[QUOTE=“flattythehurdler, post: 1138478, member: 1170”]The way bambi’s army have been going against any decent pace attack, he’d be practically opening the batting at three or four anyway*
or five.[/QUOTE]
Pace attacks shouldn’t prove too much of a problem for England for the summer ahead. The New Zealand and the Ashes series are in England, not in the Antipodes. I’d expect more of the same type of slower pitches we saw at Trent Bridge, Lord’s and Durham in the 2013 Ashes series. One trick, out and out pacemen like Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee have struggled in England without the concrete pitches and the kookaburra ball they need to thrive. Its the more rounded and skilful bowlers (who have not necessarily relied on out and out pace) - Waqar & Wasim, Malcolm Marshall and Glenn McGrath who typically thrive in English conditions.
The main reason why Australia have lost the last 3 Ashes series in England has been their batting. If you go through each of the 7 tests Australia lost in 2005, 2009 & 2013, each one of them saw at least one horrific batting collapse. I’d have my doubts about the current batting line up with Rogers opening the batting, Shane Watson at 3 (which he most certainly is not) and Brad Haddin’s poor form with the bat for well over a year. Michael Clarke’s fitness and Steve Smith maintaining his rich vein of form will be crucial for Australian hopes.
The other decided advantage England had in 2009 and 2013 was in the spin department. That’s obviously gone now since Graeme Swann retired.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1138747, member: 377”]Pace attacks shouldn’t prove too much of a problem for England for the summer ahead. The New Zealand and the Ashes series are in England, not in the Antipodes. I’d expect more of the same type of slower pitches we saw at Trent Bridge, Lord’s and Durham in the 2013 Ashes series. One trick, out and out pacemen like Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee have struggled in England without the concrete pitches and the kookaburra ball they need to thrive. Its the more rounded and skilful bowlers (who have not necessarily relied on out and out pace) - Waqar & Wasim, Malcolm Marshall and Glenn McGrath who typically thrive in English conditions.
The main reason why Australia have lost the last 3 Ashes series in England has been their batting. If you go through each of the 7 tests Australia lost in 2005, 2009 & 2013, each one of them saw at least one horrific batting collapse. I’d have my doubts about the current batting line up with Rogers opening the batting, Shane Watson at 3 (which he most certainly is not) and Brad Haddin’s poor form with the bat for well over a year. Michael Clarke’s fitness and Steve Smith maintaining his rich vein of form will be crucial for Australian hopes.
The other decided advantage England had in 2009 and 2013 was in the spin department. That’s obviously gone now since Graeme Swann retired.[/QUOTE]
Iirc, the Aussie top order was poor even in the last ashes series, and were often dug out of trouble by the mid and tail.
Without a doubt. There was some stat that over the 5 tests Australia had on average 157 runs on the board when the 5th wicket fell but largely due to Haddin’s sensational form posted a first innings average score of in excess of 400.
Despite all the messing that was going on in the England dressing room, they had they had Australia on the ropes on a number of occasions particularly in the first test at the Gabba and the third test in Perth but couldn’t deliver the knock out blow.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1138815, member: 377”]Without a doubt. There was some stat that over the 5 tests Australia had on average 157 runs on the board when the 5th wicket fell but largely due to Haddin’s sensational form posted a first innings average score of in excess of 400.
Despite all the messing that was going on in the England dressing room, they had they had Australia on the ropes on a number of occasions particularly in the first test at the Gabba and the third test in Perth but couldn’t deliver the knock out blow.[/QUOTE]
England didn’t have an impact bowler to rip out the lower order. That’s what Johnson did. And they still don’t have one. Broad is not on pace. It could be Finn if he was right I suppose.
who can ever forget the 2005 Ashes when KP stood up to 2 bouncers from Brett Lee at the Oval, that moment still puts the hair standing on the back of my neck, that is what sport is all about
[QUOTE=“Sidney, post: 1139083, member: 183”]Excellent decision by Strauss. Strong leadership from one of England’s finest captains.
