The Ashes 2015

The_President

A tantalising summer of cricket entails with Australia as the visitors for The Ashes - the second time in three years.

Test Match Fixtures are

Wednesday 8th July 2015
Venue: The SWALEC Stadium
Thursday 16th July 2015
Venue: Lord's
Wednesday 29th July 2015
Venue: Edgbaston
Thursday 6th August 2015
Venue: Trent Bridge
Thursday 20th August 2015
Venue: The Kia Oval

Oz start as favourites, but if England click and are able to tame the lefties of Starc and Johnson then maybe they can surprise a few people.

I think it will end up 3-1 to Oz.

CHG

I, unfortunately, cannot see anything other than a comfortable Aussie series win.

The way they are currently playing Bishoo suggests that if we had a spinner or two then it might be a different story.

Covered End

We're going to Day 3 Edgbaston and Day 1 The Oval.

Lazy_eye_metaphor

We need a specialist spinner for sure. Moeen Ali is not justifying his place at the moment with neither bat nor ball.

Gravesend_Addick

I've got tickets for day 4 at The Oval. Hope it goes that far!

dancafc

Me and my brother have got days 3 and 5 at the oval can't wait

Sir Chrissy

Days 1 and 3 for me at the Oval. Just praying there's something still to play for when it comes to it!

Can't currently see it that way but stranger things have happened...

dancafc

Sir Chrissy said:

Days 1 and 3 for me at the Oval. Just praying there's something still to play for when it comes to it!

Can't currently see it that way but stranger things have happened...

I'm just praying I get to see a ball bowled coz the last ashes here I had day 3 at the oval and it pissed down all day and all that happened is I got out of my face and had to get back to Sittingbourne on the train on my own where I feel asleep and some fucker nicked my fags

killerandflash

Voges has got a century on debut, while Bishoo the W Indies leg spinner has got 6-75.

Of course, England wouldn't take a leg spinner to the W Indies and not play him would they...

AddicktedJoe

Got Days 1 and 5 at the Oval, Starc my bet for top wicket taker

Leuth

Starc? I'd wager no chance. This Hazlewood character, though...sheesh. They've built another one

carly burn

Pray for a long wet summer I say.

Addick Addict

AddicktedJoe said:

Got Days 1 and 5 at the Oval, Starc my bet for top wicket taker

I'd put in your request for a refund now for day 5 if I were you ;-(

red_murph

Day 4 at The Oval for me.

Chizz

England have lots of sorting out to do. A bit more than tinkering and a bit less than a complete re-think.

The openers (Cook and Lyth) look set to play the entire series. Ballance, Bell and Root will be the engine room. Bell needs to find form and Root's the real deal. But Ballance still has a lot to prove, even though he's averaging more than fifty. So, 1-5 looks solid enough. But then England seem to have three number sevens (Stokes, Buttler, Ali) and three number elevens (Broad - whose form has been abysmal since he got hit - Wood and Anderson). There's nothing intrinsically wrong with the batting line-up (even KP's average wouldn't get him a spot in the top order) but it needs to fire.

The problem is that the bowling attack is, if anything, less predictable (with one exceptional exception). Jimmy Anderson would open the bowling in any England team. But Stuart Broad must be on borrowed time now. Wood looks like he has something about him - not least some proper pace. And Ben Stokes is an adequate fourth seamer. There are several key bowlers waiting their turn, of whom I think Steve Finn and Chris jordan lead the pack.

But that leaves the spinner, where, since Swann's departure, we've gone from riches to rags. Mooen Ali is never going to be as good a spinner as Graeme Swann, who won two home Ashes series. But the hope is he can do as good a job as Ashley Giles, who won one.

It's fourteen years since we last lost a home Ashes series. (I never thought I would hear myself saying that). I see no reason why, if England can fire on all cylinders, that that can't be stretched further.

Riviera

I'm at Cardiff for the beginning of it all. Worth it just to see The Red Arrows.

killerandflash

Day 4 at Cardiff, and Day 4 at the Oval,

killerandflash

Chizz said:

England have lots of sorting out to do. A bit more than tinkering and a bit less than a complete re-think.

The openers (Cook and Lyth) look set to play the entire series. Ballance, Bell and Root will be the engine room. Bell needs to find form and Root's the real deal. But Ballance still has a lot to prove, even though he's averaging more than fifty. So, 1-5 looks solid enough. But then England seem to have three number sevens (Stokes, Buttler, Ali) and three number elevens (Broad - whose form has been abysmal since he got hit - Wood and Anderson). There's nothing intrinsically wrong with the batting line-up (even KP's average wouldn't get him a spot in the top order) but it needs to fire.

The problem is that the bowling attack is, if anything, less predictable (with one exceptional exception). Jimmy Anderson would open the bowling in any England team. But Stuart Broad must be on borrowed time now. Wood looks like he has something about him - not least some proper pace. And Ben Stokes is an adequate fourth seamer. There are several key bowlers waiting their turn, of whom I think Steve Finn and Chris jordan lead the pack.

