The Ashes 2015 discussion

[kosingh]

Not a single match going into the 5th day anymore in Ashes? Heck, we struggle to get to the third day.

[diga]

some not so flattering comments from his ex-teammates.. Hayden on Michael Clarke

Hayden, then a Cricket Australia board member, allegedly listed several reasons why Clarke wasn’t a suitable candidate. “His uneasy relationship with Ponting, the perception of Clarke as a cause of trouble in the team … his departure from New Zealand to break up with Lara Bingle, and his bust-up with Simon Katich on Hayden’s final night as a Test cricketer,” were some of the issues mentioned by Hayden, according to Brettig.

Symonds on Clarke

Symonds was critical of Clarke as a captain. “To me he wasn’t as natural leader as we’ve had in the past,” Symonds said. “It was very easy to fall in behind a Steve Waugh or Ricky Ponting when asked to do something. They were the sort of men that didn’t need to say a great deal.

Buchanan too http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/michael-clarke-eroded-australias-team-culture-john-buchanan-20150810-giw4nj.html

"Players like Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and others really tried to make the 'Baggy Green' culture something special, but I could sense it was under threat and under Michael's captaincy I can sense it has disappeared a bit and that disappointed me," he told News Corp.

[kosingh]

Everyone getting their shots at Clarke when he's down and out. Can't these boobs in baggy greens just get along.

[kosingh]

"According to the Courier-Mail, Australia’s Ashes tour had been dogged by off-field dramas including Clarke’s refusal to travel on the team bus or socialise with teammates, the sacking of popular vice-captain Brad Haddin after time off for family reasons, a long-running feud between the wives of two senior players and the mishandling of selection announcements." LOL. Feuding Australian wives. That country needs to tone down the aggressiveness just a bit. http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/michael-clarke-hits-back-at-reports-of-player-unrest/story-fndpt0dy-1227476850659

[mishra]

"Obviously it's not my job to pick the team, but there is a possibility there could be some changes and some younger guys coming in," Smith said. "I think Bangladesh is gong to be quite a tough tour, it's another place that is quite foreign to us as Australian batters I guess. So we're going to have to find ways to adapt to those conditions, like we haven't done well here. Hopefully we can do that and have some success over there.

Ashes is over for them

[Scarves]

Haddin flying home for family reasons Australia ODI T20 Squad: Steve Smith © Ashton Agar George Bailey Joe Burns Nathan Coulter-Nile Pat Cummins Glenn Maxwell Mitch Marsh James Pattinson Mitch Starc Marcus Stoinis Matt Wade Shane Watson Dave Warner Cam Boyce (T20)

[Vijy]

Haddin flying home for family reasons Australia ODI T20 Squad: Steve Smith © Ashton Agar George Bailey Joe Burns Nathan Coulter-Nile Pat Cummins Glenn Maxwell Mitch Marsh James Pattinson Mitch Starc Marcus Stoinis Matt Wade Shane Watson Dave Warner Cam Boyce (T20)

Oz's test team is crap in away conditions (pretty good in home conditions). But, I expect their ODI squad to be a real threat. Watto's ODI career record is highly impressive, and the likes of Mitch Marsh, Maxwell, Faulkner (who is not around now) and Coulter-Nile are all explosive batsmen capable of useful contributions with the ball.

[HippoSucks]

James Anderson to miss final Test at The Oval

England bowler James Anderson will miss the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval after failing to recover from a side strain. Captain Alastair Cook confirmed England would field an unchanged line-up against Australia, with Mark Wood joining Stuart Broad and Steven Finn in the pace attack. "He bowled yesterday but at about 60 to 70%," said Cook. "He's gutted but it's probably about a week too early." England lead the series 3-1 and have already regained the Ashes. Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, sustained the injury during England's win in the third Test at Edgbaston. "He's made really good progress and the medical staff have been brilliant with him but he's still probably about a week away," Cook added. "The way Mark has come in and bowled in the series - certainly in the first game and the last game - we have options. "He's a brilliant character and a pretty good bowler who has really looked at home in international cricket in his early Test matches. I think we still haven't seen the best of Mark and that's what is really exciting about him."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/cricket/33988641