Pre Ashes Thread

[hari504504]

not too long ago ..the title of this thread was often used to describe the English cricket team. Whatta turn-around!!

[hari504504]

Warne had earlier offered to come out of retirement - think it is time to take him up on that offer, along with Mc.Grath, Hayden,Gilchrist :winky:

[TumTum]

KP out to a SLA again :cantstop:

[Gunner_Mania]

Ajmal Shehzad could be the first choice backup for any injuries to the original three pacers... Hadn't seen the full squad earlier' date='[b'] interesting that Panesar was picked (on the basis of what ?)!!

Panesar, meanwhile, moved from Northamptonshire to Sussex for the 2010 season in an attempt to revive his England career and he enjoyed a successful summer with 52 Championshop wickets at 25

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/story/478475.html

[Serani]

Ian Bell.....class is class.

[gaurav92]

Classy innings from Bell.Unlucky not to make a double ton there.Actually he has a history of choking in 190s :P

[ZodiaC]

Khwaja :hehe: Hugie lookin good so far

[Ranjha]

Warne had earlier offered to come out of retirement - think it is time to take him up on that offer' date=' along with Mc.Grath, Hayden,Gilchrist :winky:[/quote'] Only Warne can win them the Ashes.

[Bradman99]

If ever the Aussies needed some motivation (which they don't), then right here is some...

Ian Botham is tipping England to score an "emphatic'' first away Ashes series win in more than two decades and believes Australia are in disarray ahead of the first Test. In his column in The Daily Mirror, the England cricket legend accused Australia selectors of "muddled thinking'' after naming a "cast of thousands'' in their squad. "England should win the Ashes at a canter. At least that is what normally happens when a decent team meets an average one,'' Botham wrote. "England are on the way up and Australia are on the way down. They are a poor side living off former glories and it is up to this England team to take full advantage of that. And I think they will. "I can see Andrew Strauss' side dishing out an emphatic defeat for the home fans to suffer and they won't like it.'' England have enjoyed a smooth start to their Australia tour, with key batsman scoring runs and bowlers taking wickets in first class matches leading into the first Test in Brisbane. Botham said England's form augured well for the Tests while claiming Australia were gripped by uncertainty over their best XI. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. ''(Australia) have gone and picked a first Test squad larger than England's entire touring party, which is astonishing,'' Botham said. "If anything smacks of muddled thinking that is it and it will only serve to create more uncertainty in the players' minds before the biggest series of their lives. "Quite simply Australia are in disarray and the in-fighting, whining and grumbling that I've been hearing out here is music to an Englishman's ears. "I don't even know who is going to be turning out for Australia after naming a cast of thousands in their squad, but whoever they are, they are under some pressure and a ball hasn't been bowled yet.'' England have not won an Ashes series in Australia since 1986-1987 and were thumped 5-0 when the sides last met Down Under in 2006.

[Ranjha]

If ever the Aussies needed some motivation (which they don't)' date=' then right here is some...[/quote'] Nice...the verbals have started......and this time english talk does carry some weight.

[Ranjha]

Good one from Bell...can he do it in the real match?

[Bradman99]

Would love to see him with egg on his face by the end of the series. Nothing I hate more than a cocky England. Interestingly, Hauritz left out of the 13 for the 1st test. Doherty in.

Australia have dumped spinner Nathan Hauritz and named uncapped left-arm orthodox bowler Xavier Doherty in a trimmed 13-man Ashes squad for next Thursday's first Test against England in Brisbane. Ashes squad * Simon Katich * Shane Watson * Ricky Ponting © * Michael Clarke (vc) * Mike Hussey * Marcus North * Brad Haddin * Mitchell Johnson * Ben Hilfenhaus * Doug Bollinger * Peter Siddle * Steve Smith * Xavier Doherty Hauritz paid the price for some modest recent form, with Tasmania left-arm finger-spinner Doherty now looking a good chance to follow his recent one-day international debut with a Test debut against England at the Gabba, starting Thursday. As well as naming two spinners in the 13, selectors also included four quicks - Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. Johnson hit form in Western Australia's current Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG, with a century and a five-wicket first innings haul, while Tasmania's Hilfenhaus and Victoria's Siddle have both been rested from the current round of matches. Bollinger returned from an abdominal injury to play for NSW in their one-wicket Shield loss to Tasmania completed at the SCG on Friday. The batting line-up maintained the status quo, with vice-captain Michael Clarke named despite being rested from the Shield game with a back injury. WA veterans Mike Hussey and Marcus North, considered the batsmen most under threat, also kept their spots. Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the squad contained a good blend of experience and youth. "The squad contains a number of experienced Test players and some exciting young talent and we firmly believe it has the ability to win the first Test of the Ashes Series in Brisbane,'' Hilditch said. He said Hauritz could consider himself unlucky. "The NSP (national selection panel) believes the left-arm orthodox variety Xavier Doherty provides against a predominantly right-handed English middle order is the better option in this game,'' Hilditch said. "Callum Ferguson, Usman Khawaja and Ryan Harris are the other three (of an initial 17-man squad) to miss out of the final squad. "Callum and Usman are both wonderful young players who we believe will play a big role for Australian cricket moving forward but on this occasion the experienced middle order has been preferred. "We felt Ryan Harris needed further time to recover from his knee injury and also believe the four fast bowlers we have selected are in good form and will be key weapons for us winning the Ashes series.'' The 13-man squad will gather in Brisbane on Sunday evening.

[gaurav92]

Playing XI Australia Watson Katich Ponting Clarke Hussey North Haddin Johnson Hilfenhaus Siddle Bollinger England Strauss Cook Pietersen Bell Collingwood Morgan Prior Swann Broad Finn Anderson

[Clarke]

monty gets 3, a decent quicker/arm ball

[Ranjha]

Playing XI Australia Watson Katich Ponting Clarke Hussey North Haddin Johnson Hilfenhaus Siddle Bollinger England Strauss Cook Pietersen Bell Collingwood Morgan Prior Swann Broad Finn Anderson

What about P. Hughes?

[Sid]

England won the match by 10 wickets against Aus A ,Wow England has never looked this impressive before and Aussies have never looked tnis rubbish before :haha:

[Ranjha]

England won the match by 10 wickets against Aus A ' date='Wow England has never looked this impressive before and Aussies have never looked tnis rubbish before :haha:[/quote'] but England may choke on the big stage....England are definately a better team but beating Aus in Aus will be something.

[Sid]

but England may choke on the big stage....England are definately a better team but beating Aus in Aus will be something.

I dont see that choke happening,Poms are looking damn impressive this time, though I want Aussies to win the ashes :--D

[Ranjha]

I dont see that choke happening' date='Poms are looking damn impressive this time, though I want Aussies to win the ashes :--D[/quote'] I still think Eng will lose though aussies are vulnerable.

[Sid]

I still think Eng will lose though aussies are vulnerable.

Cant wait for this series,it wil be a great one