But that leaves the spinner, where, since Swann's departure, we've gone from riches to rags. Mooen Ali is never going to be as good a spinner as Graeme Swann, who won two home Ashes series. But the hope is he can do as good a job as Ashley Giles, who won one.

It's fourteen years since we last lost a home Ashes series. (I never thought I would hear myself saying that). I see no reason why, if England can fire on all cylinders, that that can't be stretched further.

Moeen is no Ashley Giles, Tredwell would be the nearest bowler, a solid team player who will keep things tight. Moeen is currently bowling too many loose balls, and can't maintain pressure

pickwick

Day 3 at Edgbaston for me

But look at what is going on in the West Indies I am not convinced they are much better than us. We may loose 5-0 of course but I think it will be much closer 2-1 either way. I can now stop grasping the Kitchen table.

Carter

pickwick said:

Day 3 at Edgbaston for me

But look at what is going on in the West Indies I am not convinced they are much better than us. We may loose 5-0 of course but I think it will be much closer 2-1 either way. I can now stop grasping the Kitchen table.

Haha that's the same one I'm clinging to

Redhenry

Day 3 Edgbaston and day 1 Oval

Lincsaddick

Note that it was the spinner who yesterday did most of the damage to the Australian batting .. in extremis, pick Tredwell in the squad .. an Ashes series is really no time for experimenting with 'promising young spinners' or 'still promising but as yet to deliver' older spinners

The_President

Lincsaddick said:

Note that it was the spinner who yesterday did most of the damage to the Australian batting .. in extremis, pick Tredwell in the squad .. an Ashes series is really no time for experimenting with 'promising young spinners' or 'still promising but as yet to deliver' older spinners

You might have a point there Lincs.

I am boycotting going to any of the games this year, as a protest to the people in charge of ticket distribution.
I WAS a regular at Lords - would go to see England play the likes of Sri Lanka,NZ,Bangladesh on cold days in May - however, in 2013 they decided I wasn't worthy of tickets for The Ashes games at Lords and Oval via the Ballot- however, when I watch the game on tv I see large swathes of Yellow in the Compton and Edrich stands (my usual stands) - so, they obviously decided to give a load of Aussies (who presumably had paid a fair whack) instead of regulars like me who used to go every year.
I wont be going to see them play the likes of NZ,Bangla and NZ on non sell-out days now.

North Lower Neil

The_President said:

Lincsaddick said:

Note that it was the spinner who yesterday did most of the damage to the Australian batting .. in extremis, pick Tredwell in the squad .. an Ashes series is really no time for experimenting with 'promising young spinners' or 'still promising but as yet to deliver' older spinners

You might have a point there Lincs.

I am boycotting going to any of the games this year, as a protest to the people in charge of ticket distribution.
I WAS a regular at Lords - would go to see England play the likes of Sri Lanka,NZ,Bangladesh on cold days in May - however, in 2013 they decided I wasn't worthy of tickets for The Ashes games at Lords and Oval via the Ballot- however, when I watch the game on tv I see large swathes of Yellow in the Compton and Edrich stands (my usual stands) - so, they obviously decided to give a load of Aussies (who presumably had paid a fair whack) instead of regulars like me who used to go every year.
I wont be going to see them play the likes of NZ,Bangla and NZ on non sell-out days now.

Did they at least give you a £15 food voucher?

carly burn

Lincsaddick said:

Note that it was the spinner who yesterday did most of the damage to the Australian batting .. in extremis, pick Tredwell in the squad .. an Ashes series is really no time for experimenting with 'promising young spinners' or 'still promising but as yet to deliver' older spinners

I can't help but feel That Tredwell falls into one of those categories.

My sons just started playing the game and I'm pushing him to learn how to spin bowl. Christ there's a market for it!
Has been for years.

Pedro45

We have to pick a spinner, and Rashid is the best we have currently it seems. Riley is not firing yet, and Moeen and Root cannot be expected to bowl tightly. Tredders is too old and a very backward step. None of the left armers seem to be shouting for a place this year, so it's Rashid for me. He can bat too, possibly as well as Moeen? We will pick four seamers (inc Stokes), and it's a call between Wood, Jordan, Finn and maybe Footitt to back up Jimmy and Broad. Cook, Lyth and Root are shoe ins, but if/when Ballance and Bell fail once more, the clamour will be on to replace them. Can't see KP being resurrected (much as I'd like it) so it looks like Taylor, Hales, Hildreth, and the like will be battling the incumbents close to August...

Oh, and like The President, I'm not worthy of Ashes tickets despite always going to see other test teams every year!

killerandflash

It's easier to get tickets elsewhere in the country, and tickets are usually £20 cheaper than Lord's or the Oval which goes a long way towards an advance rail fare!

The_President

Pedro45 said:

We have to pick a spinner, and Rashid is the best we have currently it seems. Riley is not firing yet, and Moeen and Root cannot be expected to bowl tightly. Tredders is too old and a very backward step. None of the left armers seem to be shouting for a place this year, so it's Rashid for me. He can bat too, possibly as well as Moeen? We will pick four seamers (inc Stokes), and it's a call between Wood, Jordan, Finn and maybe Footitt to back up Jimmy and Broad. Cook, Lyth and Root are shoe ins, but if/when Ballance and Bell fail once more, the clamour will be on to replace them. Can't see KP being resurrected (much as I'd like it) so it looks like Taylor, Hales, Hildreth, and the like will be battling the incumbents close to August...

