The Ashes Tour 2009

Yer I want our attack to be: Johnson, Siddle, Clark and Hilfenhaus. 3 very different bowlers - 2 highly experienced ones in there and 2 less experienced but effective. Siddle has played tests in 3 countries now, so he's picking up more and more experience and has done very well in his 7 tests - hope to see more of him, top Victorian talent.
Hilfenhaus will swing that duke like crazy and Johnson is really got this inswing to the right handers happening.
I don't see Hauritz playing... I feel that a full pronged pace attack can work in England - England won the last Ashes with quick bowlers, Giles didn't really do a hell of a lot realistically. North, Clarke and Katich can be used as change ups and Ponting better use them. If Hauritz plays ahead of say Hilfenhaus, then Watson should come in for North in order for there to be an extra quick option.

Now that is going too far mate. Lee ain't that good a batsman. He is fine but McDonald is a hell lot better than Lee. He should not be playing though.

Originally posted by milkman KP won't play 5 tests either, he's not right at all with that achillies.

Johnson is the main bowling option for Aus,Siddle will back him up,but Hilfenhaus hasn't really impressed me.
Hughes and Katich will be the main points of the batting line up,Ponting and Mike Hussey aren't really in good enough form.
Clarke could perform,but I'm not to confident on that department.

Michael Clarke in his last 9 Tests (3 against NZ, then the 6 against RSA)

Career averages

	Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5	Ct	St
unfiltered	47	3204	151	47.82	10	18	6/9	37.77	1	39	0	Profile
filtered	8	741	138	57.00	2	0	-	-	0	5	0

He's shown some good form... along with those 2 x 100s are those 2 x 90s scores that he got.

He scored a 50 in the first test and looked great. From them on you sort of felt that he was almost tiring and that because other players dominated like Hughes for instance, there was less pressure on him to perform. Look at that 98 he scored against NZ - under pressure. He was scoring his 2 tons and 2 90s under immense pressure. When the pressure came off, he relaxed too much I felt. That 90 he scored at Lords in 05 was also an innings under pressure, but he was younger and a lot more indecisive. Certainly I'd say that he lifts when the heat is on.

Hussey in his prime can do it for sure. Always felt Ricky seemed to get out when the pressure was on, I mean he has stuck around before like in the 05 Ashes when Australia drew. He disappoints me a fair bit with the bat, right now we're struggling somewhat and he is not making enough runs and not justifying his position as Australia's premier player at the moment (i.e. he gets paid the most and just won the Allan Border Medal)

Interesting thoughts about Ponting. Career average of 56, average since beginning of 2007 of 43. Averages in the 30s in 3 of his last 6 series.

Past his peak or due a massive series?

I still thinks it's in him. When he got that ton at the MCG and then that 99 he looked at his best. He gets a lot of starts but isn't going on... that's the thing with him, in the past once he started he'd go on to a ton - but not lately.

We thought Tendulkar lost it, but he definitely came back with a bang. I'm hoping the same for Ponting. He has a had a few niggles here and there and the pressure has been on. Hopefully he'll be close to his best versus England. We missed him in 2005 - he only got 1 ton. An in form Ponting will mean the end for England or at least make their job a hell of a lot harder.

They're the home side, so I doubt they'll have 16 - maybe 13, and if that's the case they'll announce it very late. Otherwise it will be a bigger squad which they'll announce earlier.

I will play only one spinner instead. Onions has to play.

Was looking at some of the archives before. Phillip Hughes took on the keeping duties in an ODD game when Haddin got injured for 9 overs. He was also a prolific rugby league player and played alongside Australian star Greg Inglis at junior level. Nice little resume so far for Hughes.

If that's the case Clobs, then there's a pretty decent back up bowler for England if Onions doesn't play. Obviously if Flintoff is available and fit (which he is currently showing) he will be one of the main bowlers, so it would be hard for England to go with more than 3 front line pacers (Anderson, Sidebottom, Broad  + Flintoff) and then Swann as well. Onions doesn't fit in unless the selectors decide that Broad isn't up to scratch or Sidebottom should be dropped - but both those assertions would be unfair. Again, I am really liking England's balance and even in Flintoff is not in great touch with the bat, Swann and Broad are very capable lower order batsmen. Long batting line up and 5 good bowlers is a nice mix.

Edited by milkman - 18 June 2009 at 10:53am

How is it unfair? Onions just debuted a couple of games back and didn't exactly face the best side in the world.