Erm worryingly I had to think about my age :S Im 18, so same, seen 4 WCs, but only really remember 2. I do think that Oz look maybe weaker than normal when bowling, but I still think their top order batsmen are a force to be reckoned with. Clarke, hussey and ponting are all excellant batsmen
The Ashes 2010/11
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Erm worryingly I had to think about my age :S Im 18, so same, seen 4 WCs, but only really remember 2. I do think that Oz look maybe weaker than normal when bowling, but I still think their top order batsmen are a force to be reckoned with. Clarke, hussey and ponting are all excellant batsmen
Yeup, and at least two of them are bang out of form.
AussieOchoa
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Ponting's been ****, even for Tasmania. But he might just come out of nowhere to score a double ton for old times sake XD!
Ye i agree Hussey, Ponting and Clarke are top of the game in terms of stature but not form, and don't get me wrong the young players they have coming through look handy
But with our settled group of players a lot of them being top class as well, it can seem for the first time in a **** of a long time we are leading on paper.
I stand by my comment earlier, if KP can find any sort of form back early on they are in trouble, because it will complete our in form consistent side, which is a hard thing to overcome cricket wise,
if not which i expect he wont be from shocking recent form, then its anyones game and a very exciting series
Not only is KP not in "shocking" form (he's made some alright scores recently) but I think you're overstating his importance to our side. If he fails, we have some pretty handy batsmen to come on in his place, and in Morgan we've got a versatile power hitter in our lower order, as well as some talented sloggers in the lower order.
Ye ok i overlooked his recent endeavors in SA, but for a reason.
When i see him do it with three lions on his chest i will retract my comments, it is a whole new ball game with England, he has to cope with immense pressure, which he can do, he's done it, its just doing it again!
I think he i a massive part of our side, in form he is bar none the best attacking batsman in the world today, and with him as a utility he could change the series on his own!
Im not saying the likes of Eoin Morgan who i totally ADMIRE, fantastic batsman, Belly "the bear
" Colly, Strauss, Cook etc cant do it, of course they can, just with the influence of such a dominating individual he could take the urn away from the Aussie's grasp single handedly, inspiring those around him as much as anything else!They both got pwned by Tremlett in the Final Warm Up game. so meh.
We will win this series 2-0 i think, and this is why:
One of the Main reasons is the Captain at our disposal, In Andrew Strauss we have a controlled, calm and dominate leader. Strauss likes to lead by example, opening up the batting he likes to get the team off to a good, solid start. With an Average above 50 since becoming Capt in 2007. Strauss really does enjoy the role of leader. Australia on the other hand has a more experienced Captain in Ricky Ponting, whilst no-one can argue with Ponting achievements and ability. He is under intense pressure after Australia have dropped to 5th in the world test rankings, Which would have been un heard of only 3 years ago. Ponting’s short temper was ever so evident in 2005 when he had a blast at just about everyone in the stadium about England using a substitute fielder to run him out; Simon Jones was injured at the time.
Another reason is the England Bowling attack which is incredibly strong; It is so strong I would play a 4 man attack of Anderson, Finn, Broad and Swann. These 4 bowlers have it all. You have the Natural Bounce and Pace of the 6’8 Steven Finn. This lad is a serious cricketer; He has the potential to be to this England side what Harmison was to Michael Vaughan’s England side. In Jimmy Anderson England have a matured leader of the bowling attack. Even though it is no secret he is at his best when the ball is swinging in overcast conditions. He still has the ability and temperament to bowl in good areas and wait for the wickets to fall rather then force them. We then have Stuart Broad; “the man to take Freddie’s Mantle” was the way Former England Captain Mike Gatting spoke of Broad. Well he was dead right. Broad has now become an accomplished batsman as well as a real strike bowler. His maiden test century against Pakistan will give his massive confidence to really play his shots down under. Graeme Swann is now regarded as the best Spin Bowler in the world, He has it all, He mixes it up when needed, He turns the ball, and he bowls aggressively or defensively depending on the circumstances. Simply outstanding.
