Ashes 2017/18

I'm not sure it will be as unequal a contest as the 'pomnisgambles' 5-0 but not banking on the success of 2011 either!

Australia are not so settled a side, especially batting, but the bowling unit looks good. I think we have several class players but they have to deliver and maybe one or two others emerge. I think Moeen's bowling may be important as the back up seamers look average to me (especially with Aussie conditions and the Kookaburra ball).

I hope it is a competitive series but one not marred by poor behaviour on and off the field. The nasty edge to Australian cricket in recent years I have found unpleasant. Warner has already started the process with his comments on 'war' and 'having to hate the opposition'. In similar vein I hope Stokes is allowed to cool his heels whatever happens with his investigation. Much as I'd love to see him play I think a bit of time to sort out some of his 'issues' would be wise even if he is not charged.

A close, hard-fought series is the ideal I suppose where I think home advantage will ultimately prevail. I love the Aussies passion for cricket and they produce a difficult, pressurised environment for visitors to play. A couple of days watching the Ashes at some of their grounds like the GABBA, WACCA and MCG is definitely on my bucket list.

Many years ago I watched India play at Eden Gardens  with a huge crowd. An cricket experience never to be beaten I think.

I don't think we will retain the Ashes, I just want a good competition. Mind you a drawn series would be enough...

I hope we get some sort of highlight package on free TV. Have not looked to see if Channel 5 are hosting it here.

Bruce

We bit the bullet earlier in the year and signed up with BT so that I can watch the Ashes and the young one can follow Inter Milan in Serie A.

I hope that MCC get stuffed 5-0 again. I fear they might win a match or two, but do I really care? I know that the R5 live (sports?) commentary team will be absolutely dreadful, but it will be my only recourse to live cricket.

TMS on digi radio Bbc4 extra has every ball Nick.

Looks like anyone can watch a free highlight package on the BT Sport website/BT Sport app. Nothing on TV.

Not great news when you have glacial internet speeds.

Bruce

Nathan Lyon has been singularly unpleasant in the press today. 'I hope we end several England careers on this tour'. Great professional respect.

These Aussies don't make it easy for us to like them.

Bring on the cricket...

How about a prediction Bruce?

To be honest neither team is very good at the moment and I think the winning team will be the one that has the least worst batsmen as the bowling attacks are about the same.

I think Root will bat heroically and be a brave captain but ultimately wont be able to carry us to a series victory.

3-1 to Oz imho.

Ray

Prediction?

If we avoid defeat at the Gabba we can benefit from the pink ball in the day-nighter...and maybe squeeze out a drawn series or narrow win. We forget that we have won 4 of the last 5 Ashes series. I think this Aussie batting line up is potentially brittle, and the bowling unit notoriously difficult to keep fit. They are nowhere near as settled or hardened as many Australian teams.

Realistically though if we lose the first Test I can doubt we will get back on terms, and it could be a long winter. 3:1 maybe?

So, with a Thursday off, I will be glued anxiously to my radio on Weds night. 

Bruce

A difficult Ashes to call, this one. If England's young talent gains early confidence the series could go well.

As an aside, annoyingly Sky has lost the TV coverage to BT Sport.  I've been a bit late in spotting that.  This was the final straw for me with Sky, on top of loss of Champions League football. Patience snapped today and I've given Sky notice and signed up to BT. Will miss the first test but hopefully will get the rest.

Intriguing day! looks well balanced to me-but I get the impression that it is not entirely clear what would be a good score on a pitch that seems to be quite unexpected not least in terms of spin. Will batting get easier for a the next couple of days?

Time for Malan/Ali/Bairstow/Woakes to add 200 runs if they can.

Bruce

Hmmm.....England on the back foot after day 3. Bit annoyed with the reckless way Cook got himself out. Loved Cummins effort today with bat and ball.

Key session in the morning.

England down and out?

In the game for 3 1/2 days, blah blah blah......couple of key moments went the wrong way, blah, blah, blah....

Good to see world order restored. Now if we can only see the other evils put in their place.....

