Right then guys, I thought it was time to start an Ashes thread as we are only a week away from the sporting highlight of 2013.

 

According to the English press, we are clear favourites but with the Australians amending their management structure and a typical never say die attitude this could be a close series. However I can see England retaining the urn 2-0 in a weather interrupted series.

 

I’m looking forward to seeing Warner bat and the reception he will receive from the England fans.

 

 

The 5 Tests are scheduled as follows:

 

 

Wed Jul 10 - Sun Jul 14
1st Test - England v Australia
Trent Bridge, Nottingham

 

Thu Jul 18 - Mon Jul 22
2nd Test - England v Australia
Lord's, London

 

Thu Aug 1 - Mon Aug 5
3rd Test - England v Australia
Old Trafford, Manchester

 

Fri Aug 9 - Tue Aug 13
4th Test - England v Australia
Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street

 

Wed Aug 21 - Sun Aug 25
5th Test - England v Australia
Kennington Oval, London

Edited July 2, 201313 yr by mousemat

Hate to say it but I can't see us winning a test. Don't think it'll be a 5-0 whitewash, but 2-0 seems like a reasonable prediction.

 

Boof needs some time to get the team back on track. It won't happen overnight.

 

Can't wait for this series to start .

 

Hope the weather doesn't interfere too much and some good cricket played .

 

Everyone from the bookies to the press to neutral observers say the Aussies have no chance , but i would never write them off .

 

England look to be stronger in every department , despite sacked coach Mickey Arthur saying Australia have the best bowling attack in world cricket . If you really thought that Mickey , no wonder you got the bullet !

 

Australia have a decent if inexperienced seam attack with Peter Siddle a stand out , but spin options are very limited and the batsmen must score enough runs first up to give their bowlers a chance .

 

Bringing in experienced players Rogers and Haddin was a smart move , and Shane Watson must start converting starts into big scores .

 

Roll on the 10th

 

Mikeyboy

    Thanks for this  topic Mousemat. Yup u guys are favourites to retain the famous URN. We are in a mess! Sacking the coach just before a test series... NUTS

 

Cheers..

Edited July 2, 201313 yr by johnlb

Australia's bowling attack has the potential to be the best in the world but it isn't yet.

 

I think South Africa still have the best attack by a fair margin.

 

Australia's bowling attack has the potential to be the best in the world but it isn't yet.

 

I think South Africa still have the best attack by a fair margin.

Steyn , Philander and Morkel are the best pace attack for sure .

 

Fawad Ahmed's Aussie Citizenship application has been fast tracked and he is a certainty to be added to the touring party . Wonder what Nathan Lyon is thinking ?

 

Mikeyboy

Edited July 3, 201313 yr by mikeyboy

 

 

Steyn , Philander and Morkel are the best pace attack for sure .

 

Fawad Ahmed's Aussie Citizenship application has been fast tracked and he is a certainty to be added to the touring party . Wonder what Nathan Lyon is thinking ?

 

Mikeyboy

 

Never thought I'd see the day when the Australian cricket team reached that level of desperation.

Hate to say it but I can't see us winning a test. Don't think it'll be a 5-0 whitewash, but 2-0 seems like a reasonable prediction.

 

Boof needs some time to get the team back on track. It won't happen overnight.

Sadly I have to agree with you here. 

It will be very very tough going over there I think. 

I'm happy that I'll be in Thailand for the fist few weeks of The Ashes, so I'll have an excuse not to watch it.....

Aussie Aussie Assie

All we need is to find another Bob Massie. 8/84 and 8/53 in his Test debut in the Second Test at Lord’s to square the series for Australia. 

 

 

 

And lets not forget Terry Aldermans 41 wickets  in the 1989 test series. Australia were underdogs and came out with a 4:0 series win.

 

 

Retirements of Warne, Ponting, Gilcrest and Mcgrath have obviously left huge holes in the australian squad over the past few seasons. One thing about the Aussies is that they have a habit of producing champions. 

 

 

(Brain Freeze...Lawson vs Mcgrath)

Edited July 4, 201313 yr by andyaus

...

 

Retirements of Warne, Ponting, Gilcrest and Lawson have obviously left huge holes in the australian squad over the past few seasons. One thing about the Aussies is that they have a habit of producing champions.

 

Lawson? Jesus, he retired before the Internet.

The Aussie team that had players like Langer, Hayden, the Waughs, Gilly, Symonds, Ponting, Martyn, Warne, McGrath, Lee and Gillespie was a one in a million team.

