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The Ashes

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TopCat

Striker
According to Mark Butcher, we are going to get a "hiding" in the summer and should hide behind the sofa. I know we've had a pummeling this month in the WC, but are we that bad as a Test Team? Also, are Australia that good? I know they did us 5-0 in the last series, but with Clarke, Haddin and Watson creaking and showing their age, Johnson on the wrong side of 30, Harris being patched up time and time again surely we have enough to be competitive?

It's a long way away, but what would be everyone's Team/Squad for the summer?

I'd go (assuming KP isn't every playing for England again):

Cook (c)
Trott
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Ali
Buttler
Broad
Plunkett
Anderson

(Mills)
(Lees)

Should be enough there to post decent scores and take 20 wickets. I worry about Broad though - he looks a shadow of the player he was 2 years ago. Am I missing any young options that could force their way in?
 

TopCat said:
According to Mark Butcher, we are going to get a "hiding" in the summer and should hide behind the sofa. I know we've had a pummeling this month in the WC, but are we that bad as a Test Team? Also, are Australia that good? I know they did us 5-0 in the last series, but with Clarke, Haddin and Watson creaking and showing their age, Johnson on the wrong side of 30, Harris being patched up time and time again surely we have enough to be competitive?

It's a long way away, but what would be everyone's Team/Squad for the summer?

I'd go (assuming KP isn't every playing for England again):

Cook (c)
Trott
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Ali
Buttler
Broad
Plunkett
Anderson

(Mills)
(Lees)

Should be enough there to post decent scores and take 20 wickets. I worry about Broad though - he looks a shadow of the player he was 2 years ago. Am I missing any young options that could force their way in?
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Don't think we'll win a test this summer to be honest against NZ or Aussies.
 
Mrjardine said:
Don't think we'll win a test this summer to be honest against NZ or Aussies.
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That is some claim. I know NZ are emerging but early season conditions in England? You'd take out attack over their's to make the most of it. I know McCullum is a good captain, but biffing only really works in limite overs, can't see him knocking 7 shades out of our attack on a green top in June
 
TopCat said:
That is some claim. I know NZ are emerging but early season conditions in England? You'd take out attack over their's to make the most of it. I know McCullum is a good captain, but biffing only really works in limite overs, can't see him knocking 7 shades out of our attack on a green top in June
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Anderson yes but think southee and boult will be just as potent in our early summer conditions to be honest.
Not sure what impact the IPL has on their test match commitments mind. If no McCullum or taylor for first test I may retract my earlier statement.
 
Mrjardine said:
Anderson yes but think southee and boult will be just as potent in our early summer conditions to be honest.
Not sure what impact the IPL has on their test match commitments mind. If no McCullum or taylor for first test I may retract my earlier statement.
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Southee is a talent like. I'd still take us to beat NZ, but the Aussies worry me....
 
The West Indies tour is important to sort out a proper team.

Incidentally, looking at that list show the difficulty Stokes has in batting at an appropriate batting position as Ali is also batting too low.
 
Bri said:
Incidentally, looking at that list show the difficulty Stokes has in batting at an appropriate batting position as Ali is also batting too low.
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Yeah I know. Difficult fitting them all in, but I think they both warrant a place in the team.
 
You have to fancy the Aussies but I don't think we will get a hiding. Anderson will suddenly look a world beater bowling with a Dukes ball to 4 slips, and whatever we think about the ODI batting, Cook, Bell, Root etc are all excellent test batsmen.
 
TopCat said:
According to Mark Butcher, we are going to get a "hiding" in the summer and should hide behind the sofa. I know we've had a pummeling this month in the WC, but are we that bad as a Test Team? Also, are Australia that good? I know they did us 5-0 in the last series, but with Clarke, Haddin and Watson creaking and showing their age, Johnson on the wrong side of 30, Harris being patched up time and time again surely we have enough to be competitive?

It's a long way away, but what would be everyone's Team/Squad for the summer?

I'd go (assuming KP isn't every playing for England again):

Cook (c)
Trott
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Ali
Buttler
Broad
Plunkett
Anderson

(Mills)
(Lees)

Should be enough there to post decent scores and take 20 wickets. I worry about Broad though - he looks a shadow of the player he was 2 years ago. Am I missing any young options that could force their way in?
Click to expand...

We certainly have a chance I agree, Broad was excellent this summer in England, and n the Ashes in Australia, have people forgotton this? ODI stuff aside he is a good test bowler still

You are spot on with that test team mate, literally exactly what I would pick

Its a good side

Carteron said:
You have to fancy the Aussies but I don't think we will get a hiding. Anderson will suddenly look a world beater bowling with a Dukes ball to 4 slips, and whatever we think about the ODI batting, Cook, Bell, Root etc are all excellent test batsmen.
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He won't just look a world beater, he is a world beater in England, no shame in that.

brandon said:
Cook
Lyth
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Ali
Buttler
Plunkett
Broad
Anderson
Click to expand...

