THE ASHES

[brod]

I think we need a thread for stuff leading up to the first test..and start it off with DOUGY

Doug Bollinger declared himself fully fit after bowling in the SCG nets on Thursday and he will continue his comeback in club cricket on the weekend. Bollinger is aiming to prove himself ready for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba starting on November 25, after he suffered a stomach injury in the Mohali Test last month.

[brod]

Greg Chappell, the Australian selector, has encouraged Michael Hussey to play with freedom so he can continue to be a force at international level. Hussey has gained the support of Andrew Hilditch and Chappell this week, but has been battling for form over the past two years, averaging 37 in his past 35 Tests.

With the Australian squad for the first Ashes Test due to be named on Monday, Chappell offered Hussey some advice. "As you get older, the difficulty is that you are aware of the things that can go wrong and you're aware of how hard it is to make runs at that level consistently," Chappell told AAP. "Before you have all that experience, you tend to go out and you can play with a little bit more freedom."

Chappell said finding that freedom was harder as you got older. "The only way you can achieve is to get into the same state of mind that you were in as a younger player," he said. "That's the hardest part of being an older player, having that freedom to go out and take some risks.

[catchisthecry]

Ryan Harris might have just gone past bolly..
Hilf, MJ and Harris for the gabba I reckon.

If Johnson bowls crap again, gotta go for Bolly!

[Media Park]

Rhino took 5 first innings wickets, and four in the second, for a pretty impressive match against the Tassie boys.

[FlyingHigh]

Ian Chappell was on WWOS this morning. He made an interesting rationale for including Steve Smith, comparing him to Richie Benaud, who contributed more with the bat and field and only 1 or 2 wickets in an innings for his first few Test seasons before hitting his straps as a leggie.
Would be a fine line between this thinking and the Poms past habit of picking blokes who can bat and bowl a bit but not good enough at either.

Also, I reckon it's time to go with Paine rather than Haddin.

[The Dark Knight]

COME ON AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

We have been underperforming of late but IMO the boys are gearing themselves up big time for this one, it's going to be a f**king huge series. The build up has been amazing.

I hope like hell Ponting and the boys are going to come out, turn it on, prove all the doubters wrong and absolutlely smash England then send them home with their tails between their legs.

[Media Park]

We talk about Huss and North, and how they shouldn't be there, but I think we are all hoping like buggery that they come out and blast the Poms back to England without the Ashes-replica-urn...

Hope this is Punters last Ashes, and I hope he wins the bloody thing back off his own bat...

And for me, I'd put Ronnie in if Clarke can't get up!

[GWW]

I reckon England will win the series 2-1.

[carey]

i believe the ashes will rest soley on ricky pontings bat, he has a good series and i believe australia will win but he'll have to have a real good series as the australian bowling attack isn't great and the facts are you must take 20 wickets to win test matches! And at this stage i'm not sure the australian side can but who knows looks like harris is in form mitch seems to be going ok doug claims to be injury free but i'm still not sure.

australia 2-1 as much as it kills me to say.............

[GWW]

australia 2-1 as much as it kills me to say.............

Are you an England supporter?

[Sam_goUUUdogs]

England 3-1

A draw in Adelaide, and Australia to take Perth.

[Rik E Boy]

I reckon England will win the series 2-1.

Agreed. We'll give up a start by picking the same old faces and surprise later on with the Ashes gone. Watch the selectors pick Clarke even though he has a bad back. Watch the selectors pick Mitchell Johnson even though he hasn't hit the pitch in two years. Watch Ricky Ponting arrogantly getting out trying to play the pull shot.

Not confident of the result but I reckon we'll see some great cricket which means the fans are the winners.

regards,

REB

[Pat Malone]

Harris will be given the opportunity to play the first test at the Gabba I think. Bollinger is a little risky and I think they will prefer the variation of Harris with Johnson. Johnson needs to take the new ball, especially against the left handers at the top of the order who I believe he bowls better against, as he is never keen to come around the wicket to right handers which makes him alot easier to leave or play through the leg side. Hilf is obviously in, I dont really see him as a top order destroyer but his ability to swing the ball and hit good spots will be important in knocking over the likes of Prior,Broad, Swan and Anderson who all know how to hold a bat and can score very valuable runs. Pup has to be picked, and one selection from left field I would like to see is McDonald as a batter should Huss or North get axed. Sure my comment is a little bit reactive to his 2 tons in the shield game but its actually his bowling I like. He keeps it really tight and the Poms have plenty of stroke players who will get frustrated, namely Pietersen and Prior.

