

[outbreak]

Rest Starc and Johnson next game, i wanna see cummins and give siddle a farewell match
Yeah good ideas I'd like to see how Cummins is progressing and Siddle deserve s one last test.

Clarkes announced his retirement too so this will be his last game, he's been in terrible form but it must be disappointing he couldn't hang on until the Australian summer.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

Amazed it ended like this but obviously delighted. Aus have some rebuilding to do, only the top 3 really should be close to untouchable. Delighted we survived without Jimmy as I'm not sure he will make it to the next series. Cook and Bell probably won't either.

Would quite like to win next week too.

[outbreak]

Amazed it ended like this but obviously delighted. Aus have some rebuilding to do, only the top 3 really should be close to untouchable. Delighted we survived without Jimmy as I'm not sure he will make it to the next series. Cook and Bell probably won't either.

Would quite like to win next week too.

Well Rogers will be retiring soon too, plus he can't play the day night test this summer because he's colour blind.

Ponting has said he thinks 8 players in this squad won't play again; Harris (already retired), Siddle, Voges, Clarke, Rogers, Watson, Shaun Marsh and Haddin

[Cactus-Sack]

I think marsh still might play another test, but I hope not

Recall had din for the dead-rubber too I guess.

Clarke's retirement could be really good for SPD Smith, captain at just 26years of age, combine that with his blistering start to test cricket, and he might be able to really hammer his name into the history books.

[Cactus-Sack]

Luckily enough, Khawaja and Burns have acquitted themselves well on this A tour. Khawajas circumspect style should fit nicely next to Warner at the top. Even though it would absolutely cripple my shield team, I'd bring Lynn in for voges too.

Sandhu also bowling well on the A tour.

Lots of good young players coming up. As much as its a sad time (like punter said, eight guys are probably done) its also a really exciting time

[nightprowler10]

I really wish the England/New Zealand series went longer instead of this turd of a series. Pakistan vs Sri Lanka was even so much more entertaining.