Australia have announced their squad for the Ashes. Not that there are many surprises (in bold I've suggested their likely starting XI):
Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club) (c) Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club) Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club) Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club) Marcus Harris (VIC/St Kilda Cricket Club) Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club) Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club) Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club) Usman Khawaja (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club) Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club) Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club) Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club) Todd Murphy (VIC/St Kilda Cricket Club) Matthew Renshaw (QLD/Toombul District CC) Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) (vc) Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club) David Warner (NSW/Randwick Petersham Cricket Club)
Not worried about their batting other than Smith and Lasagne. Not particularly worried about Lyon. Its the quick bowlers that worry me. Starc can go wither way but the others will all cause problems.
I wonder if Bazball might actually give us an edge with Smith and Labuschagne - if it gets in their head and makes them play differently they may actually offer more chances. Previously they have been incredibly patient and cashed in when we tired or our lines strayed. If we get them to go at balls they might not have previously as they get drawn into a " bazball off" then we might nab them early a few times.
The rest of that batting lineup have consistently failed in English conditions.
A lot of experience on both sides. Warner and Khawaja are 36, Lyon 35
3 Aussies played in the 2013 Ashes Tour (Warner, Smith and Starc), while England included 5 players who should feature again this summer (Root, Bairstow, Anderson, Broad, Woakes).
Woakes? One would have hoped there's better out there right now. Woakes is the cowardly pack-the-batting option, very unBazball
in england - disagree, he's the closest we have to an anderson/broad back up with the ball. Although sam cook might look like he'll be their successor.
I'm surprised Warner has been picked given his recent form.
As has been pointed out to me, the squad is actually for the Final of the World Test Championship and the first two Ashes Tests so it does leave the door open for the Aussies to seek reinforcements especially if Warner fails in those.
I'm surprised Warner has been picked given his recent form.
As has been pointed out to me, the squad is actually for the Final of the World Test Championship and the first two Ashes Tests so it does leave the door open for the Aussies to seek reinforcements especially if Warner fails in those.
hoping for a warner century in the WTC which solidifies his place for a bunch of single digit scores in the ashes
Woakes? One would have hoped there's better out there right now. Woakes is the cowardly pack-the-batting option, very unBazball
I dont think I'd pick him but is he part of that bowling group they keep talking about? almost certainly. It's 5 tests pretty much back to back they've been talking about wanting 8 fast bowlers in that. In English conditions is he one of the best 8 red ball bowlers we have fit and available? I think so.
Who makes the cut?
Definites Broad Anderson Robinson Wood
Depending on fitness Archer Stone Overton? Mahmood?
I'd put Potts and Woakes ahead of the "depending on fitness" candidates. Woakes is proven in English conditions and strengthens the tail, while Potts had a great summer last year, as shown by him being a Wisden pick.
A lot depends on Stokes, and whether he can actually bowl much. If he's more of a "6th" bowler than a 5th bowler, then that affects the balance of the side.
In England Woakes averages 35 with the bat and 22 with the ball.
I can't believe that consideration of picking him is so controversial. If everyone was fit for all 5 tests, which they won't be, he probably wouldn't make the 11.
He is so unlucky in that he is about a year younger than Broad and Anderson just keeps going.
I'd put Potts and Woakes ahead of the "depending on fitness" candidates. Woakes is proven in English conditions and strengthens the tail, while Potts had a great summer last year, as shown by him being a Wisden pick.
A lot depends on Stokes, and whether he can actually bowl much. If he's more of a "6th" bowler than a 5th bowler, then that affects the balance of the side.
I think the point is that Archer/Stone/Overton/Mahmood etc. offer a point of difference being genuine pace options. Broad, Anderson, Robinson, Woakes, Potts etc. are all much of a muchness in terms of traditional English right arm medium pacers.
I'd put Potts and Woakes ahead of the "depending on fitness" candidates. Woakes is proven in English conditions and strengthens the tail, while Potts had a great summer last year, as shown by him being a Wisden pick.
A lot depends on Stokes, and whether he can actually bowl much. If he's more of a "6th" bowler than a 5th bowler, then that affects the balance of the side.
