The Ashes 2005 - match ups/battles

[Aussies r tops]

Oooh cant wait for the series. Shane Warne is already talking it up while having photo's taken of him with his pants down in Hampshire, and England has said (for the 47th time in a row) that they have a better chance than ever. There will be many match ups that will effect the series, bowlers targeting batsmen, batsmen looking to shoot back at them... Here are some of the most important personal battles (I think) that will impact on The Ashes, 2005.

Glenn McGrath vs. Andrew Strauss
McGrath has targeted Strauss for this series, because of his outstanding start to Test Cricket. Strauss will be very keen to take charge and wreck McGraths rhythm, and ruin his just short of a length, top of off-stump bowling area.
Result: While Strauss will make a good fifty quite a few times in the series, and maybe a century or two, McGrath will dismiss him 5-6 times and have the upper hand eventually.

Andrew Flintoff vs. Shane Warne
Warney will be prepared for the series, his fifth(?) tour of England, after his county stint with Hampshire, but the big hitting Flintoff will be only too ready for the challenge. I would expect Flintoff to be the one who doesnt hang around and play out the Warne/McGrath bowling stints, but rather take them on first hand.
Result: Flintoff will bludgeon a quick-fire 80 a couple of times maybe, but the genius of the worlds best spinner will overpower eventually.

Adam Gilchrist vs. Geraint Jones
The worlds best keeper-batsman against a relative newcomer to test cricket wont be a fierce battle, more a one that will be fought in the minds. While one is keeping on the field, one will be in the rooms analysing and comparing teir performance to the others. Dropped catches, byes, they all add up...
Result: Hard to say, as there is not "batsman vs. bowler", but expect Gilly to hold onto more than Jones, because 1. The English are likely to present more opportunities, and 2. Jones could get sleepy (as anyone would I might add) after 5 sessions in-a-row out on the field, as he hasnt experienced that much before(Gilchrist has in Kolkata, 2001[Laxman Dravid], and Sydney 2003-04).

Can you think of any others?

 

[MWaugh]

id look at vaughn vs ponting in terms of mental planning and leadership

 

[The Champ]

id look at vaughn vs ponting in terms of mental planning and leadership

that is a big battle indeed, i think ponting is in the best of forms than vaughan

 

[gold639]

I think McGrath would be after Vaughan too....like last time.

 

[MWaugh]

I think McGrath would be after Vaughan too....like last time.

yes i agree. i think mcgrath will always go after vaughn. he generally tries to stick after a certain player because they are the key batsman. poor atherton for example.

i agree that ponting would win the captains battle. the lessons he learnt from border, taylor and waugh have made him a great attacking, thinking captain

 

[ronny_kingsley]

id look at vaughn vs ponting in terms of mental planning and leadership

Both are not great captains.

Its just that Ponting has some brilliant individuals under his stable.

And Vaughan got one of the most in form English side to lead with some really weak opposition.


Not too sure both could have done well with a team strength like NZ.

SO wont be bout captainship .But bout mental thing I guess series will be fierce as Aussies are master at that and they would like to rub it off to England

 

[themuel1]

Even if you don't think they are good captains ( I personally think they are), It will still be a battle between them. Also, England beat New Zealand in the test series last year!!

 

[bigbadsharky]

Stephen Fleming is the best captain at the moment, but for the first time I do believe England is going to hold the ashes'. Talking about match ups, who will score more runs Strauss or Clark? I will go with Strauss,

 

[MWaugh]

Stephen Fleming is the best captain at the moment, but for the first time I do believe England is going to hold the ashes'. Talking about match ups, who will score more runs Strauss or Clark? I will go with Strauss,

i dont agree that flemming is the best captain. new zealand are one of the worst test teams going round at the moment. hes good but i feel ponting is better. as for the clarke or strauss issue, id go with strauss because he gets a few more opportunities at the top of the order. but if mcgrath or gillespie to target him then it may be a totally different story.

 

[The Champ]

I think vaughan batted beautifully in the last ashes in AUS

 

[tassietiger]

Of course I am looking forward to this series, because it is a series of cricket. But, it's time that England faced the fact that Australia are probably invincible at the moment, and the way the poms talk themselves up is only going to hurt them, as the only way they could get close to beating Australia is through complacency.

 

[sohum]

I am looking forward to this series for one reason: I want to see how England's hyped up players play against quality opposition. Their performance here can really decide my opinion of them as a quality test team.

 

[jazz]

i personally will be looking forwars for the duel between

Harminson V Hayden

both players have been out of shape recently

this one is a close one but i expect hayden to come through sucessfully as he has just finished has bad form in the vb series

 

[Will p]

Ponjting is no way the best captain - he has the best team under him, yes he is a class player, but hios tactical skills aren't mgreta nd never have to be proven because he has such an amazing team. I mean the toss doesn't matter for him, if they bat they will score consistently 300+, if they bowl they are likely to bowl them out for under 300. Michael Vaughan isn't a great captain either, although his team isn't as good, id say they are as good as each other.

Marcus Trescothcik vs Jason Gillespie

and also lol

Mark Butcher vs Rob Key

Simon Jones vs Jon Lewis vs Jimmy Anderson!!

 

[nik]

lol butcher v key!! Simon Jones vs Jon Lewis vs Jimmy Anderson!! nice one! fierce competition between own teams!