Australia wins the Ashes!!

[Rik E Boy]

Just getting in first. Apparently Simon Jones is gone and won't play this summer. They can't win the Ashes without him and I reckon they wouldn't have won it without him in 2005 either. Jones' awesome swing and deceptive pace and that uncanny knack of taking wickets early on in spells proved to be a decisive factor in a close series.

Harmison is crap away from home, Plunkett is raw so a lot of pressure will fall to Hoggard and Flintoff. Feeling confident here boyos.

regards,

REB

[Maddogmike]

Liam Plunkett actually played the season with University in 2004/2005 in the Adelaide Grade comp - He is improving rapidly and is a handy batter too.
Before Jones did his knee in the Ashes at the Gabba 4 years ago, he was bowling 5-10kms an hour quicker and was regularly above 150kmph, his loss is massive to England.

[heater31]

our chances of beating the poms has improved even more lads





Vaughan out of Ashes

Cricinfo staff

June 29, 2006

Michael Vaughan is likely to be out of this year's Ashes as he will undergo surgery for the fourth time on his right knee on Monday.

Vaughan has been ruled out for four to six months, which means that his participation in the forthcoming series in Australia this winter is highly unlikely. The first Ashes Test is in Brisbane on November 23, although he might be fit for the one-day series starting on January 12, 2007.

Dr Peter Gregory, the England team's chief medical officer, said in a statement: "Michael worked extremely hard with the support of the Yorkshire medical staff to strengthen the knee to the point where he was able to begin playing again. However, he has still been experiencing some discomfort in the knee and further surgery is necessary if he is to regain the level of fitness required for international cricket."


His progress will be closely monitored.

That's just the latest blow to hit an injury-ravaged England side, who are currently without the core of their first-choice players, including Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles. Vaughan's captaincy was held up as a key factor in England winning back the Ashes after 16 years without them, when they regained the urn in September last year.

But Vaughan has been unable to lead England on from their moment of glory because of a return of his knee problems. Marcus Trescothick stood in for the first Test in Pakistan, and the seriousness of the issue really became clear in India, when he was forced home. He handed the captaincy over to Andrew Flintoff and also missed the start of 2006 season.

[blink]

Might as well give us the urn right now.....

No - I think the England team that comes out will still be much better than the last 3 or 4 that have toured Australia. Flintoff & Giles will both be cherry ripe & raring to go. Simon Jones is an 80% chance of being there. Who knows about Vaughan?

[Rik E Boy]

Simon Jones 80% Billy? Didn't realise he was that far advanced on the road to recovery. Still, if England want to repeat the error of bringing half fit players on a five month tour they are more than welcome. As for batsmen, it was their openers who gave us grief last time, making it much easier for Vaughan, Pieterson, Flintoff and even the monumentally mediocre Bell a chance to compile some good scores.

regards,

REB

[RoosterMarty]

Giles will get flogged in Australia.

[blink]

Simon Jones 80% Billy?

I still think that there is an 80% chance Jones will front up for the Ashes. I have heard reports that he will be struggling to be fit, but in the end who really knows? I hope he does show up, for the sake of the competition anyway, because I think he was the reason England won the Ashes last year.

[Rik E Boy]

Simon Jones 80% Billy?

I still think that there is an 80% chance Jones will front up for the Ashes. I have heard reports that he will be struggling to be fit, but in the end who really knows? I hope he does show up, for the sake of the competition anyway, because I think he was the reason England won the Ashes last year.

Perhaps not THE reason but a key factor. If he's not fit they'd be mad to take him because that means they'd have to fly out an underprepared bowler to take his place. Plenty of English tours to Australia have been derailed for that exact reason. Bring on the hack bowlers you Pommy bastards.

regards,

REB

[Booney]

The hopes of millions of lilly-whites will rest on the shoulders of Flintoff and Peitersen.Jones will struggle if unfit on the harder Aussie decks,Vaughan has a dodgy knee which as time goes by and age catches up will make is impact less and less (see REB ),Bell didnt get a start against Sir Lanka and Harmison will get carried away with the bouncy decks laid out in front of him.Bring the whingers out and make sure our Urn comes with them.

[mal]

Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
If McGrath dont get em'
Warney must.

5-0 unless it rains or North Korea shoots crooked.

[heater31]

5-0 unless it rains or North Korea shoots crooked.

going on this morning's reports that is very possible

[Rik E Boy]

beat that Nostromalus!

regards,

REB