Story Rule Brittania, an England story - Squads Announced + Fantasy Cricket!

[Highlander999]

English cricket is in a good place at the moment. Both in test's and ODI's the England team has experienced a lot of success, plus the fact that they are the defending World 20/20 Champions. Despite all the recent controversy after the Pakistan series, the England team were able to walk away with their heads held high after putting out a good performance both on and off the pitch. Now however, it is England's biggest test which comes around every few years. The Ashes...!!!

Up until to 2005 the Ashes had been a bit of a joke for England, with the likes of Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Langer and Hayden walking all over mediocre English sides. However Vaughan's triumphant victory re-kindled English passion in regaining this little Urn. Yes, there was the hiccup of the disastrous 06/07 tour to Australia in which England were humiliated 5-0 but England once again showed their new found spirit last summer winning the Urn back in a tightly fought 2-1 series victory. Now England have learnt from their lessons in the past and have arrived in Australia a lot more mature and better prepared for the challenge that awaits them. Yes, the team that Ponting puts out has none of the fire-power of the team that humilated England last time they were in Australia, but to under-estimate Australia at all, is done at great peril to yourself.

Since arriving in Australia, England have thrashed Western Australia by 6 wickets and put up a very good show in a drawn match against South Australia. All the batsman have been in the runs, with Cook and Collingwood the two men in the spotlight getting some good time out in the middle under their belts. The likes of Bell and Strauss have also impressed greatly so far on this tour and the England set-up is looking well rounded and a very well oiled machine.

England impressed greatly in their first 2 matches​

However, it is all well and fine beating state sides in matches which have very little bearing on the outcome of the tour it is a completely different thing beating the 11 best Australians in front of tens of thousands passionate fans. Can England finally shake off the Australia curse and retain the Urn or will Ponting have his revenge in what is most likely to be his last Ashes series? Only time will tell. Coming up we will be looking at the two squads and seeing who the key men are. Stay tuned!

 

[hedger_14]

Nice to see you starting a new story. Really looking forward to it... and an Australian Ashes win

Good start though, KUTGW.

 

[Aditya]

Nice to see you back, Tom. Nice update there, keep it up.

 

[just_cricket]

Great to see you back! This should be a cracker

 

[AbhishekS]

Nice start Tom. Looking forward to the story.

 

[Ollie_H]

Not looking forward to this at all.

 

[Highlander999]

Squads Announced for 1st Test in Brisbane​

With just a few days until the first test in Brisbane both sides have announced their squads for the first test. Both sides contain some key players who will be pivotal in ensuring their respective side can take a 1-0 lead in this most famous of contest's.

First of all, let's look at the Australian's:

Ricky Ponting (C) - Key Man

RHB, RM
Age: 35
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 54.68

Ponting is as Aussie as you can get. He has been around for ages and with a test batting average of 54.68, you can be sure that his will be the wicket England most crave.


Michael Clarke (vc)

RHB, SLA
Age: 29
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 48.91

Michael Clarke the Australian vice-captain and 20/20 captain is another key man in the Australian middle order. He has an excellent record in the Ashes, averaging 55.81 from 24 innings. An excellent player of spin he will be crucial in Australia's battle with Graeme Swann, but will his back problems force him out the side?


Doug Bollinger

LHB, LFM
Age: 29
Role: Bowler
Wickets: 49
S/R: 45.4

Bollinger has come on the scene with a real blast this last year or so. He bowls with real agression and his late swing can really cause some problems for the mainly right-handed England batting line-up. The only question like with Michael Clarke is how much will his recent injury problems hold him back?


Xavier Doherty

LHB, SLA
Age: 27
Role: Spin Bowler
Wickets (FC): 84
S/R: 84.6

Doherty has kind of come out of no where, a late entrant into the Aussie spin battle. Gaining the edge over Hauritz with his recent performances, he couldn't have a bigger series happening for him to make his test debut. A real risky choice, but might the left arm spinner be just what Australia need to run through the English batting order?


Brad Haddin (wk)

RHB
Age: 33
Role: Wicketkeeper
Test Average: 38.62

It was never going to be easy for the keeper that had to follow in Gilchrist's foot-steps though Haddin has done a pretty decent job. He had a decent enough campaign last Ashes but has struggled with injuries recently and this is going to be his first Test series in a while.


