Ashes 2025-26.

[Durhamfootman]

Butcher?

Candlestick maker?

[Durhamfootman]

If Bethell is the anointed "only spare bat" then he is almost certain to replace Pope after a game or tow (unless His Holiness has something new up his sleeve) ; and I honestly can't see him lasting long against Starc and Hazlewood. Not sure who else they could take who would do any better though

There'll be a few players that head over to Aus for the Big Bash, which starts between the 2nd and 3rd tests. One of those could get a surprise call up in extremis

[Arthur Crabtree]

England play Lions before the first Test, so there will be players out there.

[alfie]

England play Lions before the first Test, so there will be players out there.

Indeed. This should at least ensure there will be replacements there if/when the pace bowlers get crocked.

Spare bats too but I am afraid the management seems a bit too wedded to their Chosen Ones to make a change whatever happens.

I don't share your hopes for Bashir , AC. Few visiting spinners do well here and I can see him getting monstered - though he may pick up a bunch of wickets at some point. Am hearing Rehan rather than Dawson will be the other selection.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Series results over the past two years.

Australia: Home results in red.

1-0 v India in UK.
2-2 v England
3-0 v Pakistan
1-1 v West Indies
2-0 v New Zealand
3-1 v India
2-0 v Sri Lanka
0-1 v South Africa in UK
3-0 v West Indies

% wins = 71


England: Away results in red.

1-0 v Ireland
2-2 v Australia
1-4 v India
3-0 v West Indies
2-1 v Sri Lanka
1-2 v Pakistan
2-1 v New Zealand
1-0 v Zimbabwe
2-2 v India.

% wins = 52

[Arthur Crabtree]

This is the England squad, with a major surprise/disappointment in it.



Crawley/Duckett/Pope/Bethell/Root/ Brook/Stokes/Jacks/Smith
Archer/Atkinson/Carse/Potts/Tongue/Wood/Bashir

Brook is vc.

England's reserve spinner has 49 fc wickets at 42. And another offspinner.

[andy]

No suprise about most of the squad but yeah jacks over Rehan is baffling.....most likely bethell will now bat 3 ahead of pope

[Arthur Crabtree]

First choice Durham pace attack will go down under.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I know these are different times, but we seem to have got used to stuff like no reserve opener or number 3. And not even one reserve spinner, but seven pace bowlers...


The last 3 tests are close together, so I suppose they will rotate the faster bowlers.

[alfie]

Jacks the one shock. Suppose he is a - sort of - spare bat ; but surely means they are still all in on Bashir.

As I've said before , I fear for the top order as I have scant hope for either Pope or Bethell as a three in Australia. Hope I am proved wrong but fear that weakness might be the killer , unless the openers can produce a fair bit of magic.

Like the pace squad. Just hope for not too many injuries...

[Arthur Crabtree]

I rate Atkinson, and Archer if he stays fit and in form. Tongue is a wicket taker but wildly inconsistent. Wood will burn out or fade away. My impression is Potts and Carse haven't proved they are Test standard. Injuries to the first two will be damaging. But then, who thought Bresnan would be so good in 10-11.

[Arthur Crabtree]

BBC's England online coverage is pitiful, and not to be approached with any expectation. It's enthusiastic, but mainly hype. Recently they were posting about Bethell being out of his depth, and an innings later he was rated England's best ever prospect.

Even so, I'm startled by the assertion that England are taking their most hostile pace attack since 1970 to Australia. I doubt the person who wrote the article saw any cricket in the last century so it's difficult to assume they know how fast the bowlers were going back, and there are no stats.

Of the pace selections, only Wood has ever played a Test in Australia before, and has done ok at an average of 27. A touch worse than Ollie Robinson on the same tour. Going by the pictures and the vibe, they're expecting Wood/Archer/Atkinson to form the attack.

These are the other pace attacks from 1970 based on which three bowled the most overs.

2021-22 Wood/Broad/Robinson

2017-18 Anderson/Broad/Woakes

2013-14 Broad/Anderson/Bresnan

2010-11 Anderson/Tremlett/Bresnan

2006-07 Harmison/Flintoff/Hoggard

2002-03 Caddick/Harmison/Hoggard

1998-99 Gough/Mullally/Headley

1994-95 Malcolm/Defreitas/Gough

1990-91 MalcolmSmall/Fraser

1986-87 Dilley/Defreitas/Botham

1982-83 Botham/Willis/Cowans

1978-79 Willis/Hendrick/Botham

1974-75 Willis/Arnold/P.Lever

1970-71 Snow/P.Lever/Willis.


Well, I'm going for 2006-07. At least based on how it looked before they left home.

[Arthur Crabtree]

This is the England Lions team.

Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Jordan Cox, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Nathan Gilchrist, Tom Hartley, Tom Haines, Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Ben Kellaway, Tom Lawes, Ben McKinney, Matthew Revis, James Rew, Thomas Rew, Mitchell Stanley, Asa Tribe.

Ahmed's brother Farhan is on the under 19 tour.

Sam Cook misses out on the Lions squad.

[Durhamfootman]

I'm sure Essex fans won't mind. They'll be more happy seeing him running in for them week in and week out instead of being made to sit around on his @rse or carry drinks for England

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bit of a wasted season for him. Apart from the international debut.