Australia's Ashes squad named.

[Lord]

Prior can bat at number 6/7. Foster is a novice with the bat. The theory goes that if Flintoff is fit, he and Foster can bat at 6/7. I think England should simply play a proper batsman at 6, broad at 7, foster at 8 and then 3 specialist bowlers, because Flintoff never seems to be fit for a sustained period of time, and he is not good enough to bat at number 6 anymore.

Agree.but these three bowlers must include Swann..n i'm not sure who who can bat at no.6.u need an aggresive batsman who can step up the pace in case of impending declaration n also someone with a good technique,instead of Bell,i would like Shah at 6

[bharat297]

^ I think Ian Bell would be fine at that position. If an impeding declaration is the case (which is rarely ever the case with England) then send Flintoff above Bell. However, Bell himself can be quite aggressive at times. I remember in the last T20 world cup, he batted well as opener for England.

[Lord]

^ I think Ian Bell would be fine at that position. If an impeding declaration is the case (which is rarely ever the case with England) then send Flintoff above Bell. However' date=' Bell himself can be quite aggressive at times. I remember in the last T20 world cup, he batted well as opener for England.[/quote'] well for a start,he wasnt even in the squad for last T20WC,so i dont know wat ur talking about.and i was having a dicussion that Eng need a proper batsman at no.6. i have no problem with Freddie at 6,provided he takes his batting seriously n doesnt treat it as a bonus to his bowling

[bharat297]

^ My mistake, I was thinking of the ODI World Cup. In any case, you agree that they need a proper batsman at 6 right. I think Ian Bell would do well. Also, one possible option, if they pick Bell is to swap Bopara and Bell, so Bell bats 3 and Bopara bats 6 (since Bopara is the more aggressive of the 2). However, given Bopara's recent form, that seems unlikely.

[cowboysfan]

it looks like its going to be Matt prior.my only worry is if they pick 2 spinners then Prior would find new and inventive ways to **** up behind the stumps.

[Lord]

^ My mistake, I was thinking of the ODI World Cup. In any case, you agree that they need a proper batsman at 6 right. I think Ian Bell would do well. Also, one possible option, if they pick Bell is to swap Bopara and Bell, so Bell bats 3 and Bopara bats 6 (since Bopara is the more aggressive of the 2). However, given Bopara's recent form, that seems unlikely.

exactly,Bopara is fixed at no.3,thats why i want Shah at 6 because he can be aggresive n also play spin well.the only problem for him would be if the 2nd new ball is taken around at that time,but that can be with anyone n i think Shah is good enuf to overcome that

[bharat297]

^ Why do you need so many aggressive batsmen in a Test match? They have the likes of Pietersen, Collingwood, Bopara, and Flintoff who all play limited overs cricket and can up the run rate when required. I think its more important to have a technically sound experienced cricketer who can dig them out of trouble when required. Furthermore, Bell has had experience and some success against much better Australian sides and that experience would serve him well here. Besides playing spin well isnt such a crucial factor against the current Australian side. :P

[Lord]

^ Why do you need so many aggressive batsmen in a Test match? They have the likes of Pietersen, Collingwood, Bopara, and Flintoff who all play limited overs cricket and can up the run rate when required. I think its more important to have a technically sound experienced cricketer who can dig them out of trouble when required. Furthermore, Bell has had experience and some success against much better Australian sides and that experience would serve him well here. Besides playing spin well isnt such a crucial factor against the current Australian side. :P

well Ian Bell's only position is at 3 n that has been taken by Bopara.if u still wanna have a technically sound experienced cricketer,how about Vaughan?why do u need Bell

[DomainK]

This will be a good series. I have decided to support the English.

[Mr. Wicket]

How many runs has Bell made recently in county cricket? How many runs has Vaughan made recently in county cricket?

[bharat297]

Lord, who said Bell's only position is at 3? Thats not true. Half of his career centuries have come when batting in the no.6 position. In fact of positions 3 to 6, 3 is actually his worst position. I dont mind Vaughan, but I think Ian Bell is an experienced cricket that is still young. So picking Bell is looking towards the future. Also Bell is a much much better fieldsman than Vaughan.

[cowboysfan]

This will be a good series. I have decided to support the English.

me too.we wouldnt be able to stand the English for the next 2 years if they win as they will be shouting "we are the king of the world" for 2 years but it will be worth it to see the smile wiped out of the Aussies faces.

