******Cricket Thread******

[Carstairs]

Re: ********The Ashes********

Billy the Trumpeter has been banned by the Trent Bridge management, negotiations are ongoing that may allow him to perform.

 

[Chris in London]

Re: ********The Ashes********

I love the Ashes.I went to the cricket ground in Melbourne.What a fantastic arena that is.The best series I have seen England play against Australia was 2005.It felt great winning the Ashes for the 1st time in nearly 20 years.

At the time I thought it was hyperbole to say so, but as time passes I think the 05 ashes might well claim to be the best test series ever. Every single test (arguably not the first) went down to the wire, every single test tilted first this way and then that, the entire series was in the balance until the last hour of the last test. Twenty five days of sports and it came down to what happened in the last hour, wow.

Also, the skill levels were consistently high. There was some incredible talent on display from both sides: some of the catches were incredible, the bowling was in general of an incredibly high standard (they still had MacGrath and Warne) and the batting was phenomenal - Flintoff and Pietersen in their absolute prime.

I loved stuffing the Australians in front of their own fans a couple of years ago (Melbourne on boxing day especially) but the series was far too one sided to be regard as a real contest. The 05 ashes though has got to be at least one of the greatest series, possibly the best ever

 

[Ell-ano]

Re: ********The Ashes********

3-0 England
England's top bat - Joe Root
England's top bowler - Jimmy Anderson
Australia's top bat - Michael Clarke
Australia's top bowler - Peter Siddle

 

[bernabias home shirt]

Re: ********The Ashes********

William hill are doing a special right now
Evens from 1/3 England to win the ashes
Think it's just for an hour and only max £20 stake.

 

[Rascal]

Re: ********The Ashes********

At the time I thought it was hyperbole to say so, but as time passes I think the 05 ashes might well claim to be the best test series ever. Every single test (arguably not the first) went down to the wire, every single test tilted first this way and then that, the entire series was in the balance until the last hour of the last test. Twenty five days of sports and it came down to what happened in the last hour, wow.

I wouldnt disagree and i absolutly loved every minute of it.

It probably is the best ever but not my favorite series that has to be 1981. Botham was just incredible. The excitement at OT when he was hooking Lillie into the stands still makes my hairs stand on end.

 

[Nevizade]

Re: ********The Ashes********

Realistically in the starting XI the big decision is Bairstow or Bresnan. Not a big fan of either but I'd rather go for Bresnan. He bowls well on dry pitches and his and Broad's batting is good enough to wag the tail IMO.

 

[Bluemoonie92]

Re: ********The Ashes********

Realistically in the starting XI the big decision is Bairstow or Bresnan. Not a big fan of either but I'd rather go for Bresnan. He bowls well on dry pitches and his and Broad's batting is good enough to wag the tail IMO.

Nah, they will both play it will be Finn that doesnt.

 

[niall_mcfc]

Re: ********The Ashes********

I'd go with Cook, Root, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Prior, Bairstow, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions. Onions bowled brilliantly against the Aussies in 2010 and with Bresnan and Finn both out of form with the ball i'd give him a go. We should win comfortably but you never know with the Aussies. 1st innings for them with the bat is vital, if the openers fail then all the pressure will be on Clarke, as good as a batsmen he is this is his first series as a captain and with his niggling injury he hasnt had a great preparation. Cant wait, 4-0 win will do me.

 

[waspish]

Re: ********The Ashes********

They will pick Bresnan I'm 100% sure of it they will look at fin onions and bresnan and think Bresnan can get us a few runs and that will swing it

 

[jay_mcfc]

Re: ********The Ashes********

I wouldn't be against Onions but we are lucky that we have Finn and Bresnan as well. I think the selectors go with Bresnan but I would probably choose Finn. The Aussies didn't like facing Tremlett at home and Finn is the closest of the three to him.

 

[bernabias home shirt]

Re: ********The Ashes********

Can't believe everyone thinks bresnan is a cert to start
Not a chance for me,Finn will,pretty sure of it.