I think the point is that Archer/Stone/Overton/Mahmood etc. offer a point of difference being genuine pace options. Broad, Anderson, Robinson, Woakes, Potts etc. are all much of a muchness in terms of traditional English right arm medium pacers.
I'm not convinced Archer will ever bowl in Tests again with his injury record, and lack of endurance over 5 days. Stone and Jamie Overton are both physically frail, while Mahmood isn't quite at express pace level. In English conditions, the lack of out an out pace is less serious, as shown by Woakes' figures at home
Certainly. with five Tests in six weeks, both sides will need some depth to their bowling units.
In England's case that might mean the likes of Anderson, Broad and Robinson playing in no more than four of those and possibly only three - it's five and four years respectively for Anderson and Broad since they played four Tests in a series and Robinson, with his known fitness/injury issues, has never played more than three Tests close together. Starc played all five in the 2021-22 Ashes, Cummins played in four of those and only missed that one because of Covid whereas Hazlewood hasn't played in more than three Tests in a series for four years.
As things stand, Green is more of a fourth seamer than Stokes if only because of those nagging doubts about the latter's left knee. Stokes hasn't even played in the course of the last 16 days at the IPL and bowled just one over prior to that (which went for 18). So, how many Anderson, Broad and Robinson play might revolve around Stokes fitness as we won't be able to carry anyone who is not 100% fit. That probably means that we have to find bowlers to fill a place for at least one place for each of the five Tests. Wood gives us that extra pace but virtually all of the other bowlers mentioned as back ups have had some serious injury issues recently.
So the Ashes might actually be decided on the weakest link of the respective team's seam bowling attack. And one other thing - the ability of the spinner to control the tempo of the game and give respite to the quicks. Can Lyon stop the likes of Brook from taking him apart? Will Leach be smashed out of the attack?
In the past, the typical, brash, brave Aussie attitude would be to pick eleven brilliant players, add a few extras for the ride and thrash us, in all departments.
But now, it's caution all the way.
For example, you should either pick Warner, because he's a brilliant, destructive batsman who can take the game away from you; or not pick him, because he's in pitiful form, and pull in a younger, exciting replacement. What they've done with him is have a bob each way. They're giving him two Ashes tests to find form. This century, Australian batsman have made tons, opening the batting in England in 2001, 2005, 2009, 2103 and 2015; but Warner hasn't. 32 times he's played a Test match in England and watched a team-mate make a century. But he still hasn't chipped in. In matches in England, in which Stuart Broad has played, Warner ranks as the seventeenth highest average; two below James Pattinson and one above Peter Nevill. I think it's really un-Australian to pick a player and cross their fingers that he'll suddenly come good.
The last time Australia won the Ashes in England, their squad has jam-packed full of exceptional, frightening talent. It included Adam Gilchrist, Damien Fleming, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and a pair of Mark Waughs. The rose-spectacled, timed-dulled, rear-view sight makes that team look unbeatable, compared to the tired, makeshift, patched-up bunch of journeymen they're sending this time. Would any of these players struggle to shift their 2023 counterpart from his position, Smith aside?
I am sure Australia have a lot in their tank and will come at us all guns blazing. But the short-term, cautious, uncommitted list of names they've picked seems a far, far cry from the behemoths that landed on our greensward in the 80s, 90s and early part of this century.
I am more confident that we will win, now I have seen their starting squad, even before we know what substitutions they'll bring on once we reach Headingley.
Comments
Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club) (c)
Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club)
Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club)
Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Marcus Harris (VIC/St Kilda Cricket Club)
Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club)
Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (WA/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Usman Khawaja (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club)
Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club)
Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club)
Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club)
Todd Murphy (VIC/St Kilda Cricket Club)
Matthew Renshaw (QLD/Toombul District CC)
Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) (vc)
Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club)
David Warner (NSW/Randwick Petersham Cricket Club)
I wonder if Bazball might actually give us an edge with Smith and Labuschagne - if it gets in their head and makes them play differently they may actually offer more chances. Previously they have been incredibly patient and cashed in when we tired or our lines strayed. If we get them to go at balls they might not have previously as they get drawn into a " bazball off" then we might nab them early a few times.