[cowboysfan]

Yorkshire leggie among three spinners in 16-man pre-Ashes squad http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12123_5395458,00.html England have included Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid in an extended 16-man squad for a pre-Ashes training camp but there is no place for Michael Vaughan. Rashid, 21, is one of three slow bowlers named in the party alongside Nottinghamshire off-spinner Graeme Swann and Northamptonshire left-armer Monty Panesar. The selectors have kept their options open ahead of the first Test against Australia in Cardiff from July 8-12 as the pitch at the Swalec Stadium is expected to offer turn. All of the XI on duty in the second Test win over West Indies in May are retained, while Warwickshire's Ian Bell is preferred to former skipper Vaughan as the back-up batsman. Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and Nottinghamshire seamer Ryan Sidebottom both return from injury. Preparations "The pre-Ashes camp is designed to give (team manager) Andy Flower and the rest of the management team an opportunity to meet with the players ahead of their series and begin their preparations in earnest," said national selector Geoff Miller. "We will continue to consider players outside the 16 chosen for the camp and will closely monitor performances in domestic cricket as the international season progresses. The door has not been closed on any player at this stage. "Michael Vaughan will, of course, be disappointed not to have been included. But I met with Michael recently and he understands that he needs to make runs consistently in County cricket if he is to force his way back into the squad. "We are pleased to welcome Andrew Flintoff and Ryan Sidebottom back to the Test squad after recovering from injury and Adil Rashid's inclusion reflects our view that he is maturing all the time as a cricketer and has the potential to develop still further." England have also named their team for the warm-up fixture against Warwickshire at Edgbaston from July 1-3. The members of the 16-man squad not required for that game - Bell, Tim Bresnan, Graham Onions and Rashid - will instead play for the Lions against Australia from July 1-4 at Worcester. Bell captains a Lions' line-up that features fast bowlers Steve Harmison and Sajid Mahmood, both of whom have been given the opportunity to press their claims for a Test recall. Balance "We have chosen two spinners in our side to face Warwickshire, but this does not necessarily mean that we will opt for the same balance in our bowling attack in the 1st npower Ashes Test. An extra pace bowler still remains an option for our starting line-up at Cardiff," added Miller. "In choosing the two teams for the matches at Edgbaston and Worcester, we were also mindful of the need to field a very strong England Lions side against Australia and the inclusion of four bowlers with Test Match experience and Ian Bell as captain demonstrates this. "We are keen to make the match at Worcester a tough one for Australia and plan to give all the players in the Lions team the maximum opportunity to press their case for selection. As a consequence, we will now be announcing our squad for the 1st npower Ashes Test on Sunday, July 5th - 24 hours later than originally planned." Pre-Ashes squad: A Strauss (capt), J Anderson, I Bell, R Bopara, T Bresnan, S Broad, P Collingwood, A Cook, A Flintoff, G Onions, M Panesar, K Pietersen, M Prior (wkt), A Rashid, R Sidebottom, G Swann England team v Warwickshire: A Strauss (capt), J Anderson, S Broad, R Bopara, P Collingwood, A Cook, A Flintoff, M Panesar, K Pietersen, M Prior (wkt), G Swann England Lions v Australia: I Bell (capt), T Bresnan, J Denly, S Davies (wkt), S Harmison, S Mahmood, S Moore, E Morgan, G Onions, A Rashid, V Solanki -- Rashid will have a chance to impress against Australia.

[bharat297]

I dont think McDonald is worthy of a spot in the test side, despite his reasonable performance in South Africa. The way I look at picking a Test side is pick players that are capable of not only performing well together but also if the occassion calls for it, pick players capable of single-handedly winning matches with either bat or ball. The no.6 spot is crucial in the Australian side. If they pick Watson, I think they have a bowler capable of taking wickets in English conditions, since he has had great success in county cricket there and he bowls 140km/h and swings the ball. Watson is just as capable of scoring a hundred aswell. If they pick North, they have a batsman capable of making a big score 150+ in a crunch situation. North is also handy with the ball. McDonald seems neither here nor there to me.

[The Outsider]

bharat, Watson is in terrible shape. Initial reports were he would not be able to bowl for most part of the summer anyway, so I was surprised to see him bowl in the WC. He was just pathetic - he has lost all venom and bounce with the ball. Was constantly trundling in around 125-130 mark without any purpose. And as Chandan mentioned above he is not fully fit. I feel Australia will play North, Haddin, and McDonald at 6,7, and 8 and pick 3 seamers.

[bharat297]

^ Oh ok. I havent been following the Ashes news lately. Well if Watson is not fit then I would say pick North (a specialist batsman) and pick Haddin at 7 and pick 3 seamers and a spinner (even if it is Hauritz). I think that is a better option, rather than picking McDonald. Between North, Hauritz, Katich and Clarke, maybe Australia can accomplish the role of a spinner.

[Fontaine]

Sussex play the Aussies today. Will be interesting to see if "Sarfraz" Clark will be bowling up to his standards. Live audio commentary: http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/url/354289.html

[Fontaine]

Hughes out after 14. Ponting arrived and then went with Luke Wright of all people getting his wicket. Clown.

[cowboysfan]

i dont want to say i told you so but.... http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cricket/injury-plagued-watsons-ashes-tour-onhold-20090629-d2fz.html

[Bradman99]

Watson>North, its a big blow if he's going to miss the series. I think North will struggle.