Ashes scorecard so far

[topsywaldron]

Here's my take on how the teams match up so far.

Openers - England. Cook and Strauss have made runs and taken the shine from the ball, Hughes is struggling.

No. 3 - Australia. Bopara would have to be one of the worst first droppers I've ever seen, Punter could out bat him left handed.

No. 4 to 6 - Even. Both teams have players here who've made runs, Clarke in particular. Pietersen continues to flatter to deceive, if he shelved his monstrous ego he'd make a lot more runs and possibly be on the right side of likeable. Hussey may be lucky to see out the series.

Keeper - England. Both keepers have made handy runs but Haddin still looks like someone who's filling in behind the stumps while the real keeper has a bowl.

Spin - Even. Hauritz has done better than any expected, probably even him. Ponting has shown faith in him and he's tossed it up often enough to ask the Poms some questions. Swann doesn't look like much but took enough wickets at Lords to call this one a draw.

Pace - England. If only for Flintoff, the one bowler in either team to consistently trouble the other side. On song he's better than Johnson IMHO but that comparison's a moot point at the moment. For Australia to win the Ashes MJ needs to find some from pronto. Most of the others look like honest trundlers at best.

All set up from here.