The Ashes 2010/11

[Stann]

Mate, trust me when I say this, they will bounce back from this defeat and show us why they are Australia



lol so since Arsenal have not won a trphy for the last 5 years they are Average, Wayne Rooney has not scored so he is average, Rankings only deduce a side's current form,

Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent

No but would you still call Arsenal the best team in England if not the world? Which they once were? No...because they have different players...likewise Australia don't.

I agree there has got to be a point in the series were Oz get on top, but they simply don't have the bowlers to bowl us out twice in a test match. Which is why we cannot lose this series.

---------- Post added at 06:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

Which is interesting 'cause past Ponting they have no top-quality class. Clarke is good, Katich is good, Johnson if he is on form is good, Haddin and Hussey are both good. Past that, Ponting is top-quality, and the rest of them are mediocre at best.

I think Hussey would have something to say about that. He's definitely up there with the best.

 

[Matty]

lol so since Arsenal have not won a trphy for the last 5 years they are Average, Wayne Rooney has not scored so he is average, Rankings only deduce a side's current form,

Form is Temporary, Class is Permanent

Liverpool are one of the most successful sides in history, they are significantly average!!

Just because a team once was dominant and the best doesn't mean they always will be

Cricket is very much a form sport... we are in sensational form.
Player for player were by far the better side
and fan wise well its not even a contest

These rankings are formed from the years performance, which they have been average, having lost the class they once had and not coping with it.

I think you need to stop being intimidated by their reputation and play them for who they are, an in trouble giant of the criketing world. The lads on the field seem to be playing it that way, so i think you should too!

 

[Eds]

Bit off topic but we've got no General International Cricket Thread, so...

Can anyone think of a wicket-keeper that opens the batting, and performs well (ideally a 40+ average) at FC. I can't think of any so help would be appreciated.

 

[Stann]

Bit off topic but we've got no General International Cricket Thread, so...

Can anyone think of a wicket-keeper that opens the batting, and performs well (ideally a 40+ average) at FC. I can't think of any so help would be appreciated.

Possibly Steve Davies? Unsure of his average but he's very capable. Also Kieswetter, won't have an average of 40+ but bags of potential.

 

[GodCubed]

I think Hussey would have something to say about that. He's definitely up there with the best.

No he isn't. Prior to this series, he form was utterly atrocious. He's a very good cricketer, I'll give him that, but he's not world-class. For instance, I'd have Strauss over him any day of the week.

Bit off topic but we've got no General International Cricket Thread, so...

Can anyone think of a wicket-keeper that opens the batting, and performs well (ideally a 40+ average) at FC. I can't think of any so help would be appreciated.

Steve Davies of Worcestershire, latterly of Surrey? Got an average around 40 or so, opens tha batting and is a wicketkeeper.

EDIT: Stann ninja'd me. Great minds and all that.

 

[Alcaraz]

Which is interesting 'cause past Ponting they have no top-quality class. Clarke is good, Katich is good, Johnson if he is on form is good, Haddin and Hussey are both good. Past that, Ponting is top-quality, and the rest of them are mediocre at best.

So Shane Watson is mediorce, Siddle is mediorce plus Michael Hussey is just good considering his average is better than anyone's

I can see that you got great knowledge about the game mate

No but would you still call Arsenal the best team in England if not the world? Which they once were? No...because they have different players...likewise Australia don't.
I agree there has got to be a point in the series were Oz get on top, but they simply don't have the bowlers to bowl us out twice in a test match. Which is why we cannot lose this series.
I think Hussey would have something to say about that. He's definitely up there with the best.

I think Australia do have the bowlers, Johnson and Siddle when on form are deadly, Michael Beer is an unknown quantity although Shane Warne himself regards him, their batting is top-class, probably better than South Africa's now u mention it, I think the only side ahead of them is India and England but they will bounce back, they are Australia, they have not been on top for so long without having a fighting quality in them

 

[Eds]

Ah yeah, Steve Davies. Cheers GodCubed and Stann.

 

[Matty]

I think Australia do have the bowlers, Johnson and Siddle when on form are deadly, Michael Beer is an unknown quantity although Shane Warne himself regards him, their batting is top-class, probably better than South Africa's now u mention it, I think the only side ahead of them is India and England but they will bounce back, they are Australia, they have not been on top for so long without having a fighting quality in them

oh right so form is temporary class is permanent, you have just contradicted yourself massively.

Johnson "when on form" when the **** is that going to be?! XD
Siddle had one good innings against us when we were nervous, hasn't done a thing since!

And don't start with this Warne said he was good ****, lets see what he does first...

and ye they have been on top for so long with the SAME team... that no longer exists!!, this is basically a different team that have no where near any quality in comparison to the Australia of old.

 

[GodCubed]

So Shane Watson is mediorce, Siddle is mediorce plus Michael Hussey is just good considering his average is better than anyone's

Watson is most definitely mediocre. Siddle is a gutsy trier, nothing more. Hussey is just good, yeah. His average is still high from about three years ago when he actually was a world-class player.

I think Australia do have the bowlers, Johnson and Siddle when on form are deadly,

Sure, but Johnson's never on form nowadays. Siddle... wtf? One good spell does not a "deadly" player make. He's average.

