All kicks off on Wednesday at Cardiff. Will any of you be watching? Do England have a chance? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Ashes 2015: Australia in England - fixtures & squads England squad for first Test: Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance (both Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Jos Buttler (Lancashire, wk), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham), James Anderson (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex). Australia Test squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith (vice-capt), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson. June 25-28 v Kent, Canterbury Australia won by 255 runs Match report. Scorecard July 1-4 v Essex, Chelmsford Australia won by 169 runs Scorecard 8-12 1st Test, Cardiff (11:00 BST) 16-20 2nd Test, Lord's (11:00 BST) 23-25 v Derbyshire, Derby (11:00 BST) 29-2 Aug 3rd Test, Edgbaston (11:00 BST) August 6-10 4th Test, Trent Bridge (11:00 BST) 14-16 v Northants, Northampton (11:00 BST) 20-24 5th Test, The Oval (11:00 BST) 27 ODI: Ireland v Australia, Stormont (10:45 BST) 31 Twenty20 international, Cardiff September 3 1st ODI, Southampton (d/n) 5 2nd ODI, Lord's 8 3rd ODI, Old Trafford (d/n) 11 4th ODI, Headingley 13 5th ODI, Old Trafford
Can't wait. I'm a little more confident now after some performances against the Kiwi's. And now they've lost Harris, I think it's wide open now.
We need to start building our team around the obvious next England captain, Joe Root. I would go back to one captain for all forms of the game as not only is he a fantastic cricketer in one day and test cricket, he also has a great cricket brain. He will be monumental in this series.
Nice thread Billy. Well looking forward to this, going to first day at Cardiff on Wednesday and 4th day at Edgebaston. Top day out as long as it doesn't piss down all day! Harris being out is a definite plus, Sure Michael Vaughan said he was their best bowler and biggest threat before he ****ed his knee. Took some wickets against us down the years like. Anyone know what the craic is with Monty (Panesar, not the crackers one on here?) Saw he was unavailable for selection for his county. All sounds very odd especially with him having pissed on that bouncer before. Some issues of some sort which seem out of character if that makes sense?
Totally mate, reckon a bit more time yet like, no rush to move Cook on while the team are in transition and Root still learning. Great to have him there though cos until recently there was no alternative and I think you're right he'll the main man and a top captain one day soon
Against New Zealand, Ian Bell dropped a few piss easy catches. Moeen Ali impressed me though Dunno what's up with Monty. What happened to Graham Onions?
Aye shame about Bell mate. Too inconsistent but a brilliant talent. Ali looks good but Rashid a better spinner on the right pitch I think. Probably depends on the pitch and how confident we feel in the batting at the time. What has happened to Onions? Always looked canny. Don't feel he's been given a fair chance like. That guy Wodd looks good too. Suddenly we have a few options which is what is needed cos there will be injuries/gash form
Perhaps because it's the England & Wales Cricket Board ...... and Cardiff has offered more on the back of Welsh Government funding?
Can't wait for this. Would love the thread to be stickied for the duration. Think it could go 2-1 either way with 1 test washed out and the other a draw. Renewed optimism after the series with the Kiwis. With some added hunger with Wood, Lyth etc. That Wood is quick mind - batted against him 2 seasons back and couldn't see the ball. Ended up hitting me in the helmet!!
Wood is a great talent and could be our number 2 strike bowler ahead of Broad but behind Anderson. In English conditions we are hard to beat and i'm pretty confident. Our main worry is the lack of form of Ballance and Bell. Get Lythe out the team too imo. Get an opener out and with our 3 and 4 terribly out of form they are into our middle order. But i think Bell will come good..
Listen to you all sounding somewhat confident... Sorry fellas, no chance. The Aussies are gonna steamroll ya