Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

[Bornadog]

Squads have been named.

World Test Championship Final and Men's Ashes squad:

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner

[lemmon]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Worth noting that it's only the squad for the WTC Final and the first two Ashes tests. The squad will be re-assessed after Lord's (where I imagine they'll call on some extra fast-bowling support).

[Bornadog]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Worth noting that it's only the squad for the WTC Final and the first two Ashes tests. The squad will be re-assessed after Lord's (where I imagine they'll call on some extra fast-bowling support).

Why the hell Bancroft is not in and Warner is included, is beyond me.

[Axe Man]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Renshaw made a pile of runs in the 2 Australia A v NZ A games recently. Meanwhile Warner is really struggling in the IPL. I think he is done, would be a miracle if he was to reverse things in England.

Mitch Marsh is a bit of a surprise but I guess he is injury cover for Green?

On a side note I will be at the Oval on day 1 of the 5th test. Hopefully the weather is kind and we haven't already lost the Ashes by then!

My preferred team from the above squad:

Khawaja
Renshaw
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood/Boland (depending on fitness and form)

[Flamethrower]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Renshaw made a pile of runs in the 2 Australia A v NZ A games recently. Meanwhile Warner is really struggling in the IPL. I think he is done, would be a miracle if he was to reverse things in England.

Mitch Marsh is a bit of a surprise but I guess he is injury cover for Green?

On a side note I will be at the Oval on day 1 of the 5th test. Hopefully the weather is kind and we haven't already lost the Ashes by then!

My preferred team from the above squad:

Khawaja
Renshaw
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood/Boland (depending on fitness and form)

I must be watching a different IPL. I am not a Warner fan but he is top 5 for runs scored (only 6 runs behind 2nd place Iyer) and has more runs than Kohli, Maxwell, and Buttler

[Axe Man]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

I must be watching a different IPL. I am not a Warner fan but he is top 5 for runs scored (only 6 runs behind 2nd place Iyer) and has more runs than Kohli, Maxwell, and Buttler

Thanks for the update. I don't really follow the IPL but read something last week that he had been struggling but that must have been out of date.

Edit: Seem like the criticism is more around his slow strike rate than total runs.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

I was listening to the interview with George Bailey on the Marsh selection and he started with the word "hopefully" when describing Marsh being able to bowl and back up Green. He's essentially been picked as a batsman and they hope he can bowl and given his track record I hope he can bowl but I won't be holding my breath. Apparently he's a popular boy with his team mates.
Neser should have been picked because Hazlewood has not demonstrated an ability to play enough.

[lemmon]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

I'm not huge on the Marsh selection. Think he's an experienced head and a good tourist, but he barely played First Class cricket last year and wasn't a bowling option. Hardie had a mediocre Shield but I'm surprised his form in New Zealand wasn't enough to get over the line.

I would have had Neser in the squad and in my first XI. Think he's perfect for English conditions and would prefer him to Boland in the UK. I reckon he'll be right in the squad after the second Test.

My controversial opinion is that Boland will be targeted by the Poms and go for some big runs when he's selected. I really don't think he's suited to England.

Looks like Harris is vying with Warner for the second opening place and Renshaw was preferred to Handscomb as the middle-order batting replacement.

There's a big contingent playing County cricket, so it feels like there are another 5 or 6 players that could be brought in at pretty short notice should they be needed. Kuhnemann has had a good start to County life - took 5 in the second innings and bowled Durhman to a win on debut.

[Axe Man]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Is Stokes playing mind games here? Sure fast, flat wickets might suit Bazball but will also suit our batting and bowling.

?Hold me to it?: ?Smiling? Ben Stokes delivers big Ashes Bazball warning, reveals pitch plans

England captain Ben Stokes has warned Australia that he has asked for ?fast, flat wickets? to take the attack to the Ashes holders later this year.

Stokes is hoping to lead England to their first Test series victory over Australia since 2015 and he believes pitch conditions will be crucial.

