Counting down to the back-to-back Ashes series in 2013/14

[greyblazer]

If Australia need to cause some damage they need Cummins and Pattinson to play. Even if Cummins is bowling with a walking stick I see him as more of a threat than Siddle hahaha. Yes I just don't rate Siddle

[andy]

an attack of

Starc
Pattinson
Cummins

would really rough up any batting line up!!

[greyblazer]

From what I have seen of Cummins he can swing it at pace. If he doesn't play more than one test it is a great tragedy for Australian cricket.

[from_the_stands]

If Australia need to cause some damage they need Cummins and Pattinson to play. Even if Cummins is bowling with a walking stick I see him as more of a threat than Siddle hahaha. Yes I just don't rate Siddle

I would love to see these two in a Test match together. Sadly, I don't see it happening this year.

[Making_Splinters]

If Australia need to cause some damage they need Cummins and Pattinson to play. Even if Cummins is bowling with a walking stick I see him as more of a threat than Siddle hahaha. Yes I just don't rate Siddle

I would love to see these two in a Test match together. Sadly, I don't see it happening this year.

I don't see it ever happening.

I'd not be suprised if Cummins never plays Test cricket again.

[andy]

Starc is certainly a talent but he struggled in that first test in india....he needs to find a way to bowl on pitches that offer nothing at all.

[Arthur Crabtree]

With the fallout from the current India series considerable, what is the likely Ashes squad now for Australia? Will we see some new names. Almost certainly a second spinner who isn't Doherty. Hughes must be vulnerable. Even Watson. Guess Bird will come back in, but will Mitch (J) hold onto a spot?

Although for England the NZ series is currently being a bit of a struggle, it has at least strengthened the side, with Broad and Compton doing well. Only the number six slot has shifted out of focus yet again.

[from_the_stands]

OK, so Mitchell Starc's batting form has made me reconsider yet again;

Dave Warner
Shane Watson
Alex Doolan
Mitchell Starc
Michael Clarke
Usman Khawaja
Matthew Wade
James Pattinson
Peter Siddle
Jackson Bird
Fawad Ahmed

George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Glenn Maxwell/Steve Smith, Nathan Lyon & Pat Cummins/Josh Hazelwood rounding out the squad of 16.

[Arthur Crabtree]

You reckon Fawad is really coming over for the Ashes?

[from_the_stands]

You reckon Fawad is really coming over for the Ashes?

Yep. The Oz media has been talking it up. Immigration are going to fast-track his passport application so it can happen. Julia even picked him for the PM's XI game during the summer, so she's obviously on his side. Hopefully it goes through before she gets the bullett.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good, adds more interest and a further element of the unknown to the series. I had thought he wouldn't be available until the second series.

[braveneutral]

How would that sit with the side? Got to feel slightly bad for Lyon. Not too much though.

[rich1uk]

still surprised theres so much hype around a guy his age with just 12 FC games behind him , especially when you look at how tahir handled the step up in class to tests

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hard to know if he's wishful thinking or a real find. But he'd have to be a very special character to handle the sudden expectation, exposure and leap in playing standard. But maybe he is. If he is, it'll make for a more fascinating summer.

[GarlicJam]

I reckon that I prefer the idea of Ashton Agar ahead of Fahwad. Sure, Fahwad's got experience in 1st class, but Agar has years of potential (and time to adapt to test cricket) ahead of him. Can bat, as well - pure bonus that, bowling should be considered first, imo.