Ben Hilfenhaus

RHB, RFM
Age: 27
Role: Bowler
Wickets: 48
S/R: 59.0

Hilfenhaus is the workhorse of the Australian bowling attack. His plan is good old fashioned fast swing bowling which keeps the batsmen honest. Could be a real danger for England.


Mike Hussey

LHB, RM
Age: 35
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 49.75

Mike Hussey is the old warrior of the team having just managed to cling onto his place for the first Test. With a very healthy average the stats support a good case for him, however, he has been very hit and miss of late and make no doubt him and North are the two Aussie batsmen in the top 6 whose spot is most at risk.


Mitchell Johnson - Key Man

LHB, LF
Age: 29
Role: Bowler
Wickets: 166
S/R: 53.4

Johnson is either brilliant...or he is rubbish. Extremely fiery and always up for a battle he has already targetted Andrew Strauss in the media and could be the one who make or breaks the Aussie bowling attack. A useful lower order batsman as well able to strike a clean hit.


Simon Katich

LHB, SLA
Age: 35
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 45.96

Katich has proven to be a very mature head at the top of the Australian innings. Nothing too flash, and with a stance which ir horrific to look at, he does however bring to the party a very mature approach to batting which Australia are going to need this series.


Usman Khawaja

LHB, RM
Age: 23
Role: Batsman
FC Average: 50.25

Khawaja is the man most likely to play if any of the Australian batsmen suffer an injury in the lead-up to this first test. A very solid middle order batsman he is hoping to become the first Muslim to play for Australia. Plenty of positive reviews following his state side success but will he be able to replicate it on the international scene?


Marcus North

LHB, RS
Age: 31
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 37.40

The man currently most at risk of losing his place in the Australian XI with the likes of Khawaja and Steve Smith not quite knocking, but more battering the door down into the side. He has already made 5 test hundreds but also fails a lot of the time. Is a handy off-spinner but is mainly in the side for his batting and this is what he will need to have fire if he wants to keep his place in the side.


Peter Siddle

RHB, RFM
Age: 25
Role: Bowler
Wickets: 60
S/R: 62.7

Siddle, it could be argued, could be a replacement for Brett Lee in his approach to fast bowling. A lot of pace he really hits the deck hard and looks to intimidate the batsmen. However, continuing the running theme of this Australian squad he has struggle with injuries recently, but should make the starting XI.


Shane Watson

RHB, RFM
Role: All-rounder
Age: 29
Test Average: 39.94
Wickets: 40
S/R: 53.6

Katich's opening partner. Getting his chance in last year's Ashes, replacing Phillip Hughes he has grabbed it with both hands and been incredibly consistent at the top of the order. He has also performed well with the ball, giving Ponting another option if his four main bowlers don't get a break-through. A massive personality, you can expect fireworks if Watson is on the field.

Andrew Strauss (C) - Key Man

LHB, LM
Age: 33
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 43.11

Since taking over the reigns after Pietersen's disastrous spell in charge of England, Strauss has been excellent both as a leader and with the bat. Winning the Ashes back last summer would have been the highlight of his career so far and to win them in Australia would put him in the history books. A real threat at the top of the order, he will need to perform in England are to make history.


Alistair Cook (vc)

LHB, RS
Age: 25
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 42.78

Strauss's number two, Cook has been the England batsman most in the danger these past few months. However, a well made century against Pakistan and some good performances in the warm up games has guaranteed him a spot at least for a match or two.


James Anderson

LHB, RFM
Age: 28
Role: Bowler
Wickets: 188
S/R: 57.3

England's spear-head with the new ball, Anderson has been England's best performer opening the bowling in recent years. A fantastic swing bowler, given the right conditions he can be unplayable, the only question mark is whether he will be able to replicate this with the Kookabura cricket ball in Australian conditions?


Ian Bell

RHB, RM
Age: 28
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 42.92

Since fighting his way back into the Test side, Ian Bell has proven his critics wrong. Technically he is a treat for the eye, the only doubts are about his mental toughness to handle the Australian's. If he can get through this series having performed well, he will be a major player in England's middle order in year's to come.


