The Ashes -2015

Maddix · 25-06-2015, 23:22

I thought I'd put up a thread for us to talk about cricket this Summer without having to stray onto the boards where we are not welcome Thumb up

The colonials are rolling into town, with the blessing of the parole board, and started off today by playing the weakest county team, Kent, possible Doh

Why didn't they elect to play Yorkshire Huh

Is it because Yorkshire are actually better than England and they're afraid of getting a good stuffing ?

Anyway, the 1st test is in Cardiff a week on Wednesday Cool

consilio · 26-06-2015, 09:11

I think we may surprise a few this summer. The fresh impoteus from the excellent one day series may just influence the test side.

Can't wait for the series.

Owlkev71 · 26-06-2015, 10:32

Still think the Aussies will win, but I expect us to be competitive. Eng 2 -3 Colonials

Thurnscoe_OWL · 26-06-2015, 11:08

expecting a battering

0-4 or 0-5 Thumb down

not a cricket man though, just know the test side have fallen to pieces since the last ashes over here

Maddix · 26-06-2015, 11:34

I don't think we have (select) the bowlers to win it. We have Anderson & Broad then ...... erm .... erm ... Huh

We need to get Plunkett fit, and keep him that way, maybe bring Finn back in from the cold and drop Moeen Ali for Adil Rashid. Ali does nothing that Rashid doesn't do better with either bat or ball.

consilio · (This post was last modified: 26-06-2015, 14:22 by consilio.)

Rashid has the surprise deliveries as well. Ali is a plodder, albeit a fairly decent one.

Aussies 477-6. Their batting line up fills me with fear. Youngster Matt Hunn with 5 wickets, good lad.

madsteve · 26-06-2015, 14:56

In many ways, England have been like Wednesday under SG - playing safe & filling the team with safe players who can do a decent job.

What has changed since the WI tour has been a change of attitude and the introduction of players who go for it. Rashid should have been in the test side four years. Who knows, he might have been the new Shane Warne by now if he had been given the chance.

Cricket is a brilliant game where a better team can be beaten by clever use of tactics. It is a team game but one or two players can have a massive influence. Cook has to embrace the positive approach and be more positive with his field placings & tactics.

We have spent too long looking backwards. We need to select young talented players & give them a good run in the side. There has to be some overlap with the limited over sides but pick the players that can win the match and if we want to bowl out the Aussies twice then Rashid must play.

consilio · 26-06-2015, 17:06

Rashid isn't going to play. We are stuck with Ali for now.

Wood and Finn are in decent form and full of confidence. If they can get it right and support Broad and Anderson we may have a chance

madsteve · 26-06-2015, 17:27

(26-06-2015, 17:06)consilio Wrote: Rashid isn't going to play. We are stuck with Ali for now.

Wood and Finn are in decent form and full of confidence. If they can get it right and support Broad and Anderson we may have a chance

You are probably right.

If Ali is picked ahead of Rashid then maybe we haven't entered a bright new era and part of the old one still remains. It is obvious that Cook doesn't want Rashid in the team, hence why he was pushed aside in the WI.

We are going in with one arm tied behind our back if we don't play a decent front line spinner in most matches.

consilio · 26-06-2015, 17:47

Bang on Steve. The Aussies will love playing against Ali. He will only be useful for giving the seamers a break unless the pitch is turning sideways.