The rest of that batting lineup have consistently failed in English conditions.
3 Aussies played in the 2013 Ashes Tour (Warner, Smith and Starc), while England included 5 players who should feature again this summer (Root, Bairstow, Anderson, Broad, Woakes).
Ah fair enough, didn't know that's how they did it with players that are already over here.
Who makes the cut?
Definites
Broad
Anderson
Robinson
Wood
Depending on fitness
Archer
Stone
Overton?
Mahmood?
Maybe
Woakes
Potts
A lot depends on Stokes, and whether he can actually bowl much. If he's more of a "6th" bowler than a 5th bowler, then that affects the balance of the side.
I can't believe that consideration of picking him is so controversial. If everyone was fit for all 5 tests, which they won't be, he probably wouldn't make the 11.
He is so unlucky in that he is about a year younger than Broad and Anderson just keeps going.
In England's case that might mean the likes of Anderson, Broad and Robinson playing in no more than four of those and possibly only three - it's five and four years respectively for Anderson and Broad since they played four Tests in a series and Robinson, with his known fitness/injury issues, has never played more than three Tests close together. Starc played all five in the 2021-22 Ashes, Cummins played in four of those and only missed that one because of Covid whereas Hazlewood hasn't played in more than three Tests in a series for four years.
As things stand, Green is more of a fourth seamer than Stokes if only because of those nagging doubts about the latter's left knee. Stokes hasn't even played in the course of the last 16 days at the IPL and bowled just one over prior to that (which went for 18). So, how many Anderson, Broad and Robinson play might revolve around Stokes fitness as we won't be able to carry anyone who is not 100% fit. That probably means that we have to find bowlers to fill a place for at least one place for each of the five Tests. Wood gives us that extra pace but virtually all of the other bowlers mentioned as back ups have had some serious injury issues recently.
So the Ashes might actually be decided on the weakest link of the respective team's seam bowling attack. And one other thing - the ability of the spinner to control the tempo of the game and give respite to the quicks. Can Lyon stop the likes of Brook from taking him apart? Will Leach be smashed out of the attack?
It's all extremely intriguing.
In the past, the typical, brash, brave Aussie attitude would be to pick eleven brilliant players, add a few extras for the ride and thrash us, in all departments.
But now, it's caution all the way.
For example, you should either pick Warner, because he's a brilliant, destructive batsman who can take the game away from you; or not pick him, because he's in pitiful form, and pull in a younger, exciting replacement. What they've done with him is have a bob each way. They're giving him two Ashes tests to find form. This century, Australian batsman have made tons, opening the batting in England in 2001, 2005, 2009, 2103 and 2015; but Warner hasn't. 32 times he's played a Test match in England and watched a team-mate make a century. But he still hasn't chipped in. In matches in England, in which Stuart Broad has played, Warner ranks as the seventeenth highest average; two below James Pattinson and one above Peter Nevill. I think it's really un-Australian to pick a player and cross their fingers that he'll suddenly come good.
The last time Australia won the Ashes in England, their squad has jam-packed full of exceptional, frightening talent. It included Adam Gilchrist, Damien Fleming, Jason Gillespie, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and a pair of Mark Waughs. The rose-spectacled, timed-dulled, rear-view sight makes that team look unbeatable, compared to the tired, makeshift, patched-up bunch of journeymen they're sending this time. Would any of these players struggle to shift their 2023 counterpart from his position, Smith aside?
I am sure Australia have a lot in their tank and will come at us all guns blazing. But the short-term, cautious, uncommitted list of names they've picked seems a far, far cry from the behemoths that landed on our greensward in the 80s, 90s and early part of this century.
I am more confident that we will win, now I have seen their starting squad, even before we know what substitutions they'll bring on once we reach Headingley.
Their bowling is still very good, while Smith and Labuschagne will score runs. The latter averages 57 in Tests