Aust tour squad v NZ announced - Sayers in.

[bennymacca]

The drawn series in WI, and the 5-0 Ashes result would still be counting towards their rankings, when those start to drop out in a year or two you would think they would rise significantly

[norwood8]

Hard to disagree England shouldn't be top just looking at that list of results.

Agreed, I reckon the Poms are a better unit than us at the moment.

I disagree - Hales. Roy, Bairstow, Ali, Compton, Taylor all struggle to consistently perform at test level. They have massive issues as a unit when Broad/Root don't shine.

Spot on, they are nowhere near us as a unit atm. They rely heavily on much fewer players than we do.

[FlyingHigh]

Gotta preface this by saying I didn't see any of it on telly and only going by the scorecards - it was good Joe Burns made a true test ton (rather than the slog his first was and then against the WI rabble) and play a couple of important innings based on the game's circumstances.

[Grenville]

He showed a lot of maturity and patience, didn't chase the ball outside offstump as much as he has and made the bowlers bowl to him.

[whufc]

Like most people im pretty intrigued to see how our top 5 goes the next time we face England in England.

Burns, Khawaja and Voges have since the last Ashes turned into walk up starts and i wonder what that would do for their confidence against one of the stronger nations.

[RB]

Gotta preface this by saying I didn't see any of it on telly and only going by the scorecards - it was good Joe Burns made a true test ton (rather than the slog his first was and then against the WI rabble) and play a couple of important innings based on the game's circumstances.

Still can't believe this guy wasn't selected for the Ashes.

[The Dark Knight]

Gotta preface this by saying I didn't see any of it on telly and only going by the scorecards - it was good Joe Burns made a true test ton (rather than the slog his first was and then against the WI rabble) and play a couple of important innings based on the game's circumstances.

Still can't believe this guy wasn't selected for the Ashes.

Yep, at least a squad member went to India with Australia A around that time instead. Debuts against India, shows some promise then it seemed he was just forgotten about. A man on the wrong side of the selectors Shaun Marsh love affair. So glad he replaced Rogers once he retired and making the most of his spot now.

[LaughingKookaburra]

I reckon we would beat England both home and away with this team. We have pissed off a lot of blokes who were at the end of their stay, that doesn't say they weren't great cricketers for our Country, but they were clearly on their way out;

Clarke
Haddin
Rogers (Maybe a tad harsh, but look at Burns now...)
Watson
Johnson


Clearly all past their best. Now you have young, talented and hungry blokes in their place.

[The Dark Knight]

I reckon we would beat England both home and away with this team. We have pissed off a lot of blokes who were at the end of their stay, that doesn't say they weren't great cricketers for our Country, but they were clearly on their way out;

Clarke
Haddin
Rogers (Maybe a tad harsh, but look at Burns now...)
Watson
Johnson

Clearly all past their best. Now you have young, talented and hungry blokes in their place.

Don't forget about Harris too.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Harris didn't play in the Ashes and that's the comparison I was referring to.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Harris whilst going to be crippled before he is 45 was never a burden on the Australian team when he played. Absolute gun who bowled crook most of his career and averaged 23.5

[The Dark Knight]

Series averages-

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[LaughingKookaburra]

Even though Wagner took 7 at 23 if he was their most successful bowler after getting extremely lucky with bowling short shit that went in to people's lap the Kiwi's were lucky they didn't get smashed by an innings in both tests.

[batmanbegins]

I reckon we would beat England both home and away with this team. We have pissed off a lot of blokes who were at the end of their stay, that doesn't say they weren't great cricketers for our Country, but they were clearly on their way out;

Clarke
Haddin
Rogers (Maybe a tad harsh, but look at Burns now...)
Watson
Johnson

Clearly all past their best. Now you have young, talented and hungry blokes in their place.

Don't forget about Harris too.

You would beat England here but not away. Rogers was your most consistent player in the Ashes. Haddin only played the 1 test as Neville played the rest, watto only played the 1 and Johnson would still be in your best 11 now if he hadn't retired. The only one who was awful was Clarke and Usman coming in for him would make a big difference but not enough. You guys have played NZ who are ok and the Windies who are awful since you lost an ashes series so let's not say your a top notch side just yet until you beat some good teams. Let's not forgot the invincible Voges averaged 28 in the ashes against some high class bowling or that Smith missed out in 3 important games.

Let's not get to excited about winning two series against two of the weaker sides in world cricket. South Africa and the likes of Steyn, Morket and Rabada will be a much stiffer challenge next summer.

[bennymacca]

Wait a second, the poms didn't beat New Zealand or the West Indies in their last series. And whilst you beat the saffers 2-1, Steyn only played the first test.

Who is getting excited?

[Grahaml]

England fans are a special bunch of people. They even think Stokes is a champion.

[batmanbegins]

Wait a second, the poms didn't beat New Zealand or the West Indies in their last series. And whilst you beat the saffers 2-1, Steyn only played the first test.

Who is getting excited?

Where did I every say we were really good? We're an average side that is improving but still rely on Root, Cook, Broad and Anderson way to much. I just don't think you guys can say you would beat us in England after we beat you at home last year comfortably and the only significant change in your team is Kawaja for Clarke. Burns wouldn't be an upgrade over Rodgers in England either.

I know England have plenty of work to do but it;s a hell of a lot more positive than when we were losing to the windies in the windies last year. I think there will be some very good ashes series in the years to come.

England fans are a special bunch of people. They even think Stokes is a champion.

Stokes is the man! Haha we love overstating how good he is but he is very exciting to watch.

[LaughingKookaburra]

I still think this side is far better balanced and in a better head space than the squad that went to England. I think England's results abroad v South Africa are a bit hard to judge as the Saffers are quarter of the side they were 2 years ago and I would strongly argue NZ on current Test form leading up to this series a far better team.

[Dogwatcher]

Stokes, the new Flintoff

[Dogwatcher]

Interesting to note that Southee and Boult again failed against Australia.