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?
It's all extremely intriguing.
So basically without giving our ageing and injury prone main bowlers the required rest by spreading the series out over the summer (admittedly it can work against the Aussies too ) we could be stuffing ourselves with the squeezing in of The Ashes for the poxy 💯
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
I am convinced that England will do everything possible to have Archer bowl in these Ashes I also think we won't ever see him in England white again, possibly any white again, after them.
I think they will stick him and Stokes together with sellotape to get through it and to hell with the winter. Even the world cup, which I still think Stokes will play in if he is fit.
But Harrison and the ECB told us that their precious baby, The Hundred, would be the biggest gig in town!
Top English cricketers are considering giving up their central or county contracts to accept full-time deals with Indian Premier League (IPL) teams.
Initial discussions have taken place after at least six English players, including some international stars, were approached by IPL franchise owners and asked whether, in principle, they would accept a deal that would make an Indian team their main employer, rather than the ECB or an English county.
This development follows discussions among players’ unions around the world about the potential implications of 12-month franchise contracts, which would be a significant step towards the football model of elite players being primarily contracted to their team and released for international duty, rather than the other way around. One source told The Times that contract offers could come as soon as the end of the year.
Discussions have already taken place with a number of high-profile Australian players about full-time deals but this has now been extended to English players. Contracts could be worth upwards of £2 million a year and even as high as £5 million — more than five times the value of the highest England central contracts.
Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said last week that the governing body was concerned about the impact of global tournaments and will be substantially increasing the match fees paid to England players, in addition to offering some players multi-year contracts.
Reduced IPL deals — covering at least three of the rounds — would also be on offer. It is unlikely that any of England’s Test stars will walk away from their central contracts in favour of a franchise contract but the sheer amount of money on offer makes that a risk in the future. What is more likely is that players will arrange “bespoke” deals depending on their own circumstances, which could result in them being part-contracted to their county or the ECB and part-contracted to a franchise.
There are also a number of hurdles that would need to be overcome before IPL franchises could offer these contracts, including a change in International Cricket Council regulations.
At present it is not possible to be a purely freelance T20 player. All players need to get permission from their home board — a “No Objection Certificate” — before taking part in any ICC-sanctioned T20 tournament, but the millions of pounds on offer, player power and the power of the BCCI — the Indian cricket board — will have a significant influence in any discussions.
Wouldn't be surprised if the likes of billings, roy and hales would be top of that list who'd rather take the IPL contract than any central contract.
Billings and Hales aren't centrally contracted and those three won't be the ones that England are most worried about anyway as they are all into their 30s. It is the rising stars such as Brook and Rehan Ahmed that will cause them most anxiety.
One player who I think will avail himself of such an IPL contract is Archer. Yet again he has had to take time off because of his elbow and it is evident that his body struggles to cope so anything that guarantees him £1m a year for playing four or five T20 tournaments a year has to be of benefit to him.
More proof as to why Foakes has to play in the Ashes. He doesn't make silly mistakes through a lack of concentration but also takes the really difficult ones. And he can bat too. Not many keeper/batsmen can do all three.
More proof as to why Foakes has to play in the Ashes. He doesn't make silly mistakes through a lack of concentration but also takes the really difficult ones. And he can bat too. Not many keeper/batsmen can do all three.
More proof as to why Foakes has to play in the Ashes. He doesn't make silly mistakes through a lack of concentration but also takes the really difficult ones. And he can bat too. Not many keeper/batsmen can do all three.
Has to be right up there. The one thing that is unusual is that if you look at most of the greatest keepers they are on the shorter size. It is a credit to Foakes that he is as agile as he is despite being over 6 feet but that, in turn, helps him to mover that bit further and stretch that bit more. Gilchrist was of a similar stature and was a good keeper but probably not as good as Foakes overall. The advantage that Gilchrist had, for most of his career, was that he could mostly stand back to virtually everyone bar Warne and got to know the best spinner of all time's variations inside out. Of course Gilchrist was the first to be a destructive keeper/batsman and would very much fit under the current England regime.
Meanwhile Harry Brook in the IPL has been more famine than feast - 100 not out in one innings but a total of 63 runs from his other 8 times at the crease
I see Ollie Robinson did OK with the ball for Sussex against Worcs with figures of 17-3-59-7
Bowled very very well. Held the bowling together really. Hopefully Steve Smith gets a bat tomorrow at some point
Classic brainless thinking from Sussex signing Smith. If we just played McAndrew we would’ve skittled them for 150/175. Instead we had to watch Sean Hunt trundle in and bowl pies. I’d be fuming if I were McAndrew being dropped for a bloke that’s come in for 2 weeks
I see Ollie Robinson did OK with the ball for Sussex against Worcs with figures of 17-3-59-7
Bowled very very well. Held the bowling together really. Hopefully Steve Smith gets a bat tomorrow at some point
Classic brainless thinking from Sussex signing Smith. If we just played McAndrew we would’ve skittled them for 150/175. Instead we had to watch Sean Hunt trundle in and bowl pies. I’d be fuming if I were McAndrew being dropped for a bloke that’s come in for 2 weeks
Hunts figures were shocking - I think I'd rather have seen Ari Kavelas have a go , I'm assuming George Garton is again injured.