Now England finally seem to have a settled Batting line up, with most of the side picking itself, With only one place really up for grabs. With Strauss and Cook opening up, Trott at three, KP at 4, Collingwood 5, I would put Bell at 6 a head of Morgan, although Morgan has done brilliantly in his brief England career- he has still to prove himself as a top class England batsman, and Prior at 7. There are plenty of runs in that side. I can see them consistently getting 450+ in every test match. In previous Series, England never see to be able to have a settled team, But this team is settled and all see to know there functions with in the side, they all seem to enjoy each others success, which is great for team unity.
Khawaja really should have been in the 13, tbh. You'd know why if you've been watching the Sheffield Shield.
Interesting that you say go with a 4-pronged attack. Assume you'd roll with:
Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bell
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn
To be honest, if need be Collingwood, Pietersen, Trott and Bell can all roll the arm so it could work. But none of them are nearly good enough to be a fifth bowling option. I personally don't yet think that Finn is ready to be a part of a four-pronged attack. Give him another season and it's a very viable option.
Interesting that you say go with a 4-pronged attack. Assume you'd roll with:
Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bell
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn
To be honest, if need be Collingwood, Pietersen, Trott and Bell can all roll the arm so it could work. But none of them are nearly good enough to be a fifth bowling option. I personally don't yet think that Finn is ready to be a part of a four-pronged attack. Give him another season and it's a very viable option.
He is a special player - but he hasn't yet fulfilled his huge potential. Is he really ready to be bowling 25-odd overs per innings under such intense pressure at The Ashes? He will be one day, but this series? No, in my opinion.
The Aussie top 7 is still very good. Watson, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Haddin, North and Hussey. They are all top batsmen.
He can do it, and i think he will do it, he has been hidden by england a bit at international level, they have under bowled him, they been holding him back, so he can really shock the Aussies.
There all so low on form though, Mr cricket himself cant buy a decent knock, didnt they all get a combined total of 37 in there reason State Matches? Hardly scary form.
Stann
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Don't count your chickens too early, cos that is the most stupid thing you can do against the Australians. Form, class, etc, at the end of the day means nothing when that first ball is bowled. You seem to be forgetting the Oz cricketers guile, never-say-die attitude, pride and loads more. End of the day beating any side in their back yet is difficult, may it be Bangladesh or West Indies, not mentioning Australia. I think we will win just and it will be a series to remember. Anderson is going to struggle if it's not swinging, and I wouldn't bet against Tremlett being in for him before the end of the series.
I not saying it will be easy, but this aussie side is not past aussie sides, this is our year.
Exactly what your mob said to South Africa before your home series last year.
There mob, still live 3 years in the past, when they had Mcgrath, Warne, Langer, Hayden and lee to back them out of a corner, and the small case of Gilchrist, them players, no longer exists.
Australia will struggle against our bowling line up. Batting wise is fairly equal though Australia have the one genuine all time great in Ponting but IMO he is on the slide and not the player he once was. That said, never, ever, underestimate him.
Bowling is where the key will be.
Australia have the single most over rated bowler in world cricket right now in Mitchell Johnson. Only reason he takes a few wickets is because when he eventually bowls one straight the batsman must be so surprised he is in shock. He makes Steve Harmison's radar look awesome.
Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter George, Mitchell Starc and Doug Bollinger may be good in short bursts but not consistently enough.
Nathan Hauritz, Steven Smith and Xavier Doherty are just not good enough as spinners. LOL Doherty picked despite a first class bowling average of 49. Awesome.
England have the one genuine world class bowler right now in Graeme Swann. He will finish as top wicket taker I think.
England have proved that should Australia get any injuries, their stiffs are woefully inadequate as England just hammered Australia A.
England to win 2-1.
Bowling is where the key will be.
Australia have the single most over rated bowler in world cricket right now in Mitchell Johnson. Only reason he takes a few wickets is because when he eventually bowls one straight the batsman must be so surprised he is in shock. He makes Steve Harmison's radar look awesome.
Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter George, Mitchell Starc and Doug Bollinger may be good in short bursts but not consistently enough.
Nathan Hauritz, Steven Smith and Xavier Doherty are just not good enough as spinners. LOL Doherty picked despite a first class bowling average of 49. Awesome.
England have the one genuine world class bowler right now in Graeme Swann. He will finish as top wicket taker I think.
England have proved that should Australia get any injuries, their stiffs are woefully inadequate as England just hammered Australia A.
England to win 2-1.