Going to be tough from here. England underpowered with the ball particularly. Moeen Ali a big disappointment vs Lyon. Smith's innings sounded fantastic-and crucial. I'm not sure either of these two teams are particularly brilliant but struggle to see us turning it around. Something tells me that the pressure to bring in Stokes has just gone up a notch. Personally I hope it is resisted .

Nick, which world order is that? The one where 4 of the last 5 Ashes have been won by England? The one where England are rated two places higher in the ICC test rankings, and 3 places higher at T20?

The one where the Aussie RU team get thrashed by Scotland?

Have to get some crumbs of comfort this morning.

Bruce

The correct world order is where England are ranked below Holland.

Stokes belongs in jail, with the key thrown away.

T20 is not cricket, it is a sop to the instant gratification required by the football 'fans' who now seem to comprise England's support base.

I care not a jot about any rugby team in the northern hemisphere, except for France and Italy. Frankly,watching paint dry is preferable to watching the 'Home Nations' play rugby. 

Nick from Suffolk posted:

The correct world order is where England are ranked below Holland.

Stokes belongs in jail, with the key thrown away.

T20 is not cricket, it is a sop to the instant gratification required by the football 'fans' who now seem to comprise England's support base.

I care not a jot about any rugby team in the northern hemisphere, except for France and Italy. Frankly,watching paint dry is preferable to watching the 'Home Nations' play rugby. 

A little harsh on Stokes and England, and a little over the top, surely? I seem to recall quite a few excellent performances by the England cricket team in the recent past. 

Anyway, I would have thought that England's focus in Australia should be on the T20 and 1 day games, given that 5 day cricket is now beginning to show its age and is widely perceived (quite rightly in my opinion) as being more than just a little boring.

Your comment about northern hemisphere rugby teams is also a little harsh. France can normally be relied upon to provide some exciting rugby as can Ireland, and Scotland's performances in their last 3 games under Gregor Townsend have been a revelation. Of course, you wouldn't have had much interest in Scotland's rugby match at the weekend, but after all there would have been an 'exciting' southern hemisphere side on show as well.  

Just joking!

I know what it's like to support teams (club and country) that constantly fail to deliver, so you have my sympathy.

Just been reading the reports on the 'headbutt' incident. What sort of idiot is Bairstow? Very lucky, in my opinion, to escape sanction. I would drop him for minimum of one test. I really don't understand how half our players have the nerve to describe themselves as professionals! Little boys who need to grow up, more like.

Fair play to the Aussies for their win in the first test.

I think Adelaide offers better conditions for England plus the chance of more swing around dusk.

We need to find answers to Smith and Lyon first though to stand any chance at all.

Ray

Nick from Suffolk posted:

The correct world order is where England are ranked below Holland

 

That bloke who jumped from a hotel window in South Africa once captained England to a loss to the Netherlands.

Nick from Suffolk posted:

Stokes belongs in jail, with the key thrown away.

 

Yep, lock him up and throw away the key. But wait, he's scarpered to New Zealand! Hoping to get a game in Christchurch, then he'll be nearby when the call comes, in Perth most likely. What a cunning plan!

Some of those poms in the stand in Brisbane looked like boiled lobsters, have they never heard of sunscreen? Right about now they'll be suffering as much as their sad sack brethren were on the field. 

Bazz have you had a bad day at work or a row with the missus?

Nah, retired ten years ago and the missus is a sweetie. Just a bit of fun with pommie cricketers.

No worries Bazz,

I do like the Aussies passion for cricket.

When I worked in Saudi Arabia, my English boss and his family had bought a house in Perth and would go there in the holidays. This was during the 2008 whitewash and every tradesman who came to do work at the house would give him a proper ribbing - even his missus would get stick from the Sheilas on the school run.

Ray

It's all relative Ray, those same guys come over to play in the Big Bash and get cheered, but everyone likes to get stuck into the pommie test team.

James Vince got a late call up to the Bash last year. Said in an interview he was hoping to raise his profile with the England selectors. Fortunately for the Aussies he did.