2017/2018 Ashes Tour - Pre-Series Discussion

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:03 pm

Jimmy, Woakes, Overton and Broad might make a decent foursome with Moeen bringing a little spin.

And I think ball is a decent bowler who just needs another game or two to get his wicket tally going.

Tom Curran impressed in his short form games too temperament wise.

England have some decent bowlers to work with it’s just their batting that’s going to struggle.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 6:01 am

Bowled out CAXI for 76 to win by 100+ runs so I guess that’s something. Cook doesn’t seem to have gotten much time out in the middle but I think everyone else in the top six has made at least one fifty. And some wickets for the bowlers.

I believe there’s one more tour match against CAXI in a few days and then it’s the first test!!

Paddles · Postby **Paddles** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 12:24 pm

Boycs wrote:Jimmy, Woakes, Overton and Broad might make a decent foursome with Moeen bringing a little spin.

And I think ball is a decent bowler who just needs another game or two to get his wicket tally going.

Tom Curran impressed in his short form games too temperament wise.

England have some decent bowlers to work with it’s just their batting that’s going to struggle.

Thats a very good batting tail with Overton, Moeen, Woakes and even Broad.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 5:55 pm

That’s our speciality

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 3:01 am

Starc and Cummins not bad either

Hazlewood and Lyon are pretty crap though

raja · Postby **raja** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 3:23 pm

As the first Test draws closer, I'm getting more and more tense.
Maybe best to just agree to a 4-0 drubbing by England and call it all off?
Still better than the 5-0 drubbing if we go ahead and play.

In the meantime, maybe read this piece on the Bodyline series that appeared on my Twitter timeline.
It is a bit more nuanced than the usual "Australia lost because Larwood bowled bodyline" narrative.

https://tarequegetsporty.wordpress.com/ ... hronicles/

Paddles · Postby **Paddles** » Sun Nov 12, 2017 3:59 pm

raja wrote:As the first Test draws closer, I'm getting more and more tense.
Maybe best to just agree to a 4-0 drubbing by England and call it all off?
Still better than the 5-0 drubbing if we go ahead and play.

In the meantime, maybe read this piece on the Bodyline series that appeared on my Twitter timeline.
It is a bit more nuanced than the usual "Australia lost because Larwood bowled bodyline" narrative.

https://tarequegetsporty.wordpress.com/ ... hronicles/

At least Larwood bowled overarm :popcorn:

Verity · Postby **Verity** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 6:07 pm

Bancroft definitly should be in the talk, 2 fifties in the firsr shield game and now 161 n.o yesterday opening as a wicketkeeper batsmen. Renshaw failed yet again.

Verity · Postby **Verity** » Mon Nov 13, 2017 6:08 pm

Wade won't get picked now, bloke can't bat.

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Tue Nov 14, 2017 2:16 pm

Verity wrote:Bancroft definitly should be in the talk, 2 fifties in the firsr shield game and now 161 n.o yesterday opening as a wicketkeeper batsmen. Renshaw failed yet again.

yeah, WACA is a road though, maybe even a freeway...but still, 161 requires application even at the best of times and that's rare for a lot of keeper batsmen.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:23 pm

Last warm up game in a few hours! Ahhh!

Mick180461 · Postby **Mick180461** » Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:02 pm

Paddles wrote:
raja wrote:As the first Test draws closer, I'm getting more and more tense.
Maybe best to just agree to a 4-0 drubbing by England and call it all off?
Still better than the 5-0 drubbing if we go ahead and play.

In the meantime, maybe read this piece on the Bodyline series that appeared on my Twitter timeline.
It is a bit more nuanced than the usual "Australia lost because Larwood bowled bodyline" narrative.

https://tarequegetsporty.wordpress.com/ ... hronicles/

At least Larwood bowled overarm

There is a great Cartoon i saw years ago, had a Batsman being hit in the head by a Bouncer with the caption underneath "in the spirit of Cricket" and next to it a batsman gently playing an underarm delivery with the caption "not in the spirit of Cricket"

Mick180461 · Postby **Mick180461** » Tue Nov 14, 2017 9:06 pm

raja wrote:As the first Test draws closer, I'm getting more and more tense.
Maybe best to just agree to a 4-0 drubbing by England and call it all off?
Still better than the 5-0 drubbing if we go ahead and play.

