Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

[Bulldog4life]

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.

Did you mention the "ball of the century" Fredi?

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Jimmy Peirson is one step closer to a Test debut. The wicketkeeper will link up with Australia’s squad during the Ashes and serve as back-up gloveman for part of the tour,

Queensland wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson has been added as cover to Australia’s Ashes squad with back-up gloveman Josh Inglis set to fly home during the tour for the birth of his first child.

Inglis was named as Alex Carey’s understudy for the World Test Championship final and first two Ashes Tests but Cricket Australia announced on Friday that he would return to Perth in mid-June and miss the second Ashes Test to attend the birth of his child with partner Megan.

Peirson, 30, will join the Aussies ahead of that Test and will be on standby should Carey get injured.

A mainstay of the Bulls side, Peirson has played for Australia A in recent years.

He told cricket.com.au in 2021 that he still had a burning desire to play for Australia.

“I was like, ‘Righto, I want to play Test cricket for Australia’,” Peirson said.

“I‘m at that age now where you can either just be where you are and cruise, and yeah, you might have a 10-year career with Queensland – which is great, there’s nothing wrong with that.

“But if you want to play cricket for Australia, you need to be doing something that people aren’t doing, and Marnus (Labuschagne) is the example I use; years and years of hitting that amount of balls, and look where he is.”

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Is that a bit of a bolter selection? I get Inglis is going home though.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Is that a bit of a bolter selection? I get Inglis is going home though.

It probably means he was 3rd in line. He's a solid player and normally bats at 6 for the Bulls. I think it's a logical selection.

[lemmon]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

As we need to nominate 15 for the WTC Final, Renshaw and M Marsh have dropped out and are the two first 'reserves'.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

As we need to nominate 15 for the WTC Final, Renshaw and M Marsh have dropped out and are the two first 'reserves'.

I can't understand why we are attempting to play Hazlewood when he's hardly played in 2 seasons.

[lemmon]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

I can't understand why we are attempting to play Hazlewood when he's hardly played in 2 seasons.

Totally with you - I thought his decision to go to the IPL was pretty strange too when he needs to be recuperating and then getting overs under his belt. I would have Hazlewood in the frame for the Ashes - he's just too good not to - but I can't imagine he'll be right to go in about a week's time for the WTC final.

My tip is that Neser will be in the squad sooner than we think and that he'll have a significant impact over there - I think his bowling is perfect for those conditions. He's averaging 52 with the bat and 26 with the ball at Glamorgan so far in his County stint, it's tough to ignore those numbers.

[lemmon]

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.

Thanks for this Fredi - really enjoyed reading it.

Gooch would've worked with a couple of the English batsman as well - he was definitely in their set-up when Stokes and Bairstow came onto the scene - so it's intriguing to hear he thinks Baz Ball could come unstuck.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Did you mention the "ball of the century" Fredi?

No but he did.....given it was to his mate Mike Gatting

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

No but he did.....given it was to his mate Mike Gatting

I know it was Gatting just interested what he said.

[Axe Man]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

I can't understand why we are attempting to play Hazlewood when he's hardly played in 2 seasons.

Reports are Boland is more likely for the XI v India than Hazlewood.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Reports are Boland is more likely for the XI v India than Hazlewood.

I think Hazlewood is lucky to even be a passenger at the moment. Great bowler when fit but that's been his challenge for an extended period.

[Axe Man]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

I think Hazlewood is lucky to even be a passenger at the moment. Great bowler when fit but that's been his challenge for an extended period.

It's a long tour and even with zero injuries (which is unlikely) we require a decently sized squad of fast bowlers to call upon. His history earns him a place although currently it should be behind all of Cummins, Starc, Boland and Neser.

Supposedly Hazelwood is fit and his withdrawal from the IPL was precautionary. Hopefully he can play a part in the Ashes at some stage.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

It's a long tour and even with zero injuries (which is unlikely) we require a decently sized squad of fast bowlers to call upon. His history earns him a place although currently it should be behind all of Cummins, Starc, Boland and Neser.

Supposedly Hazelwood is fit and his withdrawal from the IPL was precautionary. Hopefully he can play a part in the Ashes at some stage.

I'd be be okay with him being behind Neser but it doesn't appear to be the case

This from cricket.com regarding his fitness. I hope he is okay for the Ashes.

The dynamism required by Josh Hazlewood to bowl in his Indian Premier League return was the main factor in his latest injury setback, the fast bowler revealed, as Australia's pace battery prepares to be rotated through their busy six-Test tour of the United Kingdom.

Hazlewood bowled at close to full pace on Tuesday at Formby Cricket Club near Liverpool, where the Test squad is easing itself into a jam-packed eight weeks ahead, but the right-armer remains under a cloud to play in the World Test Championship final.

The 32-year-old joined Royal Challengers Bangalore for the latter part of the IPL after a four-month absence due to an Achilles issue with a plan to gradually build up his bowling workloads ahead of the WTC final and Ashes series.

But he played just three matches before flying back to Australia with concerns over his side.

While he has since resumed high-intensity bowling, picking him to face India at The Oval next week shapes as a risk considering he has missed seven of Australia's last 10 home Tests due to side injuries in addition to the Achilles complaint that ruled him out of the India tour earlier this year.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes Tour 2023 and World Test Championship Final

Josh Hazlewood ruled out, Michael Neser in squad for WTC Final vs India

Australia has been forced into a late change ahead of this week’s World Test Championship final against India, with Josh Hazlewood ruled out on Sunday night due to injury.

Hazlewood had been battling an ongoing Achilles and side issue and was already in some doubt for the final, having struggled with the injury since finishing up in the Indian Premier League early.

Michael Neser will replace Hazlewood in Australia’s 15-man squad for the Test and could still figure in the final XI should selectors opt to play the all-rounder ahead of Scott Boland.

Cricket Australia confirmed the news on Sunday night, with Hazlewood “very, very close” to playing according to chair of selectors George Bailey.

The Australian fast bowler will now focus on making himself available for selection in the first Ashes Test on June 16.

“Josh was very, very close to being given the green light but we are cognisant that our upcoming schedule means this is not a one-off Test match of us,” Bailey said.

“Michael’s County form has been strong and knowing that he was going to be close by allowed for him to keep playing and for us to be able to call on him. He is a great strength to have as part of the fast bowling group.

“This will give Josh an ideal preparation leading into Edgbaston. With six Test matches in a little over seven weeks we will need all of our fast bowling assets.”

Hazlewood had bowled at near-full pace at a training session in London last week and told reporters his fitness was “pretty good” at the time.

It is just a matter of ticking off every session from here until that date (June 7), basically,” Hazlewood said.

“We will probably have anywhere from three to four more sessions – bat versus ball and then a couple of longer days in the nets as well, or centre wicket down in London – so it is just ticking off those last few boxes and pulling up well from every session.

“It was pretty close (to full pace today). I came down for a little bowl yesterday, just to loosen up and to get a bit more out of today’s session, so it is feeling good.

“After a long few travel days, it is always a case of the first one getting the cobwebs out and stretching out and doing some run-throughs, just to get the blood flowing.

“It is always good to get the first one out of the way and when we get to London we will steam in.”