Pre Ashes Thread

[Bradman99]

Damn, Clarke is our best batsman I feel. Need Ponting to have a big one.

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The Ashes 2010: Australia worried by new Michael Clarke back injury More... The Ashes 2010: Australia worried by new Michael Clarke back injury • Vice-captain sits out fielding session in state game • Australia to unveil their Ashes squad tonight guardian.co.uk, Sunday 14 November 2010 The Australia vice-captain, Michael Clarke, is a fresh injury doubt for the Ashes opener in Brisbane on 25 November after a back problem flared up while playing for his state side New South Wales. Australia are set to name their Ashes squad later today but Clarke, who scored a century on day three of the Sheffield Shield game with Victoria at the SCG, has been troubled by back soreness since day one when he played down the severity of the injury, saying he would spend time receiving physiotherapy. However, after sitting out the remainder of Victoria's second innings – which they declared at 275-8 to set New South Wales 391 runs to win – Clarke was in obvious pain when he finally came to the crease down the order at No8. Clarke grimaced after playing shots and ambled gingerly between the wickets but in a gritty display reached 39 not out and, together with Brad Haddin, who hit an unbeaten 61, helped save the match for the home side. The New South Wales captain, Stuart Clark, told the Melbourne Age: "He's sore from batting in the first innings for a long period of time after, as I was just joking with him, not getting many in India or batting that long. I think it's just stiffness from batting and being hunched over for long periods of time. "He was always going to bat today. It was just a matter of, if we were two or three down, then he wouldn't have been required. In the end we got to a stage where he needed to bat so he went out and did it.'' Clark said he anticipated his team-mate to be available for the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania, starting on Wednesday at the SCG. "The selectors will meet and obviously the physio will reassess Michael over the next couple of days,'' he said. "But at this stage I'd assume he's playing."

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England bowlers to miss warm-up England send their four front-line bowlers to Brisbane rather than play them in their final Ashes warm-up game. More... Ashes 2010: England bowlers to miss final Ashes warm-up Tour match, Adelaide, 17-20 November: Australia A v England, play starts Wednesday 2330 GMT Coverage: Scorecard updates every half hour on bbc.co.uk/sport and regular bulletins on BBC Radio 5 Live -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Broad took six wickets in the first two warm-up matches England are sending their four first-choice bowlers straight to first Test venue Brisbane rather than playing them in the last Ashes warm-up game. Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Steven Finn will leave Hobart before Wednesday's four-day match against Australia A. It will allow them to acclimatise for the first Test on 25 November. Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar, Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad will make up England's attack for the game. Australia A have brought in bowler Clint McKay to replace injured Mitchell Starc. Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said: "Clint has been a regular member around Australia's limited-overs squads for some time and he will be looking forward to this challenge." England have made an unbeaten start to their tour. They beat Western Australia by six wickets in their opening match before drawing their second game against South Australia.

[fineleg]

How long before the Brisbane Test did England arrive in Aus? and, How many warmups are they playing? Massive preparation this :woah:

[hari504504]

Australia A vs England XI : final warm up for Ashes Ajmal Shehzad could be the first choice backup for any injuries to the original three pacers... Hadn't seen the full squad earlier, interesting that Panesar was picked (on the basis of what ?)!!

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I'm better than Doherty - Hauritz NATHAN Hauritz reckons he's a better bowler than spin rival Xavier Doherty and he'll prove it when they go head to head for their states. More... Nathan Hauritz out to prove he deserves Ashes spot ahead of Xavier Doherty From: AAP November 16, 2010 NATHAN Hauritz reckons he's a better bowler than Australian squad spin rival Xavier Doherty and he'll set about proving it in NSW's Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania. Hauritz has been put on notice by the selectors to improve his output by the inclusion of Tasmanian Doherty in an expanded 17-man Ashes squad, and says he will be out to do exactly that at the SCG from Wednesday. "I think I am (a better bowler) definitely, but my opinion doesn't really matter unfortunately when it comes to picking the side," said Hauritz at the SCG nets on Tuesday. "It's just important I bowl well this week. If I bowl well and not get picked so be it, but if I bowl well and get picked I look forward to the Ashes." The spotlight is intense on all Australian players in the lead-up to the first Test against England at the Gabba starting on November 25, but none are facing it more squarely than Hauritz. It can be tough (dealing with pressure) but I guess that's why you want to play cricket for Australia. It's not meant to be easy, the pressure's always going to be on," he said. "I guess with an Ashes series everything's heightened just that little bit more, and it probably brings the best out of you, being put under pressure so much. "But it's definitely something that sometimes you wish it wasn't there."

[Bradman99]

That's not the professional thing to say at all. He should let his bowling do the talking, Doherty has done nothing wrong lately.

