The Ashes Thread

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For those interested, I think it's high time we started this thread.
That's right, THE date on the cricket calender is upon ladies and gents.

I think the best way to start it would be a nice little predictions table.

So, here goes...

Top England Scorer:

Top Aussie Scorer:

Top England Wicket Taker:

Top Aussies Wicket Taker:

Player Of The Series:

Here would be mine .

Top England Scorer: Ian Bell

Top Aussie Scorer: Ricky Ponting

Top England Wicket Taker: Steve Harmison

Top Aussies Wicket Taker: Shane Warne

Player Of The Series: Ian Bell

 

*insert obligatory Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy joke here*

 

KP out for a duck first innings at Lord's. White tufts do not maketh the man. Still, unless the Aussies have Jason Gillespie preparing the sandwiches I think it'll be England's summer.

 

It depends when he goes in mate. If he goes in at like 50/3 or something silly, and Brett Lee and McGrath are swinging the ball about at pace, I can't see him hanging around for long. If he comes in later on in the innings, when the ball is soft and the field spread, I think he might post a score. It all depends on how he handles Warney though, that'll be in intruiging battle.

I reckon Ian Bell will be a sensation though. He's such a pain in the arse to get out, and manages to get a nice points total while he's at it. He's far more technically sound than KP. In a few years he'll be one of the best batsmen in test cricket, you mark Barmy Army's words.

 

Definitely

Top England Scorer: Andrew Flintoff

Top Aussie Scorer: Justin Langer

Top England Wicket Taker: Matthew Hoggard

Top Aussies Wicket Taker: Glenn McGrath

Player Of The Series: Glenn McGrath

Arguably, he already is 'one' of them.

 

Who? Ian Bell? This will be his 4th test match mate. You talking about someone else?

How do you reckon the series is going to pan out then Harbs ma boy?

I'm gonna go for...

1st Test Lords - Australia always do well here and this will be no exception. Aussies to win in 4 days.

2nd Test Edgbaston - England fight back and clinch victory on a dramatic 5th day.

3rd Test Old Trafford - Draw in a rain affected game.

4th test- Trent bridge - Englands fast bowlers have a blinder, victory is clinched early on day 4.

5th Test Oval - Despite being peppered on the last day England fight out a draw.

England 2 Australia 1 The Ashes come home!!

 

I was making fun of your vague 'one of the best' statement that is a favourite of commentators. How many are included in 'the best'? One of the best 3, the best 10, the best 100? He's definitely one of the best 5000 current batsmen in the world.

I'm picking a 2-0 victory to Australia, with England being denied a win in the one test they dominate after the last day is washed out.

 

Canada's gonna kick all your arses.

 

Actually, Splunge, Canada had a bit of a star player at the last cricket World Cup in the form of John Davidson who has been playing well ever since.

This from Cricinfo.com:

 

I've been at work so missed the match. I'll comment more when I've seen the replay thingy at 8pm.
Watching the scores on my phone though, I was extremely pleased to see we bowled Aussie out for 190. What a performance from Harmy. Some fantastic bowling.
I was then on the verge of tears to see us go down 25-5 or whatever stupid score it was. Either woeful batting, or McGrath showing those inhuman qualities again. I hear it's the latter, but I'll reserve judgement till I've seen the game.

Summed up: Disappointed.

 

I got up at 4am this morning to watch some of the game. McGrath was OUTSTANDING. That guy is an absolute machine. Now all you need is for Pietersen to crack a fairy tale 250 on debut and you'll be all set. It's still a better start than having Australia rack up 400+ in the first innings like they usually do and play you out of the game. At least now you're still very much in the match.

At least we're going to get a result in this game (weather permitting).

 

Pietersen will destroy the Australian attack no worries.

No, seriously, this looks like a good test. Good bowlers on both teams. Are England playing a spinner? Looks like they won't have to!

 

Don't put the pension on it

P.S Ashley Giles is England's spin master and a pretty good one too.

 

What's the point of Ashley Giles?

 

Someone has to wear those awful shades

Seriously, "wheelie-bins" had a good domestic season last year and bowled well against South Africa as well as picking up a couple of decent late-order runs. So all hail the King of Spain!

 

Ashley Giles is Spanish?

 

LOL.

I think Dan Vettori is a better bowler, and batsman myself... but then again I am biased.

 

Well, Australia look to have the edge at the moment but who can tell.....

 

Well, that's that and the 1st match is a close. 0-1 to Australia.

A slightly flattering win I think for Australia. Obviously, a very good team and only Kev seemed to be able to handle Warne and McGrath. Some terrific bowling from that pair. But, the way I look at it, if we actually claimed those dolly catches, the match would have been a hell of a lot closer. 9/10 times, we'd have had them and Australia would have been out for a lot less so we wouldn't be chasing a pretty much unchaseable total. Also, we had batsmen who did nothing, who would normall post a score. Vaughan, Bell, Flintoff et al, surely won't be going for single figures many more times, they are quality batsmen.
I've seen nothing here that persuades me that series is going to be a one-sided whitewash. The Aussies are human .

That's not a 'We could have / should have / would have...' argument. I just think that the 239 run defeat was more a result of us doing things wrong that we wouldn't usually do wrong, rather than Australia giving us a serious skooling and showing a massive gulf in class.

As for Pietersen (our only batsman of note this test), I'm not sure that his 50 in that innings quite makes up for 3 dropped catches. I mean, when he dropped Clarke on 21, that cost us 70 runs right there as he went on to make 91. Then he dropped Ponting who went on to make 40. Pietersen is a brilliant batsman and I know he can field better than he has done this match, but everyone in England will be sucking his dick, he's a big reason why we were chasing 420.

Magraa has to get MOTM; if he doesn't, there's something wrong. But special mention to our bowlers who I thought were superb. It wasn't their fault that we were **** in the field in the Aussie 2nd innings. Harmison was especially good. 5-43 in the first innings and 3-54 from 28 overs with 6 maidens in the 2nd innings. Great figures.

Well done to the Aussies and well played, bring on the next one . Bring it on .

 

Agreed, England have been the authors of their own calamity. KP aside England did not bat well enough, bowled poorly at the Australian tail and the catching has been wretched throughout.