Hawaii Five-0

[Rik E Boy]

Poor old Punter has spent too much time cooking his thinking unit under a hot helmet. He's come out and stated that we can win the Ashes 5-zip. Pardon my French but how in the **** are we going to do that?

Our cautious selection policy has left us carrying a couple of has-beens and a never was. We aren't scoring runs. But then again, we've got a gun attack haven't we. Er...haven't we? Well in 2007 we might have but for those that came in late Warney and McGrath have moved on.

Now despite being one of our worst ever Test Captains, Ricky is not as dumb as he seems. He can come out on the front foot now because there is so much bullshit flying around during the election campaign that nobody noticed his little howler.

Apparently we are going to win the Ashes just because we are on home turf. And Hawaii Five-0 at that! In question time in the Senate I put forward the following questions to Mr Ponting...

1. Can you still see the ball if it is pitched up?
2. Can you keep it on the ground when it is bowled at your head?
3. Will Hussey stop picking out second and third slip as he attempts to play that shot he's forgotten?
4. Will North's *ahem* other skills keep him in the side despite the fact he can't bat? Talk about a polished performer!
5. Who is going to spin the Poms out on the four roads we are going to cop this year?
6. When will you retire? No seriously!

Dads army. We could be in trouble here boyos.

regards,

REB

[Media Park]

Seriously- Ponting WAS the best batsman in the world.

THEN Ponting was simply the best batsman in the side.

THEN he justified his place.

NOW he's a liability.

The only reason we aren't talking about him more is because of Hussey and North.

And THEY are only there (it is now clear to me) so that people don't notice Ricky's ordinary form.

Hawaii Five-0?

The only five-0 will be Ricky's batting stats...

Test 1: 5, 0.

Test 2: Repeat above.

[RoosterMarty]

He must be just following in recent tradition in stating that Australia will win 5-0!

It is going to be a very very tough series this time around, England have a quality side but it depends how they will fare out here in Australia where the majority have struggled in the past.

[mal]

Australia will win this series easily
England might fluke a test
Swing bowlers and opposition off spinners struggle on Aussie pitches

This will be the main reason why AU will win
ANDERSON is a star in England, but is a duffer on our tracks
JOHNSON is a duffer in England, but starish on our tracks





South Africa beat us in Australia last time
But b4 that who has actually won a series against the Aussies at home ?

[sherminator]

Another beautiful mis-quote by the media in their pathetic attempt to find a story out of nothing. It reminds me of the McGrath interview before the 05 Ashes in which he predicted 5-0. I watched that entire interview on English tv. McGrath spoke about the improvement of English cricket at the time and was very respectful. At the end the interviewer (I think it was Mark Nicholas, but don't quote me on that) asked for a prediction. McGrath stated that he never goes into a test series thinking Australia might lose a test. He goes in believing that they could win every test therefore he cannot predict anything but 5-0. Said with a wry smile and a laugh. The next day all of the papers, tv stations ran headlines "McGrath predicts 5-0 whitewash", 'arrogant Aussies' etc etc. Its all media bulls**t!

[The Cadet]

Why England will win the Ashes

1. Ponting and Hussey are past there best.
2. North continues to fail but keeps getting the support of the selectors.
3.Watson is not a opener and question marks still hang over his ability to become a test standard batsman.
4. Australia don't have a spinner capable of bowling the Poms out when needed.
5. Finn and Broad will be suited to Australias pitches. Both tall guys who can get the ball through at good pace.
6. Swann is a world class bowler and will take wickets.
7. Strauss is a better captain.
8. Englands preparation will be better. Tour games in Australia, while the Aussies will be fighting it out on dust bowls in India.

[blink]

1. Ponting and Hussey are past there best.
Fair call, but who is currently knocking down the door to justify forcing them out of the side?
3.Watson is not a opener and question marks still hang over his ability to become a test standard batsman.
I think Watto has proved he is more than capable of opening the batting and that he is of Test standard, I can't see what else he would need to do? However, I do think a move to No. 5 would be a good option for him, for him to be able to get the best out of his bowling.
5. Finn and Broad will be suited to Australias pitches. Both tall guys who can get the ball through at good pace.
Very big call. Finn has only played a handful of Tests in England and both he and Broad are unproven in Australia - Harmison was a tall guy who could get the ball through at good pace and we all know how he performed out here...
8. Englands preparation will be better. Tour games in Australia, while the Aussies will be fighting it out on dust bowls in India.
Possibly Australian players won't take long to re-adjust their games to suit Australian conditions that they have been playing cricket in for the majority of their careers?

I do agree that winning the Ashes back this Summer will be more difficult than previous series, but one that the current Aussie side is well capable of. On paper England's bowling attack does appear stronger and that is where the difference lay in the 2009 series. Jimmy Anderson and his mates bowl remarkable well with the Duke ball and atmospheric conditions in England, but it is completely different situation out here...

[mal]

1. The ball swings very little after the first 20 overs in Australia as a rule
Its been like that for a long long time
Harold Larwood in his book once said something like this
'' We had to come up with a plan, In Australia the ball wont swing after a few overs with the new ball.""
"" To get Bradman out we needed a different tactic.""
"" Pitches are too flat thesedays and its hard for bowlers to take wickets.""

So we had a situation where the Poms were up against when the new ball shine wore off quickly
Mr Larwood and his cohorts came up with a plan that was called Bodyline or Leg Theory
Larwood was good enough to carry out the plan

What will EG do, get swing king Jimmy Anderson to bounce the AU batsman ?
Trouble is you can only have 2 behind square leg thesedays ...

Someone will be tempted to quote this post at lunch on day 1 at the Gabba if EG bowl first
If EG bowl first Jimmy will swing it and be a dangerous bowler
The 2nd session will assist Jimmy as well to a degree
After those 2 sessions and the remainder of the tour we shall see how the swingking goes