[Chalks]

After this crappy India-NZ series, this really can't start quickly enough. I've got tickets for Boxing Day. Who knows, it might be a live rubber for once. :P

[Bradman99]

Bloody hell all the team is in poor form it seems haha. Hussey got a duck today, Watson got 6, Katich 1.. the hopefuls Kawaja, Ferguson and Hughes all fell cheaply..

[gaurav92]

LOL Aussies will definitely play well where it matters the most.:nice:

[Bradman99]

LOL Aussies will definitely play well where it matters the most.:nice:

Hope so. Smith not doing his chances any harm either atm.

[ZodiaC]

Aussies :WTF: Hope they do well when it matters though.

[Bradman99]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the-ashes/australias-batsmen-fail-miserably-on-wednesday-with-the-ashes-against-england-just-a-week-away/story-e6frf3gl-1225955102811 Australia's batsmen fail miserably on Wednesday with the Ashes against England just a week away By Martin Smith FOX SPORTS November 17, 2010 Really, Just 61? ... Ponting has plenty to ponder ahead of the first Test. It was billed as an opportunity to find some much-needed form, but Australia's batsmen did anything but on a disastrous day ahead of the First Ashes Test next week. All out 61 Eight of the nine frontline batsmen in Australia's 17-man Ashes squad fell for a combined total of 61 on Wednesday, with an attacking half-century from young all-rounder Steve Smith the only cause for celebration. The one batsman who didn't fail on Wednesday, vice-captain Michael Clarke, did not play for New South Wales in Sydney due to a back injury and he remains in serious doubt for the Gabba Test. The most concerning failure of all was that of veteran Mike Hussey, who scratched his way to an 18-ball duck at the MCG. Playing for Western Australia against Victoria, Hussey was caught by his brother David off the bowling of Andrew McDonald, the man who the Vics believe was unlucky not to be included in Australia's extended squad for the First Test. Hussey's position in Australia's Test side was already under threat following a poor tour of India and his failure in Melbourne will do little to silence those calling for his head. Hussey's WA teammate Marcus North fared no better against the Bushrangers, scoring 17 before he was also caught by David Hussey, this time off the bowling of Darren Pattinson. The news wasn't much better at the SCG, with Australia's opening pair of Simon Katich and Shane Watson falling cheaply as NSW collapsed against Tasmania. Following his twin failures against Victoria last week, Watson could score only 6 while Katich made just 1 off 23 balls as he continued his comeback from a hand injury. Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who is also on his way back from injury, made just 10 as the Blues collapsed to be all out for 97. Australia skipper Ricky Ponting also fell cheaply on the seaming SCG pitch, falling for 7 to the bowling of Trent Copeland. In Hobart, the men who are being touted as the solution to Australia's middle-order woes fared little better for Australia A. Usman Khawaja (13) and Callum Ferguson (7) missed their chance to push for their first baggy green caps, with both proving no match for England's second-string pace attack. Phil Hughes (2), Cameron White (5) and Tim Paine (27) also did little to push their Test case as the young Australia A side struggled in the swinging conditions. It was left to Smith to salvage the Aussies in Hobart, with the NSW all-rounder scoring a brisk 59 as he launched a solo rescue mission. The young leg-spinner, who played two Tests against Pakistan earlier this year, was eventually bowled by fiery England quick Ajmal Shazhad.

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Mike Hussey's Test place in jeopardy after another duck MIKE Hussey has been dismissed for a duck in a Sheffield Shield match, further jeopardising his chances of keeping his Australian Test team place. More... Mike Hussey's Test place in jeopardy after another duck Sam Lienert From: AAP November 17, 2010 WESTERN Australia's Mike Hussey has been dismissed for a duck in the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, further jeopardising his chances of keeping his Australian Test team place for the Ashes. The Warriors crawled to 2-44 at lunch after being sent in to bat at the MCG on Wednesday, with skipper Marcus North, also aiming to shore up his Test spot, on two and opener Wes Robinson on 25. Hussey was caught comfortably by his brother, Victorian acting captain David Hussey, at second slip, pushing forward to a delivery from in-form Bushrangers all-rounder Andrew McDonald three overs before lunch. It ended a very unconvincing 18-ball innings, including a confident LBW shout from seamer Damien Wright in the previous over. It followed scores of three and nought for Hussey in WA's previous Shield game, against South Australia at Adelaide Oval. Earlier, Robinson and Michael Swart (16) pushed WA to 0-36 from 12 overs, but WA managed only 2-8 from the remaining 17 overs of the session. McDonald had 1-7 from 10 overs and fellow seamer John Hastings 1-0 from six overs, including having Swart caught sharply by Aaron Finch at first slip. McDonald and Hastings had at one stage bowled in tandem for 44 straight scoreless deliveries.

