A likely Ashes squad

[lemmon]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

I'd be keen to hear what everyone thinks the selectors will do (and what you'd actually do!). I think the first XI will be:

Warner
Bancroft
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Labuschagne
Paine
Cummins
Pattinson
Hazlewood
Lyon

My team would be:
Warner
Harris
Khawaja
Smith
Burns
Head
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Hazlewood
Lyon

Starc is very much a toss of the coin and his red-ball form has been ordinary for a while, but I just can't leave him out after that World Cup display.

I'd have given Burns first crack at 5, with Wade my next option. We're all incredibly quick to forget that Burns averages over 40 in test match cricket, has 4 test tons and over 7000 first class runs. He's very much an experienced cricketer, which is what you want in an overseas Ashes series.

I'd have liked Patterson in the squad too (in place of Marnus). I think he has the most likely technique to succeed in England of the fringe batsman, has the temperament to bat time and wouldn't be rattled by the experience.

[Bornadog]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

I would go:

Warner
Bancroft
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Burns
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Hazlewood
Lyon

[GVGjr]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

Lem, Khawaja batting average in England is poor and I think he will be exposed at number 3. Would there be any advantage at batting him at 5 to protect him from the swinging ball?

That could mean a batting order of

Warner
Harris
Bancroft
Smith
Khawaja
Head
Paine
Cummins
Pattinson
Starc/Hazlewood
Lyon

I'll post what they might do a bit later

[Twodogs]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

I know he's been struggling a bit lately but I can't believe that we are thinking of not selecting Starc. I reckon the moment he sees a pommy batsman his form will come surging back. Plus I always like the variety of having a left arm fast to contrast with the right arm quicks as well and then there is his batting which is twice as good as your normal tailender. If we are 6 down for not many I think we can often rely on him to turn the innings around a bit with his clean hitting.

anyway my team is;


Warner
Harris
Bancroft
Smith
Head
Labuschagne
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Pattinson
Lyon


It's only the fact that he's the captain that I am picking Paine. Otherwise I would go with a keeper that can catch and doesnt have an assortment of broken fingers.

[lemmon]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

Lem, Khawaja batting average in England is poor and I think he will be exposed at number 3. Would there be any advantage at batting him at 5 to protect him from the swinging ball?

That could mean a batting order of

Warner
Harris
Bancroft
Smith
Khawaja
Head
Paine
Cummins
Pattinson
Starc/Hazlewood
Lyon

I'll post what they might do a bit later

I like the idea and that side. The risk with moving Khawaja away from the swinging ball up the order to the middle order is that you expose him to the spinners - that's not really an issue with England.

The thing to consider is whether Bancroft is actually a 'safer' option at 3. I think a lot of people have forgotten how much he was exposed in the channel outside off-stump in his first go at test cricket. That's bread and butter for Anderson, Broad and Woakes.

[Axe Man]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

Langer has confirmed Khawaja to play and bat at 3 and also Pattinson to return.

I think Head will play so that leaves 3 spots unknown at this stage: an opener, number 6 and a fast bowler.

Warner
Bancroft/Harris
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Labuschagne/Wade/Marsh
Paine
Pattinson
Cummins
Starc/Hazlewood/Siddle
Lyon

[lemmon]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

Langer has confirmed Khawaja to play and bat at 3 and also Pattinson to return.

I think Head will play so that leaves 3 spots unknown at this stage: an opener, number 6 and a fast bowler.

Warner
Bancroft/Harris
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Labuschagne/Wade/Marsh
Paine
Pattinson
Cummins
Starc/Hazlewood/Siddle
Lyon

I think if Starc plays in that lineup, you can also guarantee M Marsh will be at 6. They'll want a holding bowler to even out the attacking options of Pattinson and Starc and they'll probably feel that playing all of Pattinson, Cummins and Starc provides runs down to number 10 and you can justify the weakest batting option at 6.

[GVGjr]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

I think if Starc plays in that lineup, you can also guarantee M Marsh will be at 6. They'll want a holding bowler to even out the attacking options of Pattinson and Starc and they'll probably feel that playing all of Pattinson, Cummins and Starc provides runs down to number 10 and you can justify the weakest batting option at 6.

Do we also need to play Marsh so that we don't overwork Pattinson?

[lemmon]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

Do we also need to play Marsh so that we don't overwork Pattinson?

I think you can get away with it playing either of Hazlewood or Siddle. They can both bowl 7 or 8 over spells, as can Cummins.

I think if you play Starc alongside Pattinson, you have two bowlers that are only at their best in four over bursts. You're leaving a lot to Lyon if you leave out the fourth seamer.

[Axe Man]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

It's looking like Starc is out of the equation for the first test and it's down to Hazlewood v Siddle. Seems like Bancroft will get the nod over Harris, but I'm really not sure which way they are going to go at number 6.

Edit: Now being reported that Wade will get the gig at 6 and Hazlewood will win out over Siddle.

[Axe Man]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

[Bornadog]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

I am sort of shocked Starc won't be playing the first test. How do they work out the form line? Is it based on the last test series? Does the one day forma come into consideration ( apparently not)

Will be interesting, and I can't wait for the first days play tomorrow.

[Axe Man]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

England have named their 11:

1 Jason Roy
2 Rory Burns
3 Joe Root (capt)
4 Joe Denly
5 Jos Buttler
6 Ben Stokes
7 Jonny Bairstow (wk)
8 Moeen Ali
9 Chris Woakes
10 Stuart Broad
11 James Anderson

Their top order looks very fragile with the exception of Root. Stokes and Bairstow will be the key wickets in the middle order. Moeen shouldn't cause us too many sleepless nights but their 4 fast bowlers will be challenging in their conditions.

[Bornadog]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

England have named their 11:

1 Jason Roy
2 Rory Burns
3 Joe Root (capt)
4 Joe Denly
5 Jos Buttler
6 Ben Stokes
7 Jonny Bairstow (wk)
8 Moeen Ali
9 Chris Woakes
10 Stuart Broad
11 James Anderson

Their top order looks very fragile with the exception of Root. Stokes and Bairstow will be the key wickets in the middle order. Moeen shouldn't cause us too many sleepless nights but their 4 fast bowlers will be challenging in their conditions.

I don't know what the wicket is like, but I would love to bowl first and shut the England crowd up.

REally excited about this series.

[Twodogs]

Re: A likely Ashes squad

I don't know what the wicket is like, but I would love to bowl first and shut the England crowd up.

REally excited about this series.

Yep, we should just need to hit the pitch and go bang, bang, bang, bang and they will be 4 for before they know it. I think them batting Root at 3 is a huge mistake.