In the meantime, maybe read this piece on the Bodyline series that appeared on my Twitter timeline.
It is a bit more nuanced than the usual "Australia lost because Larwood bowled bodyline" narrative.

https://tarequegetsporty.wordpress.com/ ... hronicles/

Raja
If England win this series 5-0 i will come on here and type out 500 times
I AM AN IDIOT AND NO NOTHING ABOUT CRICKET.

baggygreenmania · Postby **baggygreenmania** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 3:48 am

Boycs wrote:Right, lets talk about the Ashes. Lord knows it's more important than the IPL

I know the first Test isn't for another month but the build-up begins now.

If we're talking the Ashes then in England we're going to have to talk about the possibility of Stokes not being allowed to travel. Are we doomed without him? Are we not?

Australia might be talking about their pace attack. Who will it consist of?

James Pattinson has been ruled out due to injury.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/ ... contention

The England squad, to me, looks pretty weak. James Vince? Going back to Balance again? Malan doesn't convince me. I wanted Westley back in the team and I wanted Hameed but I think the latter is injured, again.

Ben Foakes is a fair shout, he is one on the radar as a future England player and had a fair season this year. Backup wicket keeper too. Excited to see if he makes the final XI.

Mason Crane. Who the f**k is he? 42+ FC bowling average? Get lost. When you have 26 year old Jack Leach taking his wickets at under 27.00 in the county game why are you persisting with no-hopers?

Jake Ball I'm pleased with, and Craig Overton is a fair punt. And then we've got the rest of the main England team as normal.

Discuss.

Time I had a say here Boycs with the first Test now next Thurs .

Who the f***is Mason Crane? Good question. A rookie who happened to have a very good season in Sydney Premier Cricket last season. Was the second overseas player since Imran Khan way back to get a guernsey for the NSW Blues. That is why he was picked. Go figure.

The Aussie top six are starting to sort themselves out. Most are getting state runs except Renshaw and Handscomb. Renshaw is being savaged by the media. Evidently it has already forgotten his sublime 150 at the SCG last year in one of his first outings for his country.

The only question marks over the baggies side as I see it is who will keep and who will occupy #6.

Bancroft has compiled something like 600 runs in his last four FC games, incl a double in England county cricket so he well and truly puts himself in the Ashes frame. He can also keep so that is a bonus having him bat in top six and opening a spot for an additional batsman or bowler.

Unlikely he will be blooded as a keeper tho against tuff opposition such as your boys. So I see Nevill taking the gloves and Cartwright as incumbent or Bancroft batting at #6.

I have been very impressed with the pre tour form of Chris Woakes. Who will be your #6. Moeen Ali?

Paddles · Postby **Paddles** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 4:34 am

Mick180461 wrote:
Paddles wrote:

At least Larwood bowled overarm

There is a great Cartoon i saw years ago, had a Batsman being hit in the head by a Bouncer with the caption underneath "in the spirit of Cricket" and next to it a batsman gently playing an underarm delivery with the caption "not in the spirit of Cricket"

Yeah they often have explanatory cartoons like that in public rest rooms at airports, on airplanes , and popular tourist destinations as well as on fire hazards, beside escalators, even literature on airplanes as to how to get off an airplane in an emergency.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:53 am

6/54 for woakes first innings of this CAXI match.

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 12:15 pm

Boycs wrote:6/54 for woakes first innings of this CAXI match.

some quality batsmen in that 6 for

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 12:42 pm

I think Overton and woakes have bought their berths alongside broad and Jimmy with Moeen to spin.

Jack leach may have a future as a tweaker but unless someone shows me something I haven’t seen mason crane is a nobody with the ball in he four or five day format. And that appears to be true in county championship cricket too

MikeR68 · Postby **MikeR68** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:42 pm

Boycs wrote:I think Overton and woakes have bought their berths alongside broad and Jimmy with Moeen to spin.

Jack leach may have a future as a tweaker but unless someone shows me something I haven’t seen mason crane is a nobody with the ball in he four or five day format. And that appears to be true in county championship cricket too

How is the Stokes drama going Boycs? Overton and Woakes have to play, and based on their performances so far could place pressure on Anderson to perform which he has never done in Australia, or anywhere else outside England, especially if Stokes does get the chance to venture out here. I wouldn't read to much into the CAXI, apart from Matt Short and Simon Milenko there isn't a lot of talent in the side and are mostly club cricketers with assumed potential, and players with FC experience in Larkin and Sandhu are major disappointments.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 7:24 am

It seems to have dropped off the news a while ago now. I think the media have moved on. Last update was that two guys came forward to say stokes had been defending them.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 7:31 am

Stoneman 111
Cook 70
Root 62
Malan 57

England 337/3.