Michael Beer is an unknown quantity although Shane Warne himself regards him

Ooh, wow. Just because he's a good ex-player doesn't make him right, you know. Every time Glenn McGrath says the Aussies will win the Ashes 5-0, and he's generally always wrong.

their batting is top-class, probably better than South Africa's now u mention it

Hahaha. What the actual ****? Smith, Amla, Duminy, Gibbs, Prince, Boucher, Kallis, Botha. Are you seriously suggesting Australia have better quality batsman than that?

Also, even if it is, you can't just rely on your batting to win you matches. Even if SA did have a worse batting attack (which they don't) they can call on the best pacer in the world in Dale Steyn, ably backed up by the Morkel brothers and Wayne Parnell.

I think the only side ahead of them is India and England but they will bounce back, they are Australia, they have not been on top for so long without having a fighting quality in them

Either that or one incredible generation of players all arriving at the same time.

 

[Matty]

You are entitled to your opinion however once again, facts ring true...
Australias batting is apparently better than South Africa's lets have a look shall we?
http://www.reliancemobileiccrankings.com/
Top 10 Test Batsman,
3 from SA, Kallis, de Villiers, Smith,
1 from England, Trotty
0 from Australia

Top 10 Test Bowlers:
2 from SA, Steyn (who is top of the rankings) and Morkel
2 from England, Swanny and Jimmy
1 for Australia, Johnson who is below ^^ by some way.

This has no relevance to this thread as its test cricket but hey lets throw it in:

Top 10 ODI Batsman of which the Aussies are currently ranked top for...
3 for SA, Amla 1st ranked, de Villiers 2nd ranked, Kallis
1 for Australia, Hussey who is third.
0 for England

Top 10 ODI Bowlers
0 for SA
1 for Australia, Bollinger
3 for England Swanny, Broady and Jimmy.

So what do these stats tell you, it certainly doesn't say that Australia are the best, it definitely doesn't say they are the better than SA. If anything it says that they are possibly the worst team out of the three...

 

[Scott]

Hussey is still a world class player... His performance in this series has showed how good he is.. he is the only Aussie to stand out and perform in every innings.

Siddle is a wicket taker... He works hard and never complains, always puts in a shift. A top Test bowler.

Johnson is the major match winner in the side.. I reckon he will still have a say in this series.

---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:53 PM ----------

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/9290758.stm

Tremlett gets the nod, yay, the positive aggressive mood from england

 

[Stann]

Hussey is still a world class player... His performance in this series has showed how good he is.. he is the only Aussie to stand out and perform in every innings.

Siddle is a wicket taker... He works hard and never complains, always puts in a shift. A top Test bowler.

Johnson is the major match winner in the side.. I reckon he will still have a say in this series.

---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:53 PM ----------

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/9290758.stm

Tremlett gets the nod, yay, the positive aggressive mood from england

Fair play I thought it would be Bressie, but look forward to seeing how he does...

 

[Scott]

Fair play I thought it would be Bressie, but look forward to seeing how he does...

Bressie would of been the defensive option, as whilst he can bat, his really isn't a massive wicket taker. The Waca is very fast, and should suit tremletts past and bounce, a big fiver for the big man.

 

[Matty]

Ye great decision by the selectors shows faith in our batting line up, and psychologically shows the Aussies were up for the win

 

[Jack]

Every time its Hussey's turn to bat, I genuinely worry. He can give Australia a good knock and has proved that so far, and did so in the last series. Genuinely a brilliant middle order batsman and if the aussies didnt have him, their middle order wouldn't be as good as it is. Worries me every time he bats cos we can never get him out until he's got at least 90.

 

[Scott]

Every time its Hussey's turn to bat, I genuinely worry. He can give Australia a good knock and has proved that so far, and did so in the last series. Genuinely a brilliant middle order batsman and if the aussies didnt have him, their middle order wouldn't be as good as it is. Worries me every time he bats cos we can never get him out until he's got at least 90.

Hussey looks nervous and Vulnerable early on in his innings, you have to get him then, or he will normally punish you with 50+. Thats why his Average is still soo high, as he may have a bad run of form. but if he gets past the first 30 minutes to an hour of his innings, he will be impossible to get out, truly a class act.

 

[GodCubed]

Hope Tremlett can seize his chance. A very promising, talented player, unfortunately had his career disrupted by injury.

 

[Jack]

Hussey looks nervous and Vulnerable early on in his innings, you have to get him then, or he will normally punish you with 50+. Thats why his Average is still soo high, as he may have a bad run of form. but if he gets past the first 30 minutes to an hour of his innings, he will be impossible to get out, truly a class act.

I think the middle order is the only thing good about this oz team. North is a good bat (sometimes, was in the last series) and Haddin is a nuisance too.



It's always nice to see when we get past their middle order, cos the rest of their team are *****. Their tailenders cannot bat for ****, apart from Johnson sometimes but obviously not recently. I don't know much about cricket but this Aus side is nothing.

 

[Scott]

We are bowling and Beer doesnt make the Cut, No Frontline Spinner. :O

 

[Matty]

England Win the Toss and Elect to bowl.

Good decision looking at the pitch, and puts Australia under pressure to do well immediately.

Beer misses out, Hilfenhaus selected instead. 4 pace bowlers with smith being given the spinner role, due to the conditions of the pitch. This i believe evens the game a bit more, as the Aussies now have some assistance from the pitch. Good game in prospect.

Australia: Watson, Hughes, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Smith, Haddin, Johnson, Harris, Siddle, Hilfenhaus

England: Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell, Prior, Swann, Tremlett, Anderson, Finn