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

[Arthur Crabtree]

But of course, they had Hussey in those games.

[alfie]

Clarke so overwhelmingly the key to the batting though. And just this evening on the TV news another piece on his issues with his back...won't stop him touring but Australian fans will have fingers firmly crossed ...

I imagine if the conditions are reasonably friendly Australia may well post a few decent scores. But I fancy they are almost certain to have two or three severe collapses as well , which is when I would expect England to pounce.

[from_the_stands]

Mark Taylor has backed Shane Watson to open the batting in the Ashes. Sigh. I wouldn't even have him in the team. With Dave Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes and Chris Rogers in th squad, I don't see how Taylor or anybody else could possibly fatham Twatto opening when his average for the past two years hase be around the 21 mark! I don't really see moving Warner down the order. If only we were still living in 1993! Where have the years gone? Sigh.

[GarlicJam]

Sigh.

Yup. Can't argue with that.

[shankycricket]

Mark Taylor has backed Shane Watson to open the batting in the Ashes. Sigh. I wouldn't even have him in the team. With Dave Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes and Chris Rogers in th squad, I don't see how Taylor or anybody else could possibly fatham Twatto opening when his average for the past two years hase be around the 21 mark! I don't really see moving Warner down the order. If only we were still living in 1993! Where have the years gone? Sigh.

Why should Phil Hughes be in the squad either? Why just pick on Twatto?

[from_the_stands]

Mark Taylor has backed Shane Watson to open the batting in the Ashes. Sigh. I wouldn't even have him in the team. With Dave Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes and Chris Rogers in th squad, I don't see how Taylor or anybody else could possibly fatham Twatto opening when his average for the past two years hase be around the 21 mark! I don't really see moving Warner down the order. If only we were still living in 1993! Where have the years gone? Sigh.

Why should Phil Hughes be in the squad either? Why just pick on Twatto?

Because I was stupid enough to spend fifty bucks on Twatto's book and he's been rubbish ever since.

[Durhamfootman]

I like Twatto. He'll be fine as opener, and perform terrifically well on the back of being the leading run scorer in the Champ Trophy.

Have faith!

Won't save you, of course. You'll still go down!

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Watson is a big wicket taker for Austrlaia, that's a sign they are in trouble.

If he's a big run scorer, then that's a sign England are in trouble.

[hopeforthebest]

I think England's preparation for the ashes is not going to be very good. Three ODI's v NZ, the CT competition and T20 v NZ is not ideal just before a 5 match test series. In test cricket one of the best shots for batsmen is the leave, in the shorter format the leave is a dot ball for the bowler and regarded as a wasted scoring opportunity.

[Arthur Crabtree]

England have a first class game against Essex though. And I suppose they can play a round of county matches.

[andy]

essex will give them a severe test!!!!!!!!!

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think England will prepare well. But given a couple of wins England on the bounce against NZ, Australia can be sure that the press and tv in the UK will go into the series, massively overconfident of a comfortable home win.. Expect the kind of cringeworthy predictions from Botham and Boycott etc that were made by the Aussie entourage in 05.

[Kim]

Botham has already started with the 5-0 stuff (or was it 10?). He mentioned it today.

But he is absurd anyway.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I heard Botham predict 12-0.

Anyone know who the umpires will be? I suppose Dar and Bowden (god is my third umpire) will be over again.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Most of the umps are English or Aussie. We won't have the ones who were here for the Kiwi series, which includes Dar. I guess Rauf is out the picture. That leaves Dharmasena and Bowden on the elite panel. We normally only get the elite panel umpires for Tests here. I wonder if Rauf was pencilled in for the job.