Yep, I like the OP would have Trott in, and he will play IMO, but no problem with others going for a younger lad

Plunkett needs to be used as a wicket taking bowler, forget this short stuff and tell him to go in and bowl fast. Wasn't treated well last summer and got the injury because of it.

Bri said:
The West Indies tour is important to sort out a proper team.

Incidentally, looking at that list show the difficulty Stokes has in batting at an appropriate batting position as Ali is also batting too low.
Click to expand...

I am not totally convinced by Ali as a batsman myself, I would like him lower than 6 for sure

Just needs to focus on his bowling, as he will never be one of the top 6 batsman in the country IMO, no shame in that mind
 
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I think there has been a massive over reaction to the state of English cricket, the likes of Vaughan can't wait to stick their boot in

OK, I accept the ODI side is shite, but its inexperienced, and we have been shite at ODI since I have been a live, we have failed to get out of the group stages 3 times, nothings changed

In the test arena I think we are looking OK, the main worry is the lack of back up for Anderson and Broad, but I believe Anderson can play for years, as his run up is quite economical.

People forget that the great team from a few years ago has split up, we have lost some world class players one way or another, it was always going to take a bit of time, but I think test cricket is healthy in England

Don't think you can relate the 2, and anyone slagging off England (rightfully so) needs to point out they are talking about the ODI side, not the test side.
 
johnson said:
I think there has been a massive over reaction to the state of English cricket, the likes of Vaughan can't wait to stick their boot in

OK, I accept the ODI side is shite, but its inexperienced, and we have been shite at ODI since I have been a live, we have failed to get out of the group stages 3 times, nothings changed

In the test arena I think we are looking OK, the main worry is the lack of back up for Anderson and Broad, but I believe Anderson can play for years, as his run up is quite economical.

People forget that the great team from a few years ago has split up, we have lost some world class players one way or another, it was always going to take a bit of time, but I think test cricket is healthy in England

Don't think you can relate the 2, and anyone slagging off England (rightfully so) needs to point out they are talking about the ODI side, not the test side.
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:eek:
 
smoker said:
:eek:
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there is

whats changed? the ODI team is as shite as ever

the test team isn't

read my post and actually explain yourself, rather than just posting a icon

At the end of the day, most England fans care more about test cricket than ODI cricket, so I am not pretending I care that we were shite this WC

Its all about the series in the Windies for me
 
johnson said:
there is

whats changed? the ODI team is as shite as ever

the test team isn't

read my post and actually explain yourself, rather than just posting a icon

At the end of the day, most England fans care more about test cricket than ODI cricket, so I am not pretending I care that we were shite this WC

Its all about the series in the Windies for me
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Agree with you. Whilst it's disappointing to see how we have deteriorated since the 2011 "World No.1" days, we have lost some genuinely world class players in Strauss, Swann, Pietersen, Prior and Trott. I'm encouraged by the likes of Ballance, Stokes, Ali and Buttler, whilst Root has kicked on to show the quality player he is after they stopped messing him around up and down the order.

I'm with you on ODIs - it's Test Cricket's gaudy slapper of a sister. Yes it's nice to look and and you get a cheap thrill, but it's miles away from the class and subtlety of Test Cricket
 
TopCat said:
Agree with you. Whilst it's disappointing to see how we have deteriorated since the 2011 "World No.1" days, we have lost some genuinely world class players in Strauss, Swann, Pietersen, Prior and Trott. I'm encouraged by the likes of Ballance, Stokes, Ali and Buttler, whilst Root has kicked on to show the quality player he is after they stopped messing him around up and down the order.

I'm with you on ODIs - it's Test Cricket's gaudy slapper of a sister. Yes it's nice to look and and you get a cheap thrill, but it's miles away from the class and subtlety of Test Cricket
Click to expand...

It's a bit of a joke ODI cricket this world cup, with the 2 new balls and fielding restrictions, it is just 6 and 4 overload, don't find teams scoring 350 every time entertaining personally, not just saying that because we are shite

the best part of the tournament was when Starc was blowing 90mp and swinging it against NZ

Just don't think England should be judged entirely on this

they have 17 test matches or something this year, can't wait personally, and I doubt many on here moaning or will give a shit about the pointless ODI series before or after series againsr South Africa, Australia and NZ
 
In my opinion, the members of the team who had the backbone/arrogance to stand up to the Aussies have lost form or gone. Anderson, even in English conditions, is not the player he was and he won't get any better....they will not be losing the same amount of sleep over him and Broad as we will over their bowlers. Remember, they weren't beaten in the test series in Australia, they were humiliated....fucked like corn dollies. (And yes, I do know that the conditions are different). Although of course it is possible, that will take some reversal of fortune.
 
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