Ashes series 2015

I know posted it before but be very surprised if they don't start with
Cook
Lyth
Balance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Butler
Ali
Wood
Broad
Anderson
In short the team that played last 2 test against New Zealand.
Not saying it's the right team

Last time they played at Cardiff england got 400 Australia got 700
So think it will be a batsmen wicket.

It will be a batsmens wicket when Australia bat .
England will probably make it look like a minefield of problems .

(07-07-2015 23:29 )snookered147 Wrote:  It will be a batsmens wicket when Australia bat .
England will probably make it look like a minefield of problems .

A throw back go the 90s than.
They get 600-2 declared and we all think 'oh it's got a draw written all
Over it. Anyone can see it's a flat wicket, boring' than turn over to something else switch back to the cricket an hour later and find England are 50-5 and think rain must have stopped play and they are showing a replay of another match.
I really hope not

http://m.bbc.co.uk/weather/2653822/today?timeslot=3

Looks like there has been rain and there will be cloud cover at Cardiff
If we win the toss and put them into bat there could be plenty of swing available for Jimmy Anderson. Maybe get them out got 118 as we did in 1997!
Nothing like clutching at straws.

If it rains all summer it will be 0-0 series draw.
Triumph for England

My main concerns re the England batting are Ballance and Bell. Sounds ridiculous when you look at their test averages (especially Ballance's) but they both looked all at sea against NZ.

Possible replacements?

Hales - good 1st class form at county season's start has tailed off recently.

Taylor - Lousy form all season.

Bairstow - Several tons in his best year in county cricket. Seems the form guy to me.

And lets not forget Bell-Drummond of Kent and Westley and Bopara (remember him?) who all managed hundreds against Australia in the warm-up games. They proved it can be done and none of them are even under consideration. So what could the big boys do?

I'd play Broad, Anderson and Wood as the 3 quicks. Have my doubts about Broad as he does blow hot and cold, but when he's hot he can rip through a side very quickly.

Ian Smith made an interesting comment in the last game against NZ (T20) to the effect that NZ found Wood the most difficult England bowler in all forms of the game this year. So he's definitely in my team.

Love to get Rashid in the side but I then keep ending up with 12 players!

My guess if we win the toss and put Australia in we need to use the early cloud cover (if any is around and take quick early wickets), if we do that then to get the Aussies out for under 300-350 will be a big plus, then we have have to make most of the conditions to at least get close to the Aussies on Day 1 then build a lead on Day 2.
But with Mitchell Johnson bowing as he is at the moment, he is the bowler we have to see off early if we lose the toss, otherwise we will be in big trouble. I think Johnson certainly will relish the early conditions better.

We need to hope that the pitch offers something for both bat an ball, and also there is something for spin otherwise playing spinner would be futile.

England won the toss and chose to bat in the first test at Cardiff. No surprises in selection. Just the one spinner for England, with Moeen Ali preferred to Adil Rashid, as expected. Australia's picked Shane Watson at No 6 ahead of Mitchell Marsh and Chris Rogers to open the batting ahead of Shaun Marsh.

34 -1 Lyth out for 7
I think we will have to hope Cook can stay around till at least lunch and early ofternoon

Ridiculous decision to bat first. Perfect bowling conditions for jimmy