Ashes 2019

[dodge]

Love the pitches to be prepared so that scores of mid to high 200s are the norm.  Makes for tough, close cricket

[LP]

According to David Hussey, the pitches will all be very bowler friendly as the Poms believe that preventing our batsmen from getting away gives them their best chance.

I agree, poor wickets favor consistent bowlers.

The blokes who spray it can still have bad days on poor wickets, and Starc is the prime global candidate for a bowler who can have a bad day on a crap wicket!

Thommo was a classic for this, some days on any wicket including Indian or West Indian roads he was unplayable, but he was just as likely to go at 0/100 on a Gabba green top!

Someone like Siddle or Hazlewood, even Behrendorff could be unplayable on a sticky wicket.

[ElwoodBlues1]

We need to pick the best side though EB, Langer hasn't proven to me that he can pick the blokes that should be playing.  We have a history (in the last couple of series) of not picking the right blokes in England.  I really pity the selectors this time though.    For example, Langer loooooves Bancroft and Mitch Marsh.  But are they the best options for us?  Dunno about that. Marsh has burned us before ("but he can bowl"  pfft, so can my aunt) and Bancroft was a marginal player prior to his suspension.

I mean, Pattinson is bowling up a storm and Starc is bowling rope.  Who'd you go for?  Siddle isn't fashionable but he won't spray it around.  Starc might be a match winner....or take 0/97 off 15.

Warner will get a Guernsey...because he's Warner but his test record over there is average.

I think a proper, balanced side always has a specialist spinner...a green day one pitch (which might dry quickly BTW) might push them towards pace, yet the GOAT is the best performed Oz bowler of recent times.  Or do you pick Labusgne, who is batting solidly, a gun fielder and useful bowler?

And if Khawaja isn't fit I wouldn't be hanging out to pick him.  Needs to play cricket before being selected IMO  I remember his crap recent test form based on playing straight from rehab with no build up work. 

I wouldn't want to to be a selector but Id be going for solidity, not going all out to ace the first rubber  Its a series after all.

Take your point Prof...Poms are really playing a one day team with Roy, Denly, Stokes, Butler and their reliable's in Root and Bairstow in the top order, reckon Lyon is a lock to play given that lot play the quicks ok and are aggressive hitters in the main. Think we will go with Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon first up, I'm a Pattinson fan as he is aggressive, takes wickets plus handy with the willow and probably prefer him to Hazelwood but he struggles to stay on the park and Hazelwood has that reliability factor about him

Think we need to win that first test, when they have Archer(145-150kph) and Anderson fit I think its going to get a lot harder and they will be preparing some real Anderson friendly wickets in typical english fashion.
Hoping they are a bit cocky and still wallowing in their world cup victory(steal) and not switched on and we surprise them....

[Professer E]

Starc and Hazelwood worry me EB.  Both have been underwhelming for a while and given the frailty of both Audra's batting,  bowling is going to be key.  On green decks 3/30 is the kind of figures you need to return,  not 4/135. 

[laj]

In 8 tests he averages 37 with a high score of 85.

They seem to get him going hard at the ball and caught in gully a lot, which is not surprising on their decks

Last series he averaged 46 with 5 half centuries. 

Other 3 Tests were way back. Batted down the order after missing the first two Test for punching Joe Root.

[laj]

Starc and Hazelwood worry me EB.  Both have been underwhelming for a while and given the frailty of both Audra's batting,  bowling is going to be key.  On green decks 3/30 is the kind of figures you need to return,  not 4/135.

They might be lucky to play. Pattinson and Cummins will play and it's possibly they may even play Neser or Siddle as the 3rd bowler, two players who might be well suited in England. One of Starc or Hazelwood will likely play but it's no certainty.

[laj]

Take your point Prof...Poms are really playing a one day team with Roy, Denly, Stokes, Butler and their reliable's in Root and Bairstow in the top order, reckon Lyon is a lock to play given that lot play the quicks ok and are aggressive hitters in the main. Think we will go with Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon first up, I'm a Pattinson fan as he is aggressive, takes wickets plus handy with the willow and probably prefer him to Hazelwood but he struggles to stay on the park and Hazelwood has that reliability factor about him

Think we need to win that first test, when they have Archer(145-150kph) and Anderson fit I think its going to get a lot harder and they will be preparing some real Anderson friendly wickets in typical english fashion.
Hoping they are a bit cocky and still wallowing in their world cup victory(steal) and not switched on and we surprise them....

Huge, huge mistake if they leave Pattinson out. He's the best bowler of the entire group, especially in England.

Poms might think twice about green wickets after last night..lol.

[crashlander]

The Irish bowled the Poms out for less than 100 about Lunch time. That suggests to me that a green top is a poor choice for them.

[Professer E]

Love your theory Jim but Starc seems to have a mortgage with the new ball, can't see CA omitting a NSW incumbent. Pattinson reminds me of Steyn with that length and away movement....and enough pace to be nasty.  I'd pick him in a flash.  Hazelwoodor Siddle, not both.

[Jack Burton]

I reckon they'll pick all the NSW boys, Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon. I'd prefer Pattinson to all of the above except Cummins, but can't see them selecting him. Siddle would also be more reliable than either Starc or Hazlewood