The Ashes 2006-7 - England v Australia

I know it's early days but who do people reacon will win in the Collingwood/Bell/Shar(is that how it's spelt) fight? or will some one like Key brake back in to the team?

Key, Bell and Shar are bound to have good county avrages this seson if they dont play any test cricket. Can Coly play well enough to ceep that place?

Vikram Solanki could

We can go down in the world rankings losing to teams even if they are not Australia plus we want our players to be regularly playing at international level so that they are in form for the ashes.

Originally posted by Shoaib_UK I think that England's best players should not play any test matches before the Ashes and that only reserve players should play for the time being. After all it doesn't matter if England loses to a team other than Australia and that way, without key players, England will have a good excuse as to why they lost. In addition, non-Ashes matches aren't important whatsoever and should be treated with the casual disdain they deserve.

Disdain or not I know one thing for sure, pakistan will come roaring down on england, to finish up what they started in Pakistan, and believe me Shoab, Asif, Sami and Rana all have shown great form in england and would love to cause a lot of dents in english aspirations for the coming Ashes.

Originally posted by crownmethod Bad news for everyone who's getting a ticket to the MCG match....

What's the bad news for those GETTING a ticket?

The word is that they'll be tickets available for days 2-5 without much difficulty.

Ground capacity is 95,000 as well.

It could be too easy Wisey , they'll all be 18 months older as well!!

Michael Vaughan finally pulls on a pair of pads again , this time for Yorkshire against mighty Scotland!!

He did well too , effecting a run out before top scoring with 67 (9*4 1*6 67 balls). He went to that fine clansman Dewald Nel (!!) via a brilliant catch at square leg by England reject , Gavin Hamilton.

Very satisfactory for all England supporters and extrememly worrying for all Antipodeans - Scotland being such a major force in world cricket.

Beware Australia , the lad is back!!

There were plenty of Aussies in England , but they didn't have much to shout about.

Don't worry lad , the Poms will be there in force!

Melbourne always seems to have crap weather , let's hope for a change of fortunes.

I'm going to that ashes test at the MCG it will be the first time im going to a cricket match,I just went to the MCG on friday night for the first time to watch the footy and I must say the atmosphere is brilliant,I definately need to get out more im going MCG again this saturday night.

i thought that back foot was the part of your game that was tested on quick wickets! its easy to hit off the front on those wickets!

Originally posted by Sledger Michael Vaughan finally pulls on a pair of pads again , this time for Yorkshire against mighty Scotland!! He did well too , effecting a run out before top scoring with 67 (9*4 1*6 67 balls). He went to that fine clansman Dewald Nel (!!) via a brilliant catch at square leg by England reject , Gavin Hamilton. Very satisfactory for all England supporters and extrememly worrying for all Antipodeans - Scotland being such a major force in world cricket. Beware Australia , the lad is back!!

I don't even support England (unless they are playing Aus) but I do want them to do well, and I must say that purely as a batsmen Vaughan is not the player he was 2002/3 or maybe he is but teams have figured him out. His average has continued to fall and if selection was based purely on batting ability he would not or should not make the first 11.

When Pakistan were playing England, honestly I must say that the players which worried me (as a Pakistan supporter) were:

1) Flintoff
2) Pietersen
3) Trescothick

The players who I KNEW would not trouble the scorers were:

1) Vaughan

And so it proved to be the case.

Vaughan is turning into the next Mike Brearley - i.e. picked as captain first and batsmen second.

Originally posted by Sledger Vaughan has underperformed , but how much of that was due to carrying that knee? I won't make excuses for him here , nobody can predict how he'll come back. One thing is a given - his teammates want him in the side and that'll do for me.

Fair point, but who's he going to replace? Colly looks favourite, poor chap. 

Sheer panic downunder fellas , the word is out that the Barmy Army have a scheme whereby 15,000 of them will invade the SCG for the New Year's Test!!

Seeing the CA are releasing barely 4,000 to the proper supporters of the great game , that's quite a significant claim.

Money talks I suppose and nothing changes ,"100 dollars mate?"

   "Strewth mate , Bradman Stand , must be worth 150!"

"120 , final offer my son."

"Done!! Enjoy the game cobber!"



Ah!!! The beauty of negotiation.

Originally posted by SLEDGER Ian Bell might come back into the equation as well , but he did look suspect against Warne

If I was england, Ian Bell will never be picked to play against the aussies and pakistan.

Ian Bell and all the english cept KP, struggle against spin. Its not really the turn of the ball that kills um. It that they just can't seem to pick a "wrong un". Remember, belly will have to cope not only against warnie but MacGill who have an undectable "wrong un". Even Lara had hell with it.

Look at bell, all the time warnie dismised him in the ashes was maybe to a variation and not the stock ball.

Other than that comment, I am routing for the pommies still. Lets kick the aussies butt again !! yeah !!

I read at baggygreen that there were 0% of Aussie supporters at the Oval and only about 2-3% at other locations

This is it here: http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/2489 03.html

I think its very unjust, the English are going to feel like they're at home

Edited by cricket_mstr