Not bad. There’s been an improvement consistently from warm up to warm up which is heartening. And I think stoneman has three half centuries to go with this hundred now. Might be good. I appreciate what mick says about opposition quality but time in the middle is still valuable.

Mick180461 · Postby **Mick180461** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 10:31 am

According to news reports in Australia tonite the 1st test side will be
Warner
BANCROFT
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb
S MARSH
PAINE (K) !!!
Starc
Cummins
Hazlewood
Bird
Lyon
Paine is a massive bolter if this is correct.

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 10:53 am

Mick180461 wrote:According to news reports in Australia tonite the 1st test side will be
Warner
BANCROFT
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb
S MARSH
PAINE (K) !!!
Starc
Cummins
Hazlewood
Bird
Lyon
Paine is a massive bolter if this is correct.

but why????

bolero · Postby **bolero** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 11:00 am

I dont know why Aussie selectors have loved Shaun Marsh. He has been given a long rope, in my opinion just because he is Geoff Marsh's son. This kind of sycophancy I thought only happens in India.

Mick180461 · Postby **Mick180461** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 11:52 am

bolero wrote:I dont know why Aussie selectors have loved Shaun Marsh. He has been given a long rope, in my opinion just because he is Geoff Marsh's son. This kind of sycophancy I thought only happens in India.

Who else are you going to pick? No one else is really putting there hand up and Marsh's Test record is as good as anyone's outside the test side. Bancroft and Khawaja are the only ones demanding call ups and it looks like they have been.

The side has not been officially announced but the way the reporting is happening, it is correct.

Paddles · Postby **Paddles** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 12:20 pm

bolero wrote:I dont know why Aussie selectors have loved Shaun Marsh. He has been given a long rope, in my opinion just because he is Geoff Marsh's son. This kind of sycophancy I thought only happens in India.

What's Mitch Marsh then?

Cue Steve and Mark Waugh ashes incumbent (Maxwell replaced injured Mitch, at least in India) replacement tales.

raja · Postby **raja** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 1:20 pm

Looks like England players have run into just the kind of form that should give them a major confidence boost ahead of the 1st Test.
5-0 there for the taking, especially against THIS Aussie side.
Any fighters in this Aussie side? Right now I reckon the current Windies side could roll over this Aussie side.

Paddles · Postby **Paddles** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 1:26 pm

raja wrote:Looks like England players have run into just the kind of form that should give them a major confidence boost ahead of the 1st Test.
5-0 there for the taking, especially against THIS Aussie side.
Any fighters in this Aussie side? Right now I reckon the current Windies side could roll over this Aussie side.

10/10 for your trolling efforts raja, but the locals just aint biting.

Paddles · Postby **Paddles** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 1:28 pm

I'll support England but I expect a comfortable home series win to Straya.

Strayas March tour to Safrica after winning the Ashes will lead to quite a test cricket feast over the next 5 months.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 1:45 pm

When was the SA tour to Australia where Clarke made a fighting hundred despite being hit in the body and bounced all the time. I was watching that but can’t remember when or where in Australia it was. Impressive batting I thought.

Actually now that I think about it, it might have been in SA. Could have been his 160-odd at newlands?

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 4:59 pm

bolero wrote:I dont know why Aussie selectors have loved Shaun Marsh. He has been given a long rope, in my opinion just because he is Geoff Marsh's son. This kind of sycophancy I thought only happens in India.

nepotism is the word you're looking for, but yeah...seems to be the case here

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 5:01 pm

Mick180461 wrote:
bolero wrote:I dont know why Aussie selectors have loved Shaun Marsh. He has been given a long rope, in my opinion just because he is Geoff Marsh's son. This kind of sycophancy I thought only happens in India.

Who else are you going to pick? No one else is really putting there hand up and Marsh's Test record is as good as anyone's outside the test side. Bancroft and Khawaja are the only ones demanding call ups and it looks like they have been.

The side has not been officially announced but the way the reporting is happening, it is correct.

that's not true, plenty have put their case forward in the last round of matches. Check the season stats, Marsh's record is worse than one of the players who is getting dropped (Maxwell)

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 5:02 pm

Boycs wrote:When was the SA tour to Australia where Clarke made a fighting hundred despite being hit in the body and bounced all the time. I was watching that but can’t remember when or where in Australia it was. Impressive batting I thought.

