Ashes 2017/18

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Ric

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Well, it's nearly upon us. Can't say I'm particularly confident, but it would be great to beat them in their own back yard, given how cocky they've been in the last few weeks. Can't say our batting line-up instills any great confidence though, and we always struggle at The Gabba. Huge challenge ahead.
 
One of the worst Australian batting order's in recent memory, but could still be a whitewash. Shows how bad we are at the moment. The Stokes situation i fear was the nail in our coffin before a ball has been bowled.
 
Going to be very interesting. Both teams look below par and are going through transitional phases but I'm quite excited going into it because I genuinely feel like I haven't a clue how it's going to pan out.
 
I'd go with:

Cook
Stoneman
Vince
Root
Malan
Bairstow
M Ali
Woakes
Broad
Overton
Anderson

Even though we were obliterated the last time we visited Australia, it's hard to fathom why they are the overwhelming favourites for the series. There's a distinct lack of quality in both sides. But that being said, I do believe the Aussies will triumph as their superior bowling attack will inevitably expose our fragile batting line-up. With the possible exception of the Adelaide test match, I don't think there will be any draws between the sides. Both sides look weak to me in the batting department.

I've backed Root and Woakes in a double at 9.5/1 to be England's top batsman and top bowler.
 
markbmcfc said:
One of the worst Australian batting order's in recent memory, but could still be a whitewash. Shows how bad we are at the moment. The Stokes situation i fear was the nail in our coffin before a ball has been bowled.
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willipp said:
Its not going to be a happy tour at all for us i fear. 5-0 would not be a suprise.
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Got to agree with this. Not feeling very hopeful.

That said, with City doing so well, it's nice to have that familiar feeling about some sporting event.
 
Dr Jacoby said:
I'd go with:

Cook
Stoneman
Vince
Root
Malan
Bairstow
M Ali
Woakes
Broad
Overton
Anderson

Even though we were obliterated the last time we visited Australia, it's hard to fathom why they are the overwhelming favourites for the series. There's a distinct lack of quality in both sides. But that being said, I do believe the Aussies will triumph as their superior bowling attack will inevitably expose our fragile batting line-up. With the possible exception of the Adelaide test match, I don't think there will be any draws between the sides. Both sides look weak to me in the batting department.

I've backed Root and Woakes in a double at 9.5/1 to be England's top batsman and top bowler.
Click to expand...
I'd suggest the fact they have 2 x 90mph+ bowlers gives them the edge. A hostile large home crowd geeing up the quickies will be intimidating for an inexperienced squad. We really need Anderson to get the ball swinging, otherwise I don't think we'll bowl them out (he says half tempting fate).
 
We haven’t got the bowlers to win the series for me! Get big runs though we will have a slim chance. Not confident
 
I dont think either team is fantastic and both have weaknesses, however I think home advantage makes such a difference and I've gone for 4-1 to Australia (with the 1 being in Melbourne or Sydney once the series is done).
 
We will probably get beat but there's nothing quite like the ashes for me
Who knows if we can pick up a lucky win in the first test we might have some momentum and belief
 
Both teams have four or five players and the rest are average. Problem for England is that, in Australian conditions Jimmy isn't that effective and Broad i on a downward spiral. There's a lot of pressure on Woakes, who I believe will be England's player of the series if he stays fit. Overton is unknown and the Aussies will go after Moeen. Stokes will be back for the third game I'm sure.

Looks like Warner has injured his neck and could miss the first game ;)
 
Moeen to win in single handedly, obviously. On a serious note, we need two of Cook, Root and Bairstow to get big runs every innings and that's just not going to happen. The rest of the lineup is just randoms thrown in there to get mauled.
 
jay_mcfc said:
Both teams have four or five players and the rest are average. Problem for England is that, in Australian conditions Jimmy isn't that effective and Broad i on a downward spiral. There's a lot of pressure on Woakes, who I believe will be England's player of the series if he stays fit. Overton is unknown and the Aussies will go after Moeen. Stokes will be back for the third game I'm sure.

Looks like Warner has injured his neck and could miss the first game ;)
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Given how terrible the Aussies are at playing spin I'd love them to go after Moeen.
 
Stokes is a huge loss but our strength is that we have Woakes and Moeen which make our tail long. If the top 6 can put runs on the board, and in Australia you are talking 400 runs!!! Our tail can add an extra 100 or so getting us competitive totals.

Australia have great pace but also injury prone bowlers. And they are hugely reliant on them. If we bat well at the gabba then they will bowl a lot of overs which could see them struggle to get 90plus mph consistently. With Woakes and Ball we have decent options but Anderson and Broad need to both be on point.

Stoneman and Malan seem to prefer the extra pace but it is mental toughness that wins you an Ashes tour in Australia and I do not think we have enough of that...

I am not brainwashed by the 5-0 whitewash though. So many issues in and around the squad then that caused the disaster. We are quietly playing cricket and even the Stokes incident is not impacting on news coming from the players so hopefully there is a steeley resolve to right the wrong of the last tour.
 
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