Ashes debate thread.

[irottev]

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/256473.html

Dizzy article.

I hope he does start. I think he should at least make the squad. I think he should be ahead of Johnson and Kasper. Theres enough pace with Lee and Tait. Kasper is kind of inconsistant.

He has a point, even if it was against Bangladesh, he couldn't have bettered that come back. Best batting and bowling average of the series. Hell, who needs Watson, play dizzy!

 

[evertonfan]

He's definitley a better bowler than Johnson, but I think Kasper is better than him though. Mahmood puts all three to shame though.

 

[BigCrickNan]

So who are australias bowlers gonna be? MacGill hasn't set a foot wrong lately... so you have Warne, McGrath, Lee, MacGill, Gillespie, Kapser who all really deserve to play. A bit of a problem there?

 

[aussie1st]

MacGill will only play on the spinning pitches, I'd go McGrath, Lee and Dizzy. I'm hearing Clarke is favoured to get his spot back as number 6 so no Watson.

 

[kodos]

I'd say Gillespie won't be given a go because of his poor record against England but I guess this series can inspire him and seek revenge against England. To me Clark won't be effective against England on Australian pitches, he bowled extremely well in SA where the pitches were very good were fast bowlers. On Aus. pitches it tends to slightly favour batsmans early on and the English bastman all look quite comfortable facing all fast bowlers. Watson could be an option but I don't think so as this is a major series and has shown he's not quite up to international standard with the ball, but a good start to the domestic season might give him a strong chance to be selected.

 

[James219]

The third option is the worry......I realise MacGill will probably only feature in the Adelaide and Sydney legs of the tour, but the English in past years have really struggled against him as a replacement for Warne, and although they are both wrist spinners in theory, their brands of bowling are worlds apart, and hence could really pose a double threat as opposed to using a third seamer to just fill the void. Tait'd be way too risky at the outset, and Gillespie, Kasper and Clark are all staking strong claims- they're all at the top of their game on the domestic scene, too. Possibly Bichel as a left-field selection? I doubt it, but his performances of late have been nothing short of brilliantly consistent. Both Watson and Symonds are too risky, I guess- I feel Aus will play well within their comfort zone here, at least at first- and, as Syl said, I've too heard rumours Clarke being tipped to regain his place in the middle order....Doug Walters was the one who favoured him, if I remember correctly.

 

[aussie1st]

Well Walters article was the one where I heard the rumour from. Watson I can't see being too effective, Symonds would be the better option because of his attack nature with the bat. But I'd go Clarke as hes got the attacking nature but with more patience with the bat.

Bowling I'd still stick with Dizzy just because of the fact he has gone so well down here. Kasper would be my next option again cause he goes well in Australia. I'd pick Tait before Clark.

 

[rickyp]

gillespie said today he didnt expect to be included. It wouldnt shock me if he wasnt, he only played well against bangladesh, no prizes there

 

[BigCrickNan]

gillespie said today he didnt expect to be included. It wouldnt shock me if he wasnt, he only played well against bangladesh, no prizes there

MacGill more or less one the first test against Bangla, 8-fer to stop them getting over 500!

 

[valvolux]

The outfield was very dry because we've had a drought and exceptionally dry summer.

I mowed the grass today (first time in about 6 weeks) There was no grass in the middle of the garden, it was mainly where the path was and where when it has rained the water had run off it, and under the trees.

We've had a very hot and very dry summer.

we've had nothing of the sorts in perth...for a long time. we haven't had our typical 8 month summers for a few years now...probably played a massive role in the WACA losing its juice.

i'm not convincing myself - even billy and steve are suckers to the aussie crowd...infact those two umpires are suckers to any home crowd, flippen hopless they are. when the pakis came here last, and even in the summer gone by against the windies, a heap of dreadful decisions went our way which made what should've been fairly close tests absolute cake walks. you have to say that english batsemn have been let off numerous times in the series against the pakis so far, and certainly had the rub of the green in the last ashes - will be interesting to see how they fair when the shoe is on the other foot. it's a given - we get favoured at home.

 

[Cricket_60]

Possibly Bichel as a left-field selection? I doubt it, but his performances of late have been nothing short of brilliantly consistent.

I can't believe Bichel was dropped. He's a work-horse, a skilled bowler as well as a handy lower order batsmen. The Aussie selectors should include him in the squad but I doubt they'll chose him over younger players (who don't have even half the talent)

 

[James219]

Yeah, gotta agree with you there.....if I remember correctly, he was actually demoted to 12th man after winning man-of-the-match honours in a particular test, and shortly after was completely dropped and never recalled into the first squad again. He's a class player, with the skill and work ethic as you say, and is even handy in the middle order these days. I doubt he'll be chosen, though.

we've had nothing of the sorts in perth...for a long time. we haven't had our typical 8 month summers for a few years now...probably played a massive role in the WACA losing its juice.

You's have a fairly new curator too, eh? That'd play a part in the changing characteristics of the WACA as well, I guess. It's expected to liven up and regain its spark for the coming summer, though, or so I hear.

 

[Englishandproud]

Just wondering how many hours Australia is behind/ahead of British time ? Just to get an idea of what time the test matches start over here in England.

 

[evertonfan]

It'll be around 1am or something like that, i'm not entirely sure but i'll find out when the first Test starts.

 

[Sureshot]

Perth is 8 hours ahead.
Melbourne (The furthest East I think) is 11 hours ahead.

Correct me if I'm wrong though.

http://www.worldtimezone.com/

Although it might change when our clocks change.