Tim Bresnan

RHB, RFM
Age: 25
Role: All-rounder
Test Average: 41.66
Wickets: 14
S/R: 70.4

Bresnan, is an interesting player for England. Still young he has the potential to become a class all-rounder in the next few years, however, at the moment, his bowling is just a bit too weak to be considered good enough to really threaten the Australian batsman. If he gets given a chance though, he might prove everybody wrong...


Stuart Broad

LHB, RFM
Age: 24
Role: Bowler
Wickets: 97
S/R: 64.6

The looker of the England squad Stuart Broad has really come on leaps and bounds these past few months as a bowler and a batsman. Last time Australia were in England, Broad was the hero at the Oval claiming figures of 5-37. He will want a few more performaces like that this winter. This summer was a real turning point with the bat, with him hitting his maiden test century. Broad promises great things, and is a real threat for Australia.


Paul Collingwood

RHB, RM
Age: 34
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 42.18

If Hussey is Australia's old warrior, Collingwood is England's. Making his Ashes debut back in 2005, Collingwood is the person who will always scrap away. A prime example of this is in Cardiff where his battling innings managed to let England get away with a draw. There is no doubt that he will have to perform at least one such innings this series.


Steve Davies (wk)

RHB
Age: 24
Role: Wicketkeeper
FC Average: 40.08

Prior's replacement if he gets savaged by a koala bear or something just as dangerous. Had a fantastic start as the number one choice keeper in the ODI team and has the ability to step up to the mark if Prior gets injured. Also has youth on his side so will be there for a years yet.


Steven Finn

RHB, RFM
Age: 21
Role: Bowler
Wickets: 32
S/R: 36.9

Finn is a real find for England. Young, tall and extreme pace all equal up to a young man with extreme potential to cause the Australian batsmen. On some hard and fast tracks, Finn could be deadly. On the flip side, his youth might prove a weakness with the Australian batsmen able to exploit his youth.


Eoin Morgan

LHB, RM
Age: 24
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 32.00

Morgan is the number one replacement batsman should anything happen to England's top 6. Having become a huge success in the ODI team, he is just on the fringes of the Test team, but if he keeps performing when given the chance, his time will come. A chance in Australia would be a perfect time for him to prove his credentials and nail down a spot.


Monty Panesar

LHB, SLA
Age: 28
Role: Bowler
Wickets: 126
S/R: 71.7

"Oh Monty Monty...." Monty Panesar the legend of English cricket, due to his terrible fielding and happy attitude towards life. Pushed out of the England squad by Graeme Swann he is now England's number two spinner after re-kindling his career at Sussex. There are still doubts over whether he is good enough to play Test cricket but his attitude certainly can not be faulted.


Kevin Pietersen - Key Man

RHB, RS
Age: 30
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 47.80

Pietersen has had a horrid few months. He was dropped from the ODI team after a poor test series versus Pakistan, had a rant on twitter which he had to apologise for and then struggled to make runs for Surrey. However, he claims to have regained his form in South Africa and has looked a lot more confident in the warm-up matches. The thing with Pietersen is that he is just so dangerous and he loves the pressure situation, so expect him to perform this Ashes series.


Matt Prior (wk)

RHB
Age: 28
Role: Wicketkeeper
Test Average: 42.13

Prior has firmally established himself as the number one behind the stumps in the longer format of the game. He has put his keeping woes behind him now and is an incredibly safe pair of hands. Plus he can be totally destructive with the bat, there is no telling what he can do to a match situation.


Graeme Swann - Key Man

RHB, RS
Age: 31
Role: Spin Bowler
Wickets: 113
S/R: 54.1

Swann is possibly the most important man going into this series. He is the number one spinner in the world and got the final wicket to win the Urn back for England last summer. He is the joker of the England team and is crucial if England are to keep hold of the Ashes. His lower order batting is also much needed, showing he provides the full package of batting, bowling and being a team player.


Chris Tremlett

RHB, RFM
Age: 29
Role: Bowler
Test Wickets: 13
S/R: 66.0

Tremlett is back in the England set-up after a long period in the wilderness. After performing well for Hampshire he has been rewarded by getting a plane ticket out to Australia.


Johnathan Trott

RHB, RM
Age: 29
Role: Batsman
Test Average: 55.00

England's best batsman of the summer has quickly become Blighty's favourite South African He might scrape around the crease like a lost badger and he might be as boring as hell to watch but he has been Mr Consistent for England with the bat. He is certainly the man England will want at number 3 to steady any wobbles if they lose an early wicket.