Oh, and like The President, I'm not worthy of Ashes tickets despite always going to see other test teams every year!

What about Monty ??!!

Chizz

killerandflash said:

Chizz said:

England have lots of sorting out to do. A bit more than tinkering and a bit less than a complete re-think.

The openers (Cook and Lyth) look set to play the entire series. Ballance, Bell and Root will be the engine room. Bell needs to find form and Root's the real deal. But Ballance still has a lot to prove, even though he's averaging more than fifty. So, 1-5 looks solid enough. But then England seem to have three number sevens (Stokes, Buttler, Ali) and three number elevens (Broad - whose form has been abysmal since he got hit - Wood and Anderson). There's nothing intrinsically wrong with the batting line-up (even KP's average wouldn't get him a spot in the top order) but it needs to fire.

The problem is that the bowling attack is, if anything, less predictable (with one exceptional exception). Jimmy Anderson would open the bowling in any England team. But Stuart Broad must be on borrowed time now. Wood looks like he has something about him - not least some proper pace. And Ben Stokes is an adequate fourth seamer. There are several key bowlers waiting their turn, of whom I think Steve Finn and Chris jordan lead the pack.

But that leaves the spinner, where, since Swann's departure, we've gone from riches to rags. Mooen Ali is never going to be as good a spinner as Graeme Swann, who won two home Ashes series. But the hope is he can do as good a job as Ashley Giles, who won one.

It's fourteen years since we last lost a home Ashes series. (I never thought I would hear myself saying that). I see no reason why, if England can fire on all cylinders, that that can't be stretched further.

Moeen is no Ashley Giles, Tredwell would be the nearest bowler, a solid team player who will keep things tight. Moeen is currently bowling too many loose balls, and can't maintain pressure

My point is that Moeen Ali can do a similar - or maybe better - job for England in 2015 than Ashley Giles did in 2005. In that series, Giles, batting at number eight made 155 runs at 19.37 and took ten wickets at 57.80. Moeen's average is currently 9 runs better with the bat and 25 runs better with the ball.

killerandflash

Chizz said:

killerandflash said:

Chizz said:

England have lots of sorting out to do. A bit more than tinkering and a bit less than a complete re-think.

The openers (Cook and Lyth) look set to play the entire series. Ballance, Bell and Root will be the engine room. Bell needs to find form and Root's the real deal. But Ballance still has a lot to prove, even though he's averaging more than fifty. So, 1-5 looks solid enough. But then England seem to have three number sevens (Stokes, Buttler, Ali) and three number elevens (Broad - whose form has been abysmal since he got hit - Wood and Anderson). There's nothing intrinsically wrong with the batting line-up (even KP's average wouldn't get him a spot in the top order) but it needs to fire.

The problem is that the bowling attack is, if anything, less predictable (with one exceptional exception). Jimmy Anderson would open the bowling in any England team. But Stuart Broad must be on borrowed time now. Wood looks like he has something about him - not least some proper pace. And Ben Stokes is an adequate fourth seamer. There are several key bowlers waiting their turn, of whom I think Steve Finn and Chris jordan lead the pack.

But that leaves the spinner, where, since Swann's departure, we've gone from riches to rags. Mooen Ali is never going to be as good a spinner as Graeme Swann, who won two home Ashes series. But the hope is he can do as good a job as Ashley Giles, who won one.

It's fourteen years since we last lost a home Ashes series. (I never thought I would hear myself saying that). I see no reason why, if England can fire on all cylinders, that that can't be stretched further.

Moeen is no Ashley Giles, Tredwell would be the nearest bowler, a solid team player who will keep things tight. Moeen is currently bowling too many loose balls, and can't maintain pressure

My point is that Moeen Ali can do a similar - or maybe better - job for England in 2015 than Ashley Giles did in 2005. In that series, Giles, batting at number eight made 155 runs at 19.37 and took ten wickets at 57.80. Moeen's average is currently 9 runs better with the bat and 25 runs better with the ball.

Giles was a different sort of bowler. His job was to keep the batsmen quiet at one end while the pace bowlers attacked from the other. Moeen is potentially more dangerous than Giles, but on his current form likely to be smacked out of the park. The mistake was rushing him back from injury in the West Indies (when it was a perfect chance to give Rashid his debut) but hopefully in the next 5 weeks he can work on his game and get his rhythm back

thai malaysia addick

Two concerns and two causes for optimism. Our batting is vulnerable although it can blast some runs if things are easy or if we get on top. Our bowling looks a bit samey and clearly lacks a spinner yet Anderson and Broad are still world class. I think it all depends how we start. If we get skittled out twice in the first test and their batsmen starting scoring at 5 an over, I can see it being a tough series. I would settle for a creditable draw in the first match.