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ASHES 2010-11: Ajmal Shahzad inspires second-string England attack to demolish second-rate Australia batsmen Australia endured a day of suffering today as their A team struggled against England’s second string attack here in Tasmania while their Ashes probables were all failing in state games around the country.More... ASHES 2010-11: Ajmal Shahzad inspires second-string England attack to demolish second-rate Australia batsmen By Paul Newman Reports from Hobart 17th November 2010 Comments (0) Add to My Stories Australia endured a day of suffering today as their A team struggled against England’s second string attack here in Tasmania while their Ashes probables were all failing in state games around the country. A spicy Bellerive Oval pitch saw Australia A crash to 66 for five on their way to 230 all out against an England attack shorn of Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann. Yet the best news for England in their final warm-up match was that the eight members of Australia’s likely first Test line-up playing in Sheffield Shield games were unable to gain any sort of match practice ahead of next week’s big date at the Gabba. Gottim: Ajmal Shahzad celebrates taking the wicket of Clint Mckay Ricky Ponting, playing for Tasmania against New South Wales, fell for seven while Mike Hussey, now in severe danger of losing his Australia place, endured the agony of an 18-ball duck for Western Australia before he was caught by his brother David, the Victoria captain. Michael Clarke, who is nursing a chronic back complaint and Ben Hilfenhaus were both out of action yesterday as at one stage Aussies probables were 41 for eight. Their A team, who include three fringe members of Australia’s bloated 17-man first Test squad, did not fare much better as Ajmal Shahzad, not even in England’s Ashes party, and Chris Tremlett seized their chances to impress. Andrew Strauss won an important toss on a green, lively wicket and then saw Shahzad, who is due to leave the England party and join the Performance Squad in Brisbane next week, spearhead an impressive bowling performance. The first choice attack, who were due to leave for Brisbane at the end of today’s play to acclimatise ahead of their team-mates, looked on in envy as Shahzad, Tremlett and Tim Bresnan all gained pace, bounce and movement. Tremlett, the Surrey giant playing his first game for England in more than two years, was soon sending back Phil Hughes, unlucky to be left out of Australia’s extended first Test squad but seemingly still vulnerable to the short ball. But it was Shahzad, the pick of the England attack, who excelled in a nine-over opening spell bowling into a strong wind at this most picturesque of grounds. Usman Khawaja was born in Islamabad but settled in Sydney with his parents when he was three and is now set to become the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia, possibly as early as next week in Hussey’s place. Here he struggled before edging Shahzad to Matt Prior and receiving a verbal send-off from the bowler as he departed. Callum Ferguson is another young batsman in the 17-man party but, after failing against England playing for South Australia last week, he again did his chances of promotion little good by edging Bresnan to Prior. Replays, however, suggested that Ferguson may have been unlucky as ball may have come off hip rather than bat. The best moment of England’s day in the field, however, was still to come. Monty Panesar has earned a recall to this Ashes squad after rebuilding his career at Sussex last season and was given his chance here in the absence of Swann. Yet it was with a remarkable, diving, right-handed catch that Panesar, once one of the worst fielders in international cricket, distinguished himself today rather than with his accurate but far from menacing left-arm spin. Ed Cowan, a local boy promoted to the A team in place of the injured Shaun Marsh, could not believe his luck as his pull off Bresnan was clutched out of the air by Panesar. It looked as though Australia A were going to be skittled cheaply but Ponting could take consolation from the rescue act inspired by yet another of his Brisbane 17. Steve Smith is a batsman first and a leg-spinner second as he showed against Pakistan at Headingley last summer and again demonstrated here. Smith, an unorthodox but effective hitter, joined forces firstly with Tim Paine and then with fellow spinner Steve O’Keefe to take Australia to the relative riches of 230 all out, Tremlett finishing it off by having O’Keefe, who was badly dropped by Ian Bell on 35, caught off a skier by Prior on 66. Smith had earlier been bowled off an inside edge by Shahzad for 59. England, who had decided to again pick their Test top six rather than give spare batsman Eoin Morgan a game ahead of the Test, lost captain Andrew Strauss by the close to a loose shot off the pace of Mark Cameron.

[saneindian]

If the Brisbane wicket is anywhere close to what is being reported in the media, Aussies could be in for a huge trouble. Swing and seam on pitches plays straight into the hands of English bowlers.

[Sid]

Well earlier I thought Aussies may get things right and wil be favourites to win the ashes but looking at English preparations and performances in tour matches,and aussies dismal show in both intl. & domestic matches preceeding the Ashes,I will be hugley surprised if Aussies win the ashes

[cowboysfan]

i think flat tracks are the way to go for the aussies.some of their batsmen are in decline or really bad form.they should get to work on the Gabba pitch.