Actually now that I think about it, it might have been in SA. Could have been his 160-odd at newlands?

it was the series we won in South Africa after reclaiming the Ashes 4 years ago

almost a complete rebuild since then

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 5:08 pm

Yeah. Was just thinking of SA-Aus matches I really enjoyed. I think there was an era around then where if you wanted top-flight Test cricket outside India you watched SA v Aus.

Verity · Postby **Verity** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 6:07 pm

Talk is they have dropped Wade for Tim Paine, now that is a shit Effing selection...

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 6:47 pm

Stoneman innings this tour so far: 85, 51, 61, 111.

Form much?

Like I said before, another David Steele-type tour coming up?

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 7:03 pm

Verity wrote:Talk is they have dropped Wade for Tim Paine, now that is a shit Effing selection...

not sure why they'd pick Paine and Bancroft
I thought Bancroft was a keeper. Is he not a good a keeper?

I dont have a problem with Paine selection otherwise.

MikeR68 · Postby **MikeR68** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 8:17 pm

Boycs wrote:Stoneman innings this tour so far: 85, 51, 61, 111.

Form much?

Like I said before, another David Steele-type tour coming up?

There is a lot to like about Stoneman, very strong to any delivery on his legs, though not as prolific to deliveries on the off side. You know Hazlewood will keep them outside off all day. If he goes chasing them, Hazlewood will get him out, so he will have to show patience, do you think he can do that? There is also a lot of difference between the lollipops Sandhu and Conway are serving up, waiting to be smacked to the boundary, then the 140+ deliveries Starc and Cummins will bowl, and if the conditions are right those deliveries will be inswinging yorkers. The English team are currently looking in form and I hope you're right Boycs we need a good test series. I've noticed England still have problems against leg-spinners based on the warm up games. Hopefully your boys don't get homesick or decide it's time to retire, but they shouldn't, there's no Mitchell Johnson playing.

Mick180461 · Postby **Mick180461** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 8:46 pm

Stoneman is in great form yes but he is yet to face anyone who is rated in the top 24 bowlers in Australia except for Nathan Coulter-Nile. Don't get carried away with form from these matches, they are weak teams.
Why are we being so hard on Tim Paine, Wade & Nevell haven't exactly set the world on fire. Bancroft is an opening batsman who is a capable back up Keeper, the regular WA Keeper is Sam Whiteman but he is currently injured.
Memo to England Batsman don't hit catches anywhere near Short leg, by all reports Bancroft is also a superb in there.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 10:51 pm

Yet they haven’t selected Bancroft. Is that a surprise?

MikeR68 · Postby **MikeR68** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 11:04 pm

They did select Bancroft, Boycs.
TEST SQUAD: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers

MikeR68 · Postby **MikeR68** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 3:09 am

post deleted

Katto · Postby **Katto** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 4:34 am

could select 4 quicks for the adelaide pink ball farce
Lyon would be dead weight there, which is shame as that's where he bowls best with the red ball

bolero · Postby **bolero** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 6:45 am

Katto wrote:
bolero wrote:I dont know why Aussie selectors have loved Shaun Marsh. He has been given a long rope, in my opinion just because he is Geoff Marsh's son. This kind of sycophancy I thought only happens in India.

nepotism is the word you're looking for, but yeah...seems to be the case here

Yes, I meant nepotism.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:07 am

MikeR68 wrote:They did select Bancroft, Boycs.
TEST SQUAD: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers

Oh sorry. I’d heard there had been a surprise omission and I thought it was Bancroft.

Meanwhile Malan made a warm up hundred too

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:08 am

Oh I forgot does anyone want to do a draft?

bolero · Postby **bolero** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:12 am

Boycs wrote:Oh I forgot does anyone want to do a draft?

Pls go ahead. People interested will join. SuperGLS also mentioned that he may visit the forum for the Ashes.

Mick180461 · Postby **Mick180461** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:59 am

Yea ill join the draft.

1 Ashes down 1 to go, the Aussie girls have retained the Womens Ashes.

Boycs · Postby **Boycs** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 11:09 pm

Warne says England are in prime position ahead of the first test following the selection of the Aussie team

Leaving out maxwell has got to be a smart decison though

Mick180461 · Postby **Mick180461** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 11:13 pm

Boycs wrote:Warne says England are in prime position ahead of the first test following the selection of the Aussie team

Leaving out maxwell has got to be a smart decison though

Great news for Aussie fans, Warne has predicted England. With Warnes record of predictions that will mean a 5-0 whitewash to Australia.

Thanks Warney.