McAndrew has been a real find, 2 5fers already and then dropped for Smith for 3 games.
I see Ollie Robinson did OK with the ball for Sussex against Worcs with figures of 17-3-59-7
Bowled very very well. Held the bowling together really. Hopefully Steve Smith gets a bat tomorrow at some point
Classic brainless thinking from Sussex signing Smith. If we just played McAndrew we would’ve skittled them for 150/175. Instead we had to watch Sean Hunt trundle in and bowl pies. I’d be fuming if I were McAndrew being dropped for a bloke that’s come in for 2 weeks
Hunts figures were shocking - I think I'd rather have seen Ari Kavelas have a go , I'm assuming George Garton is again injured.
McAndrew has been a real find, 2 5fers already and then dropped for Smith for 3 games.
Only 8 bowlers took more wickets than Nathan McAndrew (28) in the Sheffield Shield and averaged 48 with the bat too. He also took another 13 wickets in the Big Bash. Sean Hunt, on the other hand, took 17 wickets in 17 matches playing club cricket in Adelaide.
Enough of the "Surrey players producing worldie catches" please. I want to see a few terrible drops now
Don't know about terrible but Sir Ali Cook was dropped on 13 and Simon Harmer on 6 today. Both went on to get useful runs and be key parts of important partnerships.
Something for all you Surrey haters (jealous much?) to console yourselves with as we march to yet another title. Enjoy
I see Ollie Robinson did OK with the ball for Sussex against Worcs with figures of 17-3-59-7
Bowled very very well. Held the bowling together really. Hopefully Steve Smith gets a bat tomorrow at some point
Classic brainless thinking from Sussex signing Smith. If we just played McAndrew we would’ve skittled them for 150/175. Instead we had to watch Sean Hunt trundle in and bowl pies. I’d be fuming if I were McAndrew being dropped for a bloke that’s come in for 2 weeks
Hunts figures were shocking - I think I'd rather have seen Ari Kavelas have a go , I'm assuming George Garton is again injured.
McAndrew has been a real find, 2 5fers already and then dropped for Smith for 3 games.
Yeah big fan of Karvelas. Guessing he still isn't 100% after he's knee problem. a million times better than Hunt that's for sure
Comments
I think they will stick him and Stokes together with sellotape to get through it and to hell with the winter. Even the world cup, which I still think Stokes will play in if he is fit.
Top English cricketers are considering giving up their central or county contracts to accept full-time deals with Indian Premier League (IPL) teams.
Initial discussions have taken place after at least six English players, including some international stars, were approached by IPL franchise owners and asked whether, in principle, they would accept a deal that would make an Indian team their main employer, rather than the ECB or an English county.
This development follows discussions among players’ unions around the world about the potential implications of 12-month franchise contracts, which would be a significant step towards the football model of elite players being primarily contracted to their team and released for international duty, rather than the other way around. One source told The Times that contract offers could come as soon as the end of the year.
Discussions have already taken place with a number of high-profile Australian players about full-time deals but this has now been extended to English players. Contracts could be worth upwards of £2 million a year and even as high as £5 million — more than five times the value of the highest England central contracts.
Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said last week that the governing body was concerned about the impact of global tournaments and will be substantially increasing the match fees paid to England players, in addition to offering some players multi-year contracts.
Reduced IPL deals — covering at least three of the rounds — would also be on offer. It is unlikely that any of England’s Test stars will walk away from their central contracts in favour of a franchise contract but the sheer amount of money on offer makes that a risk in the future. What is more likely is that players will arrange “bespoke” deals depending on their own circumstances, which could result in them being part-contracted to their county or the ECB and part-contracted to a franchise.
There are also a number of hurdles that would need to be overcome before IPL franchises could offer these contracts, including a change in International Cricket Council regulations.
At present it is not possible to be a purely freelance T20 player. All players need to get permission from their home board — a “No Objection Certificate” — before taking part in any ICC-sanctioned T20 tournament, but the millions of pounds on offer, player power and the power of the BCCI — the Indian cricket board — will have a significant influence in any discussions.
One player who I think will avail himself of such an IPL contract is Archer. Yet again he has had to take time off because of his elbow and it is evident that his body struggles to cope so anything that guarantees him £1m a year for playing four or five T20 tournaments a year has to be of benefit to him.
704-3 declared
492 and 202
Bowled very very well. Held the bowling together really. Hopefully Steve Smith gets a bat tomorrow at some point
Hunts figures were shocking - I think I'd rather have seen Ari Kavelas have a go , I'm assuming George Garton is again injured.
McAndrew has been a real find, 2 5fers already and then dropped for Smith for 3 games.
Something for all you Surrey haters (jealous much?) to console yourselves with as we march to yet another title. Enjoy