Off Topic The Ashes

Can't see a thread on this as yet. What are people's hopes / expectations / fears?

I'm already fed up of the Aussie's 'trash talk' but am worried about the lack of experience in the squad - we're going to be extremely reliant on Cook, Root, Bairstow, Anderson and Broad.

Could be in for a few late nights / early mornings!

Think I'll predict a pessimistic 3-1 series loss

 

30 quid on the aussies to win 5-0 at 15/1.....I know where my loyalties are at the moment.......

Though realistically I think it'll be quite a low standard and even affair, think the Aussies will win 3-1 if they can keep their bowlers fit.

A lot has been written about our batting line up, but its the bowlers i'm worried about, Woakes is our quickest and most important bowler and as an all rounder too has become very important in Stokes' absence, I fear that Broad and Anderson could be blunted in Aus and be quite ineffective and don't think Ball is quite there yet.

 

Bloody hell - you think a 3-1 loss is a pessimistic prediction?!

We're going to get slaughtered. Their three quicks are far too good for our unproven batsmen (and I think Cook is past his best too).

Root, Bairstow and Moeen can't save us from 50/5 repeatedly.

5-0.

 

5-0 win, obviously.

 

We have the better batting line up, and it will come down how they handle the fire power the Aussies throw at us. There is no doubt their bowling line up is better in Aussie condition than ours, and how our batsmen can handle their quick's, In addition can our bowlers keep a tight line and restrict the Aussies to as few runs as possible.

Broad is the worry, hasn't really fired yet on this trip, hope he finds his rhythm in time..

 

Regulation 4 nowt

 

It's on BT sport isn't it ? Probably a good thing that I won't see any of it though

 

Eeesh

We’ll win it 4 nowt. One game will be declared void.

Quite looking forward to this series.

 

Yep, just signed up, bloody rip off - will be cancelling that as soon as the last test finishes

 

Best to listen to it on TMS on the radio, that is what I shall do from here. Fortunately I am closer to their time zone.

 

Looking at the Aussie squad, it doesn't exactly inspire. Last week I would have had a 2-1 aussie win, if they stick with the squad they'e named. I'd say reverse to England. Conditions this week should also favour us.
Pluknett should have replaced stokes. He's a solid 88-90mph bowler who can chip in with a solid 20 runs if pushed.

 

I agree, I would have taken Pluckett, you need pace on these Aussie pitches.

 

Plunkett barely plays any 4 day cricket anymore, he's become a 1 day specialist. Played 2 matches for Yorks this year and did sod all in both with the ball. He'd not last more than one test if he played down in aus on potentially unresponsive pitches

 

Great credit to the women, they just won the last T20 against the Aussies, chasing down a record total to draw their ashes series 8-8. Australia regain the Ashes as the are holders, but to square the series is a great effort.

 

He was injured for most of the season though.

 

I'd like to say I'm interested in it but I'm not anymore. Just overkill with England. Lost a lot of enjoyment.

 

Injured / not fit enough for the long form, think he's played short form for england something like 20 times this calendar year and is out in bangladesh at the moment so he's available, but I just don't think he can handle the long form anymore, which is sad as he'd be a shoe in for this attack if he could

 

Think we'll miss Stokes massively.
I don't think they are that fantastic. 3 world class players in Smith, Stark and Warner, they have no one else who has even established themselves in the team. Of their much vaunted bowling attack, Cummin and Bird have not played 10 tests. Lyon is only average.
Need to do well in first two tests. Momentum counts for a lot in Ashes series.
And no, Plunkett has done nothing recently with the red ball.

 

After getting off to an awful start with Cook going for just 2 Stoneman & Vince have steadied the ship to finish 59-1 at lunch.

 

Rain delays the start after lunch.