The Ashes and other cricket 2017/18.

[TheNuclearOne]

Lehmann's certainly put his hand up for one of the open spots tho he wasn't one of the more favored going into the weekend. Definitely looking like the best performed of those going for whatever spots are open.
If Patterson knocks a ton up he might be a chance as he has been under selection scrutiny for some time (and is from NSW). Maxwell and Bancroft went ok. Fergusan's going extremely well in the second dig.

Renshaw's spot is rumoured to be shaky (i'd be keeping him in personally) and he didn't do himself any favors but nor did others particularly Maddison who was suddenly thrust into the opening spot.

Bowlers pick themselves and Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins are all bowling superbly.

One punch can kill had his chances of touring bolstered a bit by the sudden emergence of more information and police are being pushed for a quick decision.

Bring it on.

[TheNuclearOne]

We might find out if Shaun Marsh is still in favor. Fine opening stand by he and Bancroft against our Test attack.

[TheNuclearOne]

Hat trick in both innings is a pretty good warm up :O

[AndyP]

Let's hope the Poms are as bad as WA's tailenders.

[TheNuclearOne]

Indeed. Starc is frightening once he gets the ball moving a bit at the tail tho.

[jimandr]

I haven't given cricket much study for a little while, and I don't really get into it until I see it on TV.

How many pink ball tests are there? And when?

From what I can tell of the results so far, the moving ball is killing most of the bats, whether it be a pink ball or a red one. It has been good for NSW bowlers, but not for bats trying to place a bid for a spot, except for Lehman.

From the little I've seen of him, Lehman appears to be a typical middle order limited overs player. If he can get to 30 he looks good while playing his shots. We already have Maxwell to do that, so he either replaces Maxwell or waits until we get desperate after more collapses. I'd give Maxwell at least one chance on a flat Aussie pitch to see what he can do.

The only other change I would make is to bring Neville back in. Wade was back in to score runs and he didn't do it, so he has to go.

[TheNuclearOne]

Pretty sure it's just the 2nd Test in Adelaide Jim. Certainly a good test for our bats that one.

[Captain Nemo]

Why’s Australia so short to win the series, thought England where the gun team?

[jimandr]

England are only a gun team at home. They have a poor record in Australia, and their vulnerability is their early order batting, while our strength is our fast bowling while the ball is new and moving around.

I don't have a lot of confidence in Australia, but they are a much better team at home as well, so they are the better bet.

We don't doctor our pitches, unlike all those cheating swine from other nations, but the odds might be quite short about all five pitches being hard, bouncy and flat. If they are too flat, I reckon we could see some high scoring draws. Joe Root might be a good bet for top run scorer.

[hacker]

I would have thought producing 4 roads with no movement, is doctoring pitches. Not at all confident Australia winning the night test in Adelaide for some reason.

[coalesce]

Personally I think Starc will win it for the Aussies. He’s the one bit of difference in 2 mediocre teams with brittle batting line-ups. Similar to Johnson last time and that was enough to win 5-0 (although credit to Haddin who was excellent too)

England’s bowling attack is lacking form other than Jimmy who is bowling as well as ever, but I worry about the others, and then the depth of the rest if form/fitness doesn’t return to Broad/Woakes

England need a good start or it could end up a shambles as once the Aussies are on top I think it would be really hard to turn that around

[TheNuclearOne]

Our batting lacks a bit of depth but we have the best (Test) bat in the world, Warner's a match winner and Kwaka is proven at home recently. Handscomb is promising too and could go well. I wouldn't call the line up brittle at home.Hopefully Renshaw (if picked) goes good and whoever else we pick for 6. Our bowing line up is extremly strong but we need to keep injuries to a minimum.

Three spots are probably still open going into this weekend.

[TheNuclearOne]

BRETT GEEVES’ AUSTRALIAN 1ST TEST TEAM:



Matt Renshaw
David Warner
Ed Cowan
Steve Smith
Peter Handscomb
Usman Khawaja
Cameron Bancroft (WK)
Mitchell Starc
Patrick Cummins
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
12th: Chadd Sayers

[Steve57]

BRETT GEEVES’ AUSTRALIAN 1ST TEST TEAM:



Matt Renshaw
David Warner
Ed Cowan
Steve Smith
Peter Handscomb
Usman Khawaja
Cameron Bancroft (WK)
Mitchell Starc
Patrick Cummins
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
12th: Chadd Sayers

That is not as silly as it first seems.
7 batsmen followed by the best bowling lineup in world cricket.

[TheNuclearOne]

That is not as silly as it first seems.
7 batsmen followed by the best bowling lineup in world cricket.

It's not silly for sure. Bancroft is a smoky for the keeping spot and 7 and he reckons Cowans is in the top 11 cricketers in Australia. I wouldn't go that way but no-ones overly put their hand up. The next round of Shield will be interesting to say the least.

[Ron Burgundy]

Cowan was by far the best batsman last shield series and no one has done much since. They could do worse than include him, but I doubt they will. If the selectors insist on getting an all rounder in there somewhere, as they seem obsessed with, they may as well give it to Ellyse Perry.

[AndyP]

Why even bother with a keeper FFS? Just put Khawaja there.

[TheNuclearOne]

Cowan was by far the best batsman last shield series and no one has done much since. They could do worse than include him, but I doubt they will. If the selectors insist on getting an all rounder in there somewhere, as they seem obsessed with, they may as well give it to Ellyse Perry.

True, and that was his point.

It would be nice to see an allrounder force his way into the team via actual performance. Of course that might mean we will never have one LOL

Cartwright was really evolving batting wise but then bags a pair LOL

[TheNuclearOne]

Bancroft's making it hard to leave hm out particularly given so many keep on failing.

[TheNuclearOne]

and harder........

[TheNuclearOne]

Ridiculous.

[TheNuclearOne]

Rumours abound that Tim Paine has been selected as keeper, Bancroft replaces Renshaw and Shaun Marsh for 6.

[Steve57]

Rumours abound that Tim Paine has been selected as keeper, Bancroft replaces Renshaw and Shaun Marsh for 6.

They couldn’t be that stupid could they?

[TheNuclearOne]

They couldn’t be that stupid could they?

Nothing would surprise. Bancroft deserves his spot but i thought he might get 6 or keeper more so than Renshaw's gig at this stage. Marsh is talented but this is his 8th go and what are the odds he lasts an Ashes series without injury?

The Paine selection (if it's all true but gee there's some serious media on it) isn't killing me because truth be told no-one overly deserves the damn spot LOL. Very left of center obviously. There's certainly a heavy message dished out to Wade and Nevill, maybe even Smith. Hayden and a few others wanted Bancroft and he wouldn't have been the worst selection ever. He could have fit into any of the three spots.

Thankfully our bowling is extremely settled. I can't wait to see Cummins and Starc in full cry.

[Toxic]

Bancroft
Warner
Uzman
Smiff
Hanscomb
Maxwell
Neville
Starc
Cummins
Hazel
Garry

12th, Hilton

That's my tip