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Ashes 2010/2011: Ian Bell puts England in charge in Hobart by stroking a brilliant hundred Ian Bell continued on his mission to readjust local opinions by stroking a brilliant hundred against Australia A and putting England in charge in Hobart. More... Ashes 2010/2011: Ian Bell puts England in charge in Hobart by stroking a brilliant hundred By Dean Wilson 18/11/2010 Ian Bell continued on his mission to readjust local opinions by stroking a brilliant hundred against Australia A and putting England in charge in Hobart. Bell's 121 not out has been just about the best exhibition of batting on the tour so far and up against the best bowling attack they've faced too. And just like they did together in Cape Town it was Bell and Paul Collingwood who rescued England after a mini-collapse caused a mid-innings wobble on a rain-affected day. They've so far added an unbroken 198 for the sixth wicket after slow left arm spinner Steve O'Keefe accounted for Kevin Pietersen and reduced England to 137-5. But one bruised thumb apart thanks to Collingwood's first ball, the pair have never looked in any trouble whatsoever taking England to 335-5, and in the case of Bell he has dominated Australia's second string as if they were a club attack. Bell systematically ruined Steve Smith's chances of being called up for the first Test as Australia's spinner by popping him over the ropes and into the boundary boards at will. Collingwood got increasingly better as his innings went on and by the close he had reached 74 not out, with an eye on a ton for himself tomorrow. A delayed start due to regular showers confused nightwatchman Monty Panesar who sprinted back to the dressing room just as the bowler was about to bowl to grab his arm guard. It didn't stop him being bounced out for 13 though, before Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott settled in for the morning. They added an unhurried 87 together before Cook took on O'Keefe and skied him to mid on for 60. Cue the wobble. Trott followed three overs later when he pulled Cameron to mid-off, and Pietersen lasted just another three when he played down the wrong line to O'Keefe to continue his misery against left arm spinners. But from that point on it was plain sailing for England by the mouth of the River Derwent as Bell and Collingwood dropped anchor.

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Can't Bat.. Can Bowl! THE ASHES ENGLAND'S B-LIST BOWLERS PILE PRESSURE ON SWANN AND CO AS AUSTRALIA FLOP More... CAN'T BAT.. CAN BOWL! By Dean Wilson 18/11/2010 THE ASHES ENGLAND'S B-LIST BOWLERS PILE PRESSURE ON SWANN AND CO AS AUSTRALIA FLOP Australia's batsmen continued to frighten their fans by taking it in turns to fail spectacularly ahead of the Ashes. There is already widespread worry about their batting line-up following three successive Test defeats, which is why six of their regular top seven were in action for their states yesterday. But their combined total equalled just 41 runs at an average of under seven apiece. The only man in the regular top seven to come out of Wednesday's cricket with any credit is Michael Clarke, who was not playing due to a back injury. Marcus North was the stand-out performer with 17 for Western Australia against Victoria at the MCG, but he had already seen team-mate Mike Hussey depart for an 18-ball duck, caught by his brother David. Even Ricky Ponting struggled to some to terms with a Sydney wicket that clearly favoured the bowlers, but left any Test batsmen still searching for confidence. Ponting managed seven runs and of the rest in action Shane Watson (six), Simon Katich (one) and Brad Haddin (10) all failed in a dreadful day. Of the players in line to replace the established group, only Steve Smith enhanced his reputation with 59 against England for Australia A, while Usman Khawaja missed his chance to make the headlines, making just 13. Smith said: "Obviously you get your green wickets here and there and sometimes you just get good balls. I'm not too sure what's going on. "The selectors have a fair indication of what they're going to go with in Brisbane and some people fail on wickets if they're bowler-friendly around the country. "So I guess you can't really take too much out of what's going to happen this week." It was a brave face being put on by the youngster, but deep down there will be huge concern over the lack of runs and wickets for the men who will be charged with winning back the urn. One man who has no doubts about the quality of Australia's batting is their coach Justin Langer, who has backed the old guard to come good when it matters during the Test series. Langer said: "Marcus North has got five hundreds in 19 Tests and Mike Hussey basically averages 50 in Test cricket. "They are very, very good players. "What they have to do is eliminate the distraction of what has happened in the past and concentrate on getting balance in their stance and being ready for the first ball. "You don't lose your talent and your ability. Sometimes because of distractions you might lose a little bit of focus. "They're good enough and have been around long enough." "Hussey and Ponting are absolute warriors of Australian cricket and I'm very confident that if they get their focus right they'll be fine and they're a very important part of us winning back the Ashes."