Ashes Discussion

[The True King]

I reckon England are a long way off being competitive here, their problem is they can't take 20 wickets and with Anderson surely on the cusp of retirement and Broad whilst he's probably got another tour here left in him he's not very threatening in our conditions.

Their spinners, Leach got belted out of the attack in the first game to the point where in the 2nd game they were of the opinion that Joe Root's part time off-spin would've done the job and in all fairness it probably did but still, they don't have a world class top line spinner who can bowl 20 overs in an innings and consistently bowl good balls.

Just on Leach, it's been said he has a good average, it's clear to see why that is. They obviously only play him when they believe the conditions will suit.

The batting line up is so sub-par it really doesn't matter who they have bowling.

I actually don't think you need a decent spinner to do well in Australia but you sure do need batsmen who know when to leave the ball.

England in 2010/11 had Cook, Trott and Bell who were able to wear our bowlers down. Cook alone faced nearly 1500 balls that series. RSA had De Kock, Duminy and Faf du Plessis, and India had Pujara and Rahane who faced 500+ balls each.

I look at this current England side and apart from Root there is no one there you'd back to survive 200+ deliveries in an innings.

 

[Fitzy]

England could take 20 wickets but the two guys who can in Wood and Archer are made of glass.

Jofra is good but he doesn’t change the result of the previous 2 matches. Ashes the past decade has been Australia is the better team but a lack of familiarity with away conditions evens out the contest. Whereas on these shores they have got no clue on top of already being significantly worse than us at test level. Archer may have done well in England and still would probably have his successes here but it wouldn’t be significant enough to turn the result in England’s favour or even lessen the extent to which they are getting beaten by that much.

 

[Unbreakable]

Early mail for the Boxing Day test -

Cummins returns
Starc & Green both fit and likely to back up
Harris likely to be given another chance
Hazlewood 50/50, may be rested if not 100%, in favour of Jhye Richardson

 

[tommy]

Early mail for the Boxing Day test -

Cummins returns
Starc & Green both fit and likely to back up
Harris likely to be given another chance
Hazlewood 50/50, may be rested if not 100%, in favour of Jhye Richardson

Cummins as captain?

 

[Sproj]

Cummins as captain?

Of course.

 

[Blindside Bronco]

Catches win matches!
Enough said about England.

 

[Big Del]

Neser reminds me so much of Harris.

Andy Bichel for mine .
His running style and action .

 

[Sproj]

Boland has been added to the squad for the next test with fitness concerns over Starc and Hazlewood. He is unlikely to play but he has been banging the door down a very long time now, I am happy to see some recognition of that.

 

[Foordy]

England have made 4 changes for the boxing day test

Zak Crawley (avg 28.34 from 15 tests) replaces Rory Burns

Jonny Bairstow (has not averaged over 31 since 2017 and averages just 27.30 from seven Tests against Australia) replaces Ollie Pope

Mark Wood replaces Stuart Broad

Jack Leach replaces Chris Woakes

 

[Sproj]

Man, just man. Why keep going back to Bairstow? Woakes has been their second best bat. Wood is a good in. I know Foakes isn’t in Oz but I would have gone:

1. Sibley
2. Hameed
3. Malan
4. Root
5. Stokes
6. Foakes
7. Woakes
8. Bess/Robinson as spin option
9. Broad
10. Wood
11. Anderson

 

[BooKhaki]

Boland for Neser is a joke.

Bring Boland in for Harris, Neser can open and bowl the same limited overs he was given in Adelaide.

 

[Allo]

Boland to debut, Ness out for Cummins, Richardson rested with a leg strain, Hazelwood still out

Easy for a Victorian to get handed a home debut

 

[BroncosFever]

Boland hasn't ever impressed me and I try to be impartial about it, I love a Queenslander as much as anyone and I would love Neser to be out there but back on Boland.. I just don't see what he brings that Neser wouldn't and it's real handy having Neser down there with the bat.

I know they don't pick bowlers for batting but he's nearly a genuine all-rounder against a tiring attack.

 

[Sproj]

Boland is extremely underrated, he’s relentless and wears batsmen down. It’s a shame Richardson is injured again.

It seems the selectors are moneyballing the selection as both Neser and Richardson don’t have great records at the MCG, Borland’s record there though is incredible.

 

[1910]

Boland for Neser is a joke.

Bring Boland in for Harris, Neser can open and bowl the same limited overs he was given in Adelaide.

Nesser is injured again.

 

[Big Del]

Boland hasn't ever impressed me and I try to be impartial about it, I love a Queenslander as much as anyone and I would love Neser to be out there but back on Boland.. I just don't see what he brings that Neser wouldn't and it's real handy having Neser down there with the bat.

I know they don't pick bowlers for batting but he's nearly a genuine all-rounder against a tiring attack.

It`s his average at the MCG .
I think it was Warnie who was quoting his numbers . Very good at MCG . Horses for courses .

Since the start of 2018/19, Boland has taken 37 first-class wickets from five matches at the MCG, at an average of 13.22, strike rate of 33.68 and economy of 2.35.

 

[1910]

It`s his average at the MCG .
I think it was Warnie who was quoting his numbers . Very good at MCG . Horses for courses .

Since the start of 2018/19, Boland has taken 37 first-class wickets from five matches at the MCG, at an average of 13.22, strike rate of 33.68 and economy of 2.35.

It’s not just that; since 2011 he has been one of the best performing bowlers.

Bird 307
Sayers 278
Copeland 257
Mennie 256
Boland 249
Tremain 225

 

[Unbreakable]

It’s not just that; since 2011 he has been one of the best performing bowlers.

Bird 307
Sayers 278
Copeland 257
Mennie 256
Boland 249
Tremain 225

Sayers & Mennie will go down as 2 of the unluckiest bowlers of the last few decades.

Sayers - 320 wickets, 26.5 avg, 2.6 economy, 59 strike rate
Mennie - 297 wickets, 26.1 avg, 2.8 economy, 55 strike rate

Very unlucky not to get more opportunities than a single test match each.

In fact, all of those guys you listed have phenomenal FC records, fast bowling depth certainly wasn't an issue over the last 5-10 years.