The all-rounder wants groundsmen at Edgbaston, Lord?s, Old Trafford, Headingley and The Oval -- the five venues staging Ashes Tests -- to produce the kind of quick pitches that will allow England to use the aggressive game-plan he has deployed with great success since taking over as captain.

?We?ve been very clear with the ground-staff around England about what type of wickets we want and they?ve been very responsive to us, which is good,? Stokes said on Sky Sports on Tuesday.

?We want fast, flat wickets. We want to go out there and score quickly. I?m smiling because I?m looking forward to it.

?There?s no point changing just because we?re coming into an Ashes series. Every player knows the Ashes is where everything ramps up a bit - pressure, exposure, all kinds of stuff - but we?ll just keep sticking to what we do.? Stokes has spoken frequently of his willingness to lose in pursuit of victory. He pushed that philosophy to the brink against New Zealand in February when England lost the series decider in Wellington by one run having declared their first innings and enforced the follow-on.

A draw would have settled the series in England?s favour but Stokes said he would not settle for stalemate, even with the Ashes on the line.

?Hold me to it. Every game I play this summer will be to produce a result,? he said.

?I?m not going to change anything just because it?s the Ashes. I?m not going to change for anything or any situation, because then I?m not being true to myself and what I?ve done over the last year.?

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Why the hell Bancroft is not in and Warner is included, is beyond me.

Because Bancroft was no better than Warner in 2019. To be honest none of Khawaja, Warner, Bancroft or Harris have any decent form in the UK. Going to be scary

[Bornadog]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Because Bancroft was no better than Warner in 2019. To be honest none of Khawaja, Warner, Bancroft or Harris have any decent form in the UK. Going to be scary

I am not sure how he would go in England. This season he was the highest scorer in the Shield.

[lemmon]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

I am not sure how he would go in England. This season he was the highest scorer in the Shield.

I wonder if Harris coming out and hitting 59 and 148 in his first two County knocks swayed the decision?

I would've gone with Bancroft because I think he's the better player and I think he'll be opening for Australia before too long, but Harris was the reserve bat for our home summer, probably has the most County experience of any current Australian player and has done nothing wrong at first class level.

I totally understand it as a horses for courses selection. Handscomb was the subcontinent specialist, Harris has heaps of UK experience and they like Renshaw's talent and versatility. Those 3 are vying for 2 squad places at the moment, with Bancroft not far away.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

If fit to bowl then I think Marsh is a solid selection to back up Green but I don't quite understand what he has done to deserve the call-up. The experience that Hardie might gain could benefit the years for years to come.

Warner is an interesting challenge in that no one is really knocking the door down so I guess he holds the spot because of that.
I really see our top order as a potential problem for us.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Had the privilege of having a great discussion yesterday with Graham Gooch at the Middlesex v Surrey Blast match (UK equivalent of the big bash). We spoke about a lot of things cricket and the Ashes. Some points from him:

1) thinks it will be a close Ashes series;
2) concerned Baz Ball will implode, though when it works it will work well, but there is the risk that when it goes wrong it will go catastrophically wrong;
3) Really likes Cam Green and is excited to see him in England. Feels if he can get his batting right he will do really well and gives Australia an edge;
4) Reckons Warner wont play, but is sceptical that any of his replacements will impact the series. Does think though that Smith, Lambo, Head and Green will provide heaps of runs;
5) Is worried about Test cricket and thinks that it will increasingly be put to the margins. We spoke about Jason Roy giving up his central contract to chase 20-20 franchise cricket in the USA. Feels that more players will do this;
6) ranks Wasim Akram, Dennis Lillie and Malcolm Marshall as the three best fast bowlers he ever faced;
7) ranks Shane Warne as a genius, both with the ball but also off it with his cricket brain. Was really upset/sad that Shane has gone.
8) does a lot of work with the Professional Cricketer's Association helping ex-cricketers get on with their lives post cricket. Spoke about Flintoff (who had a really bad accident filing an episode of Top Gear and had effectively had his face removed) and we spoke about Michael Slater who has also gone off the rails.

Really enjoyed chatting with him. Articulate Essex lad who us probably a little underrated in Australia.

[Bornadog]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Great stuff Freddie - love it