Well that's both the squads for the first test looked at in detail. It certainly is looking like a well matched set up between the two sides and is going to be very difficult to predict any outcome.

Vodafone are running a tipping competition (Fantasy Cricket) with 15,000 vCash the prize for the winner and 5,000 for the runner-up.

It's simple really. Pick your XI, with 5 batsman, 1 all-rounder, 1 keeper and 4 bowlers, naming one captain. That's it. Remember though that the XI you name is the XI that you have to keep for the whole series so choose carefully.

This is how the points are worked out:

Runs Scored: +1 for each run scored
Run Out: +5 to the player who removes the bails
Run Out: +10 to the fielder for the return throw
Run Out: +15 to the fielder for a direct hit
Stumping: +15 to the wicketkeeper.
Catch: +5 for a catch taken by a wicketkeeper.
Catch: +10 for a catch taken by a fielder or bowler.
Wicket: +20 for a wicket that results from a catch or stumping.
Wicket: +30 for a wicket that results from a bowled or lbw.
Duck: -15 for wicketkeepers and all-rounders only.
Duck: -30 for batsmen (bowlers excluded)
Runs Conceded: -1 for every 5 runs conceded by any bowler
A fifty and a three wicket haul : +20 points
A century and a five wicket haul : +30 points
A captain doubles your score.


Batsmen

Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Mike Hussey
Simon Katich
Usman Khawaja
Marcus North
Callum Ferguson
Cameron White
Andrew Strauss
Alastair Cook
Ian Bell
Paul Collingwood
Eoin Morgan
Kevin Pietersen
Jonathan Trott


All-Rounders

Graeme Swann
Stuart Broad
Steven Smith
Tim Bresnan
Mitchell Johnson
Shane Watson


Wicketkeepers

Brad Haddin
Matt Prior
Steve Davies


Bowlers

Xavier Doherty
Ben Hilfenhaus
Peter Siddle
Doug Bollinger
Ryan Harris
Nathan Hauritz
Steve O' Keefe
James Anderson
Steven Finn
Chris Tremlett
Monty Panesar


Good luck

 

[gutterman]

a very good start to this one. i always enjoy ashes stories .

here is my fantasy team

Batsmen
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke (c)
Kevin Pieterson
Usman Khawaja
Paul Collingwood

All Rounder
Mitchell Johnson

Keeper
Brad Haddin

Bowlers
Xavier Doherty
Ben Hilfnehaus
James Anderson
Chris Tremlett

 

[AbhishekS]

You should have termed Monty as a "Key Man" too.

Anyways, here is my team.

Batsmen:

1. Ricky Ponting
2. Kevin Pietersen
3. Andrew Strauss
4. Paul Collingwood (C)
5. Jonathon Trott

All Rounder: Shane Watson

Wicket Keeper: Brad Haddin


Bowlers:

1. Doug Bollinger
2. Ben Hilfenhaus
3. Nathan Hauritz ()
4. James Anderson

 

[-D-S-B-]

Good start to this story, you've put in a heap of effort.

Batsmen:
Ricky Ponting
Kevin Pietersen
Andrew Strauss
Paul Collingwood
Michael Clarke

All Rounder:
Shane Watson (c)

Wicket Keeper:
Brad Haddin

Bowlers:
Doug Bollinger
Ben Hilfenhaus
Steven Finn
James Anderson

 

[hedger_14]

Batsman:

Simon Katich
Jonathan Trott
Alastair Cook
Paul Collingwood
Ricky Ponting

All-Rounder:

Graeme Swann (Captain)

Keeper:

Brad Haddin

Bowlers:

James Anderson
Doug Bollinger
Ben Hilfenhaus
Steven Finn

 

[6ry4nj]

Mine is:

Collingwood(c)
Trott
Bell
Strauss
Ponting

Watson(a/r)

Prior(wk)

Anderson
Harris
Bollinger
Hilfenhaus

 

[Aussie Team]

Batsmen

Simon Katich
Andrew Strauss
Kevin Pietersen
Michael Clarke (cap)
Jonathan Trott

All rounder

Mitchell Johnson

Keeper

Brad Haddin

Bowlers

Ben Hilfenhaus
Doug Bollinger
James Anderson
Steven Finn