1st Test: England v Australia

[Skater]

Originally Posted by zMario

Two "minnowish" teams taking each other on. Great cricket to watch

Pakistan aren't playing, mate.

[Howsie]

Originally Posted by Skater

Pakistan aren't playing, mate.

But they won the T20 WC so they're the best team in the world

[Skater]

Don't you just laugh when people try and downgrade the Ashes? The most intense and hard contested rivalry certainly in cricket, and maybe in sport as a whole. Australia are still ranked the best Test team in the world, and I don't think there's a single Aussie who would choose to beat anyone else but England.

[Dr. Pepper]

You took the bait.

[karnog]

Might i add that Johnson is a big game player so don't worry about Mitch. Just be happy he's injury free. And Broad. He'll be hot and cold. Look dangerous for a bit and then get slaughtered. Kinda like Morne Morkel. Hey does Broad have a sister?

[Insomniac]

Originally Posted by Skater

Don't you just laugh when people try and downgrade the Ashes? The most intense and hard contested rivalry certainly in cricket, and maybe in sport as a whole. Australia are still ranked the best Test team in the world, and I don't think there's a single Aussie who would choose to beat anyone else but England.

Anyway in all seriousness, I hope it's a little more competitive than the series in Australia.

[AndyRAC]

Originally Posted by zMario

Anyway in all seriousness, I hope it's a little more competitive than the series in Australia.

Which series would that be? Not the 2006/07....?? I can't believe all the rubbish I've read and heard recently about 2005. C'mon people, remember what happened in the last series - yeah 5-0!! It's as though they've tried to airbrush it out of history!

What on earth is The Sherminator doing in the squad? He even failed in the last match for the Lions v Australia. Madness.....

[evertonfan]

Because the England selectors love a bottler. Because they themselves are massive bottlers.

[Skater]

Rashid should have been in ahead of Panesar and Sidebottom ahead of Bell.

[King Pietersen]

No. Samit Patel should have been picked ahead of both of them. He's twice the player and twice the man. Perfect.

[ZexyZahid]

Originally Posted by Skater

Highlights of every day's play are on Five at 7.15pm. They have the right to show highlights of all England home tests and ODIs. BBC only showed the last Ashes series because it was overseas.

That's just great. That means no highlights for me.

Seriously, something must change within the government. I mean they can show horse racing on BBC, but they can't show cricket? Horse racing isn't that great 'crown jewel sport' then cricket.

[Themer]

Originally Posted by ZexyZahid

That's just great. That means no highlights for me.

Seriously, something must change within the government. I mean they can show horse racing on BBC, but they can't show cricket? Horse racing isn't that great 'crown jewel sport' then cricket.

It's nothing to do with the government BBC were outbidded by Five for the highlights package, I don't see whats wrong with that.

[Owzat]

Originally Posted by Maney2k9

Strauss
Cook
Bopara/Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Onions/Panesar

That's Englands 13-man squad, just announced.

Assuming they leave out Bell and decide on the day between Onions and Panesar, that isn't a bad XI. Personally I'd like England to play six batsmen, but I doubt they will. Worst thing we can do is lose the first Test, give the aussies momentum which has been the case in most of the previous Ashes series.

Ashes 1st Test (Last 10 Ashes Series)

06/07 : Toss = Australia, Result = Australia (277 runs). Series = AUS 5-0 ENG
2005 : Toss = Australia, Result = Australia (239 runs). Series = ENG 2-1 AUS
02/03 : Toss = England, Result = Australia (384 runs). Series = AUS 4-1 ENG
2001 : Toss = Australia , Result = Australia (Inns & 118 runs). Series = ENG 1-4 AUS
98/99 : Toss = Australia, Result = DRAW. Series = AUS 3-1 ENG
1997 : Toss = Australia, Result = England (9 wickets). Series = ENG 2-3 AUS
94/95 : Toss = Australia, Result = Australia (184 runs). Series = AUS 3-1 ENG
1993 : Toss = England, Result = Australia (179 runs). Series = ENG 1-4 AUS
90/91 : Toss = Australia, Result = Australia (10 wickets). Series = AUS 3-0 ENG
1989 : Toss = England, Result = Australia (210 runs). Series = ENG 0-4 AUS

1st Test Toss : AUS 7-3 ENG
1st Test Winners : AUS 8-1 ENG
Tests : AUS 34-9 ENG
Series Results : AUS 9-1 ENG


England have won the opening Test of the Ashes only once in the last 10 series, only once in the last 10 Ashes series has the 1st Test been drawn. Only twice in the last 10 Ashes series have England won two Tests


re : Harmison, Panesar and Bell. I'm surprised at Bell's inclusion, not surprised Harmison has not been included and wondering if Panesar deserves to be included on form and recent form for England - or even ahead of Rashid if we intend to play two spinners.

vs AUSTRALIA

Bell - 10 Tests, 502 runs @ 25.10 & 8-2-32-0
Harmison - 15 Tests*, 181 runs @ 8.23 & 40 wkts @ 42.98 (SR 74.15, ER 3.48)
Panesar - 3 Tests, 35 runs @ 7.00 & 10 wkts @ 37.90 (SR 53.70, ER 4.23)

*Harmison played in the mickey mouse Australia vs ICC match which is included. Harmison took 4/101 in the match so it doesn't dent his figures.

Bear in mind all three have been dropped in recent series, I think it is amazing two of them should be recalled for such a tough series. All the recalls of players like Bell, Panesar and Harmison proves is the selectors don't have much imagination when it comes to selection and are unwilling to take risks.

[aussie1st]

Hehe can't believe Bell is in the squad. That is one wicket Hauritz can get if they both play.

[Mercules]

Monty & Bell don't really deserve to play atm but I expect their positions are both superfluous so meh.