The Ashes Cometh.

[yuppie]

For Australia in Brisbane it will come down to which batsman can stand up. Presently i do not believe Australias batters are that much better than Englands. Having the advantage of playing at home will help. But Smith and Warner can not be expected to continue on their free scoring ways in Australian conditions. Indeed both are due a bad series. Smith was not the sharpest in BD. Perhaps the work load and responsibilities will get to him. Usman has a point to prove after being dropped in India and BD. He is very impressive in Australia and he is in a bit of form. Handscomb has settled well into the team, but this is his first ashes, and still has much to prove. But Australia will need Smith, Warner, Usman and Handscomb to make most of the runs, because the other 3 batsman will not. Australia have no Haddin to save them this series. If anything it is the total opposite coming in at 7. I can see Australia having to rely on Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood to make a few runs.

With Cameron Bancroft making some runs, Renshaws place is in question. Not made a 50 in his last 9 innings for Australia. Still young and hugely talented, but i would be suprissed if he will still be in the team for the third test. I hope he proves me wrong.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Warner/Cook/Khawaja/Smith/Root/Handscom/Bairstow/Starc/Cummins/Hazlewood/Lyon.

In Australia. It'd be a different team in England.

[Arthur Crabtree]

For Australia in Brisbane it will come down to which batsman can stand up. Presently i do not believe Australias batters are that much better than Englands.

England have no history of strong batting in Australia, given Cook's one great tour is now outnumbered by three bad ones, and he is in decline. Root and Bairstow will score runs, Mo and Woakes will chip in, but there is no expectation of the rest doing well. It would be surprising if they do.

[yuppie]

Is there a chance Mo might move up the order for England?

[Alviro Patterson]

Is there a chance Mo might move up the order for England?

Probably no7

If there is an England batsman who has cause for moving up the middle order it's Jonny Bairstow, preferably at no5 next to Joe Root. He's far too good a bat to be down at 7 for the purposes of wicketkeeping and England's middle order would actually be boosted.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It looks like JB will bat at six in this series, or at least until Gentle Ben flies out. There's a lot to be said for Bairstow batting at five and giving up the gloves. Probably the best argument against, is that he doesn't want to. If Foakes comes into the side though, I hope they don't fall into the Stewart/Russell trap, never able to make their mind up and thrusting the gloves back on Alec when it suited short term (usually optimistic) aims.

[Making_Splinters]

To be honest, Moeen or Bairstow both have the ability to bat in the top five, and if anything Stoke's absence should be viewed as an opportunity for either to step up.

Given how ropy our batting has been, we can't really afford to play more than five bowlers, including Ali as one of those five. Unfortunately it doesn't look as if Foakes will get any game time to make a case. As it stands I'd go for:

Cook
Stoneman
Vince (Really don't think he's good enough but there isn't much choice)
Root
Bairstow
Malan
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Ball
Anderson

[Durhamfootman]

Bancroft is making a big case for inclusion, I reckon. He can't seem to stop scoring runs atm. Whether he'd get the gloves I couldn't say.

[yuppie]

Bancroft with the gloves would not be a good decision. I think Aus will give Renshaw the chance at the Gabba, but it would not be that strange a decision if Bancroft got selected. He is the player in form in Australia at present.

If only a Keeper or a number 6 all rounder was in form.....

[Slipstream]

Percentage of wickets against left-handers, England have more left-handers than Australia

31.59% Lyon
31.33% Cummins
28.37% Starc
24.57% Hazelwood

32.81% Ali
31.62% Anderson
30.52% Stokes
27.83% Broad
18.00% Woakes

[Arthur Crabtree]

Feels an unusual stat that Cook has only been run out once.

[westoelad]

Feels an unusual stat that Cook has only been run out once.

Be an interesting stat to compare run outs with batting order. I'd expect a direct correlation.

[bigfluffylemon]

My Aussie friends do seem to think it will be a closer series than the pessimism of the English fans on this board would suggest.

I guess the grass is always greener - you look at your team and see all the weaknesses...

[yuppie]

My Aussie friends do seem to think it will be a closer series than the pessimism of the English fans on this board would suggest.

I guess the grass is always greener - you look at your team and see all the weaknesses...

The last series had two great Aussie performances. MJ and Haddin. Australia now look very vunreable in the middle order and i think it will be a very long time till a bowler has the type of series MJ had.

[GarlicJam]

Tim Paine picked for the team - according to reports.

There's a turnip for the books - but one that I think a lot of people here will be pleased about. I hope he does well.