 

I never watched cricket before the early 80's, but I think the West Indies teams of the 80's are the only team that could rival them as the greatest team of all time.....although apparently Bradman's invincibles of the late 40's weren't bad either.

 

So, we will more than likely never have a team like that again, and sadly, they all retired within a few years of each other. And the players coming through just aren't as good as those I listed above.

The Aussie team that had players like Langer, Hayden, the Waughs, Gilly, Symonds, Ponting, Martyn, Warne, McGrath, Lee and Gillespie was a one in a million team.

 

I never watched cricket before the early 80's, but I think the West Indies teams of the 80's are the only team that could rival them as the greatest team of all time.....although apparently Bradman's invincibles of the late 40's weren't bad either.

 

So, we will more than likely never have a team like that again, and sadly, they all retired within a few years of each other. And the players coming through just aren't as good as those I listed above.

 

Agree that following that list of players is a tough act . Think i'm right in saying that the Aussies under Ponting won 18 straight test matches . 

 

Always difficult to compare teams from  different era's but i thought the windies teams of the mid 80's were just about complete .

 

Mike Hussey is the one current active Australian player that could make a real difference .     Michael Clarke was reportedly gobsmacked when Huss retired .   I wonder why , surely even Clarke saw that one coming ! 

 

Mikeyboy

... Think i'm right in saying that the Aussies under Ponting won 18 straight test matches . 

 

...

 

I think it was 16. And they also achieved it under Steve Waugh.

I think it was 16. And they also achieved it under Steve Waugh.

 

Testament to a couple of great Aussie players , and the quality of cricketers they led .  

 

Re. my post earlier about the windies team of the mid eighties being complete ,   they wern't as they didnt have a top class spinner  , in fact they didn't need one !

 

Mikeyboy 

Re. my post earlier about the windies team of the mid eighties being complete ,   they wern't as they didnt have a top class spinner  , in fact they didn't need one !

 

Roger Harper and Carl Hooper weren't bad and were incredible fieldsmen, but they almost seemed irrelevant with the likes of Marshall, Holding, Garner, Walsh and Ambrose in the team.

Roger Harper and Carl Hooper weren't bad and were incredible fieldsmen, but they almost seemed irrelevant with the likes of Marshall, Holding, Garner, Walsh and Ambrose in the team.

Viv could hold up a bowling end in a crunch - didn't take many,mind - but Viv could do about anything.

Viv could hold up a bowling end in a crunch - didn't take many,mind - but Viv could do about anything.

 

He could do it all, bat, bowl, field....and the swagger......Viv is a true sporting legend.

He could do it all, bat, bowl, field....and the swagger......Viv is a true sporting legend.

I loved his "fuck you" arrogance. I loved that chin pointed right up. I loved the way he faced fast bowling in a cap even in the era of helmets.

 

Those half volleys driven to every boundary right off the toes.

I remember he made 150-odd against us in a Gabba test back in the late 80's.

 

It was a rare test when we were on top against 'em, and they were 3 down for not many after we'd made a good 1st innings score.

 

And he came out and just went bang. and made his runs in about a session and a half and turned the test on its head in no time.

 

I remember him just carting poor old Merv Hughes all over the park.

 

That was Viv...........

Yes I remember the great Viv Richards. There was one test when he had a crook leg and couldn't run so he just stood there and hit boundaries . Back to the Ashes, in 1989 the press said it was the worse team to leave our shores and we won 4- blot. Don't write us off. I'm glad they got rid of that South African coach. Get rid of that Kiwi coaching the union team and it will be even better.

Yes I remember the great Viv Richards. There was one test when he had a crook leg and couldn't run so he just stood there and hit boundaries . Back to the Ashes, in 1989 the press said it was the worse team to leave our shores and we won 4- blot. Don't write us off. I'm glad they got rid of that South African coach. Get rid of that Kiwi coaching the union team and it will be even better.

 

 

So funny, our Ashes thread has become a Viv Richards thread! 555

 

So great. Here's a good doc:

 

http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/topic/158093-the-ashes/#entry2238979

 

Anyway, for the non-cricket country BMs who wonder what we mean - Sir Viv is Django seriously unchained!

the aussies wont win a sesion

 4-0 the rain will save a whitewash

The Aussies will fight tooth and nail to get that URN ,, but England have the 2nd best pace attack in the world , the best spinner in the world , and decent batmens ( not great ) ..

so England should win ,,, 

but i so wish i was in pattaya watching this , I remember being in pattaya when the Aussies thumped England 5 - 0 being in a pub / bar full of grinning Aussies , it was a nighmare ... LOL

 

ps the windes team of the 80 ' were the best ever ,,, KING VIV