Pietersen is a troublemaker and can go and fook himself.[/QUOTE]
BOLLOX …snipping little shit …his SKY work made Michael Owen like alan Hansen !!!
He is a fucking moron …I CANT TRUST YOU …YOU WANT TO BE A CONSULTANT… As Lamb said on the radio today , Strauss was always only interested in what was best for Strauss …COWARD
[QUOTE=“Sean stack, post: 1139109, member: 3055”]BOLLOX …snipping little shit …his SKY work made Michael Owen like alan Hansen !!!
He is a fucking moron …I CANT TRUST YOU …YOU WANT TO BE A CONSULTANT… As Lamb said on the radio today , Strauss was always only interested in what was best for Strauss …COWARD[/QUOTE]
Pietersen can occupy himself for the rest of the summer by trying to hit some trees on the dirt tracks of Division 2 of the County Championship. But I doubt he’ll see out the summer before storming off in a huff.
Expect Strauss to build harmony in the England dressing room. A happy England camp will be a victorious one in the Ashes.
[QUOTE=“Sidney, post: 1139121, member: 183”]Pietersen can occupy himself for the rest of the summer by trying to hit some trees on the dirt tracks of Division 2 of the County Championship. But I doubt he’ll see out the summer before storming off in a huff.
Expect Strauss to build harmony in the England dressing room. A happy England camp will be a victorious one in the Ashes.[/QUOTE]
Deluded my friend England won’t win one test against Australia …happy camp ? LoL , loosers are never happy , shocking contain and confused squad …
Strauss deserves everything coming his way , he is currently the most hated person in English cricket. The barmy army will roast him when they start loosing
[QUOTE=“Sean stack, post: 1139141, member: 3055”]Deluded my friend England won’t win one test against Australia …happy camp ? LoL , loosers are never happy , shocking contain and confused squad …
Strauss deserves everything coming his way , he is currently the most hated person in English cricket. The barmy army will roast him when they start loosing[/QUOTE]
The delusion is in your corner if you think Australia are going to inflict that kind of a hiding on England. Did you pay any attention to the last time Australia went on the road? Pakistan annihilated them by 221 runs & 354 runs in a 2 test series before Christmas. Outside of their comfort zone of hard concrete pitches this group of Australian players have struggled badly. Their record in their last 11 tests against Pakistan, in England and in India reads played 11 won 0 drawn 2 lost 9.
Strauss the most hated person in English cricket? Get a grip, I can think of few who have the respect of the English cricket public, the way Strauss has. One of only three men (along with W.G. Grace and Len Hutton) in 130+ years of Ashes cricket who have captained an England side to an Ashes triumph in both England and Australia. Andrew Strauss is officer class to the tips of his toes. Lets not lose sight of what happened here, an under performing England coach Peter Moores has been sacked after a run of bad results.
[QUOTE=“Manuel Zelaya, post: 1139154, member: 377”]The delusion is in your corner if you think Australia are going to inflict that kind of a hiding on England. Did you pay any attention to the last time Australia went on the road? Pakistan annihilated them by 221 runs & 354 runs in a 2 test series before Christmas. Outside of their comfort zone of hard concrete pitches this group of Australian players have struggled badly. Their record in their last 11 tests against Pakistan, in England and in India reads played 11 won 0 drawn 2 lost 9.
Strauss the most hated person in English cricket? Get a grip, I can think of few who have the respect of the English cricket public, the way Strauss has. One of only three men (along with W.G. Grace and Len Hutton) in 130+ years of Ashes cricket who have captained an England side to an Ashes triumph in both England and Australia. Andrew Strauss is officer class to the tips of his toes. Lets not lose sight of what happened here, an under performing England coach Peter Moores has been sacked after a run of bad results.[/QUOTE]
Go look at the polls in all the major papers #straussOUT trending , even his friends and former players are laughing at him
HATED he is …that will be rampant after australia whack them all over !!!
On the road in packistan on a spin friendly pitch isn’t exactly what the wicket they will get in England this summer