 

[waspish]

Re: ********The Ashes********

I would pick Fin but it's the mentality of England wanting someone who can bat..

Listened to talk sport and Brazil says inside info that Fin will start personally that's good news for me

 

[Chipmeister]

Re: ********The Ashes********

At the time I thought it was hyperbole to say so, but as time passes I think the 05 ashes might well claim to be the best test series ever. Every single test (arguably not the first) went down to the wire, every single test tilted first this way and then that, the entire series was in the balance until the last hour of the last test. Twenty five days of sports and it came down to what happened in the last hour, wow.

I wouldnt disagree and i absolutly loved every minute of it.

It probably is the best ever but not my favorite series that has to be 1981. Botham was just incredible. The excitement at OT when he was hooking Lillie into the stands still makes my hairs stand on end.

Well said, that 1981 series was incredible and the OT test with Bothan at his majestic standing up to Lillee was something I will never forget.

Cricket has been going a lot longer than many would have you believe, I hate it when the "new" fans talk it up and forget everything that has gone before it. A bit like the Premier league and its thought process with football.

The Aussies are just starting to see a little hope, it has been all doom and gloom but on the pre Ashes show last night a few ex players have a little optimism again.

Come on England it will unbearable to be hear if Australia win, well almost.

 

[without a dream]

Re: ********The Ashes********

I think Finn will start, if the pitch is dry Bresnan is a better bet though imo, he gets it reversing nicely.

 

[Never Mind The Pollocks]

Re: ********The Ashes********

Seriously hope Micheal Clarke stays fit throughout the whole series. Don't any Aussie excuses when it ends up a white wash.

 

[jay_mcfc]

Re: ********The Ashes********

At the time I thought it was hyperbole to say so, but as time passes I think the 05 ashes might well claim to be the best test series ever. Every single test (arguably not the first) went down to the wire, every single test tilted first this way and then that, the entire series was in the balance until the last hour of the last test. Twenty five days of sports and it came down to what happened in the last hour, wow.

I wouldnt disagree and i absolutly loved every minute of it.

It probably is the best ever but not my favorite series that has to be 1981. Botham was just incredible. The excitement at OT when he was hooking Lillie into the stands still makes my hairs stand on end.

Well said, that 1981 series was incredible and the OT test with Bothan at his majestic standing up to Lillee was something I will never forget.

Cricket has been going a lot longer than many would have you believe, I hate it when the "new" fans talk it up and forget everything that has gone before it. A bit like the Premier league and its thought process with football.

The Aussies are just starting to see a little hope, it has been all doom and gloom but on the pre Ashes show last night a few ex players have a little optimism again.

Come on England it will unbearable to be hear if Australia win, well almost.

Bit harsh that tbh. I see where you're coming from but how often do you see 4 matches in a 5 match series go right down to the wire like they did in '05?

It's almost impossible to compare cricket generations but it's also disrespectful to say that people who think '05 was the greatest ever series are some kind of Johnny come lately's because it had everything you could ever wish for in an Ashes series.

 

[M18CTID]

Re: ********The Ashes********

Seriously hope Micheal Clarke stays fit throughout the whole series. Don't any Aussie excuses when it ends up a white wash.

I don't think this is as cut and dried as some people are making out. We're favourites and rightly so, but talk of whitewashes makes me feel uncomfortable.

Either way, I really can't wait for this series to start - this is the greatest sporting rivalry of them all IMO (ok, apart from City v the Rags but that's me being biased lol) and luckily for me I'll be at Old Trafford for Day 3 of the 3rd test on a corporate, and also have tickets to day 4 of the 4th test at Chester-Le-Street.

 

[foetus]

Re: ********The Ashes********

2005 was a great series.....this was heartbreaking at the time tho
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWfSoHbh26w[/youtube]

 

[ox-blue]

Re: ********The Ashes********

Flintoff's 7 ball over at Edgbaston the best over ever! Iirc correctly dismissed Hayden & Ponting?

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Re: ********The Ashes********

19 year old Ashley Agar is making his test debut. Big call.