Ashes 2013/14

Salmon · Tennis legend

Ashes 2013/14

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

So do you open with Root, or do you drop him down to 6 and open with Carberry ?

Salmon · Tennis legend

Hmm, I was shocked to see that they're opening with Carbs today. I don't see the point of dropping Root to 6, considering that Compton was doing fine and they got rid of him simply because Root was this "natural opener". If you have a plan, at least stick with it for a few Tests!

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, looking forward to it.

I think a lot will depend on how fit the Australian bowlers are going to be. Last I heard they had quite a number of real doubts with one that was still fit being Ryan Harris ( not exactly Mr Dependable ! )

A nearly fullly fit and functioning ( as much as these Aussies can function these days ) Australian side I could see drawing the series. If their bowling attack is fairly depleted, I would expect England to win the series.

Must keep an eye on England's Hobart warm-up match. I may post over by over updates LOL

indiana · Tennis legend

I'm with you, Salmon, I would open with Compton and drop Root down to number 6 ( as I would have in the summer ). Except that ship has clearly sailed !

I am rather less sure about Carberry, but noone else is making a strong case for no 6. Difficult one.

philwrig · Hall of fame

50/50 call, but we still have the best spinner, the best batters, but they shade it in the fast bowling department. I'll go 2-2.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
I'm with you, Salmon, I would open with Compton and drop Root down to number 6 ( as I would have in the summer ). Except that ship has clearly sailed !

I am rather less sure about Carberry, but noone else is making a strong case for no 6. Difficult one.

The options seem very limited for the 6th batsman. Have to admint that I am out of touch of the domestic game these days so the "debutants" are very difficult for me to judge.

Given the current squad options and what transpired in the last series, I thought they would leave Root at the top of the order and let him "grow" into the role. But the fact that Carberry has opened in both warm up games suggests they will go with him and leave Root down at 6.

Salmon · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
I'm with you, Salmon, I would open with Compton and drop Root down to number 6 ( as I would have in the summer ). Except that ship has clearly sailed !

Unfortunately it'll now hurt their egos to admit that they were wrong.

Anyway, with the squad that we have, I hope that we stick with Root at the top and try out Ballance at 6, because he is a left hander (and very good!). I've been a big fan of Stokes since I saw him on Sky in 2010, but I think it's a year too early for him in Tests.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Now Stokes is a fine player and I'm not biased at all ;)
Agree though he's still too raw a talent to be risked.

Josh · Challenger level

Would be very harsh on Carberry if he doesn't make the side for the 1st Test now, given his overnight performance!

paulisi · Tennis legend

I've always rated Carberry and surprised he has never been given more chances. Root looks a natural number 6.

Always worried about the back up seam attack. Jimmy and Broad(on his day) are world class, not sure the other seamers can back them up.
Australia have lots of good seamers, it's the lack of spinners and the poor batting line up that is their issue.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Lack of spinners may not be an issue in Australia, I guess. Otherwise, yeah... if Jimmy picks up an injury early in the series, I don't see England winning.

Anyway, the last few days have been terrible for England -

* Very little warm up
* Injury worries for Prior and KP
* Injury worry for Watto

Salmon · Tennis legend

Jonathan Agnew
@Aggerscricket

Scorecard in the Courier Mail pic.twitter.com/qpvJCiqU2L

Sense of humour. disbelief Anyway, if the results are going to be anything like this, long may the "banter" continue.

indiana · Tennis legend

Ha Ha, the Courier Mail had said beforehand that the 27 yo medium pace bowler's name would not be appearing in their paper.

So after the first day, folk were fascinated to see whether they'ed stick or twist and they've stuck. Hopefully it continues to be rather problematic for them ! A pic of England players congratulating a sort of cut out silouette was another of their err gems.

Actually Aggers has said on 5 Live recently that he thinks the Courier Mail have gone too far and it is disrespectful to Broad.

I have actually been wondering for a little while, when did Aggers transform into a pretty miserable git ? He couldn't say anything good in the warm up games for bemoaning the efforts of England's third seamer contenders.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Given Michael Clarke's apparent weakness against the short ball from our "medium pacer", I wonder how he will cope when we bring the quickies on wink