Team will be: Kat, Watto, Punter, Pup, Huss, North, Haddin, Johnno, Hauritz, Harris, Hilf
My preferred team: Kat, Watto, Punter, Pup, Huss, McDonald, Haddin, Johnno, Hauritz, Harris, Hilf

[smithy]

This from The Advertiser.

MICHAEL Clarke fears being sacked if his Test run drought continues during the Ashes.
Australia's selection chairman Andrew Hilditch, backed into a corner by having to name a squad earlier than his panel would prefer, will name a new-look squad of 16 at the Sydney Opera House.

It is likely to include New South Wales fringe-dwellers Usman Khawaja, Phil Hughes and Steve Smith, with Queensland speedster Ryan Harris a chance to come into the team, depending on the fitness and form of others.

Selectors are adamant they need to look at this week's Sheffield Shield matches, plus Australia A v England in Hobart, before they can settle on a final Test XI.

The selections of Khawaja, Hughes and Smith prove doubts are strong about key players Mike Hussey, Marcus North and Nathan Hauritz.

The fitness of Doug Bollinger and Simon Katich, coupled with the erratic offerings of Mitchell Johnson, who sprayed 11 wides in a grade game in Perth on Saturday, are headaches.

For the full article - http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/michael-clarke-says-his-place-in-the-australian-team-is-not-safe-for-the-ashes/story-e6frecj3-1225953590952

[brod]

Australia have named their squad for next week's first Ashes Test, but their starting line-up is no clearer. Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson and Xavier Doherty were all included in a bloated 17-man squad, which was even bigger than England's touring party for the whole series.

The selectors will trim the squad to 12 or 13 men after this week's round of Sheffield Shield matches and the Australia A game against England.

More to follow

Australia squad Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.

[Pidge]

Australia have named their squad for next week's first Ashes Test, but their starting line-up is no clearer. Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson and Xavier Doherty were all included in a bloated 17-man squad, which was even bigger than England's touring party for the whole series.

The selectors will trim the squad to 12 or 13 men after this week's round of Sheffield Shield matches and the Australia A game against England.

More to follow

Australia squad Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.

How can some of these guys even be considered for an Ashes spot.
Cricket Australia.. Pick players that are in form !!!
McDonald probably form player of the Sheffield Shield soo far this season overlooked.. Please explain

[Baron Greenback]

Australia have named their squad for next week's first Ashes Test, but their starting line-up is no clearer. Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson and Xavier Doherty were all included in a bloated 17-man squad, which was even bigger than England's touring party for the whole series.

The selectors will trim the squad to 12 or 13 men after this week's round of Sheffield Shield matches and the Australia A game against England.

More to follow

Australia squad Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.

How can some of these guys even be considered for an Ashes spot.
Cricket Australia.. Pick players that are in form !!!
McDonald probably form player of the Sheffield Shield soo far this season overlooked.. Please explain

How is Doherty out of form?
He's the leading spinner in Sheffield Shield at the moment.

[brod]

Australia have named their squad for next week's first Ashes Test, but their starting line-up is no clearer. Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson and Xavier Doherty were all included in a bloated 17-man squad, which was even bigger than England's touring party for the whole series.
The selectors will trim the squad to 12 or 13 men after this week's round of Sheffield Shield matches and the Australia A game against England.
More to follow
Australia squad Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.

How can some of these guys even be considered for an Ashes spot.
Cricket Australia.. Pick players that are in form !!!
McDonald probably form player of the Sheffield Shield soo far this season overlooked.. Please explain

Ferguson FC for SA this season 175 runs @ 87.5
Siddle SS for Vic this season 13 wickets (3rd most in SS)
Doherty SS for tas this season 9 wickets (6th most in SS)
Smith played only one FC game

[brod]

Australia have named their squad for next week's first Ashes Test, but their starting line-up is no clearer. Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson and Xavier Doherty were all included in a bloated 17-man squad, which was even bigger than England's touring party for the whole series.

The selectors will trim the squad to 12 or 13 men after this week's round of Sheffield Shield matches and the Australia A game against England.

More to follow

Australia squad Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.

How can some of these guys even be considered for an Ashes spot.
Cricket Australia.. Pick players that are in form !!!
McDonald probably form player of the Sheffield Shield soo far this season overlooked.. Please explain

Weve been there tried that before. The last thing we need is another 30yo plodder in the side.
4 tests
107 runs @ 21
9 wickets @ 33

[Hondo]

Watson has the 5th bowler (all-rounder) spot so there is not spot left for MacDonald. We don't need Watson and MacDonald in the side.