posted Nov 3, 2006

yes, i'm afraid you're probably right. The truth is, the team last year was, for the only time in the history of england test cricket, at full-strength, with our best players all fit and on form. Nothing could be further from the truth this time, especially in the bowling department. And yes, the different make of ball could be crucial. Nothing's impossible, and if Fletcher is shrewd enough to play a spin-heavy attack in the right games, we could do well. but another series win without a decent seam attack? too much to hope for, I fear...

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posted Nov 3, 2006

I'm trying not to get too excited as it won't be a repeat of last year. The chances of three close games are very small.

How often are England going to bowl Australia out? The attacks are hardly equal as suggested here.

Also, appointing Flintoff was a mistake. He can't do it all (remember Botham '81).

3-1 to Australia and I'm afraid a big anti-climax, over before Sydney, maybe even Melbourne. I hope I am wrong. Everyone wants to see it going down to the last afternoon and get both countries buzzing again. Cricket needs it desperately.

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posted Nov 3, 2006

I actually think England will retain the ashes. Before they havn't had the belief they can do it, and as they won last time they will be confident. Youngsters such as mahmood, panesar and cook want to cement their places and put their names down as excellent players and I think that will help as well. Also, Australia's bwoling attack relies heavily upon warne. Sure, McGrath and Lee are good players and watson and johnson are good young players, but for how much longer can Australia rely on Warne to sneak a result?

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posted Nov 3, 2006

Yes, I believe cricket to be the greatest game invented by man and a game of the mind.Not bombast whichich the assies employ.
England KNOW they can win. Flintoff is the man they fear and respect and therefore has to be the man for the job.

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posted Nov 3, 2006

Firstly i would like to say that whatever team wins the ashes this year, i hope that it will be enjoyable or even mor eciting to watch then last year.
Although with englands current form and their past history in australia i find it hard to imagine the ashes staying with england.
englands bowling attack at times can be first class with the likes of mahmood and plunkett (when on form) to produce a breath taking display. Although reversing that when not on form they can produce some abosolutely atrocious cricket.
Australia on the other hand have been fairly consistent since the last ashes and have done fairly well to rectafy the mistakes they made in losing it in the first place, with the likes of watson, bracken and johnson steping up to the plate.
Overall id say decisive of who ever wins the ashes i hope that the cricket keeps me pinned to my seat and regardless of the outcome some amazing cricket will be played.
gd luck to the bot australia and england and lets hope for a better ashes the last year.

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posted Nov 3, 2006

Australia will win. No doubt. You would have to be a mad patriotic to think England will retain the Ashes

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posted Nov 3, 2006

England are all but ready for the Ashes but Ill alugh if anyone thinks we will win the VB series after the terrible playing we do in One Dayers and recently in the ICC Champy Trophy!
If Thescothick, Strauss, Pietersen and Bell sharpen up their batting and Freddie, Hoggy, Harmy, Gilesy and Monty sharpen up their bowling we will have the Aussies everywhere.
It jut depend son how Giles and Panesar get used as most of the pitches at the 5 tests will suit the spinner so Shane Wrane will be a threat to us but I dont think we will be challeneged this time so I hope Freddie and the boys retain and return the Ashes home (Again)

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posted Nov 4, 2006

"we all know theyll go from 80-0 to 163-7 each match"

Yes, like in the last Ashes when England's first innings scores were: 155, 407, 444, 477, 373.

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posted Nov 5, 2006

I've seen enough of this current England test team to know that they are capable of beating absolutely anyone.
I agree it is asking an awful lot for Freddy & Big Steve to find their best form from injury & confidence dips practically overnight, but it can be done.
All of our pace attack have shown at some point what they can do with the Kookaburra ball.
I believe the Bowlers will deliver.
The problem as always will be the batting and in my opinion one decision that will be key, is whether Fletcher & Freddie believe Cook is ready to walk into those 5 Lions dens? I do not believe he is.
Bell has been smarting for 18 months as he remembers how the Aussies laughed at him as he failed in the last Ashes, and it seems to me that he became a stronger Batsman for it.
Cook is going to become a first class Test match Batsman no doubt, and he should definitely be first replacement if any Batsman doesn’t perform.

I cannot make up my mind if I fancy 2 spinners or not, apart from Perth in which it may be a good idea as the fastest pitch in Oz has now apparently become the slowest pitch.
Either way what a fantastic sub fielder we have in Giles!

Success for either side all comes down to those dozen or so occasions in a Test where an outcome can be changed or enforced. I.e. A catch, a partnership or a well timed wicket.
What has impressed me about the new look England, is their understanding of this which is vital as Oz have known this for years.

Come on England!! Win or lose just do us proud!

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posted Nov 5, 2006

I'm not a long standing Cricket fan, but last year I got completely hooked like millions of others in the England.
The BBC website pages that explained the intricacies of the bowling actions and flight of balls per over was a really excellent, and helped me to understand a little more about the finer points of the game.
Freddie seems like a good man, he helps out his mate when he gets homesick, and his relaxed style must surely conceal a gritty determination.
It’s will be difficult to excel at the twin roles of captain and world class all-rounder as Botham discovered in ’81.
Flintoff is obviously a gifted performer and we need him to concentrate on getting runs and wickets with the rest of the team if we are to retain the Ashes. If his team mates support him in his Captaincy role as he has supported them in the past, I think we could pull of a surprise down under this winter. Good luck lads – eat lots of red meat and growl before you walk onto the pitch.

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