The Ashes

[richbaggie]

If we have shaken off the brain-dead arrogance we stand a chance. I doubt that'll be the case, so I can't see anything other than an Aus win. I reckon a 3-1 series defeat.

I personally hope we go there and play positively, take risks and give it a go, but also make sure we play sensibly if a situation requires it.

Fair points, this is also a fine line, isn't it? 

Take risks and get a quick 50 that rescues England - hero and genius. Take risks and get out silly - you're brain-dead and a prat. 

I'm guilty of this myself, and I admit it's a fine line, and to an extent you can't have one without the other. But there are situations where we have to be brave, dig in, and just be sensible and absorb good bowling, which we more often than not fail to do.

I think it'll be an interesting series and will be the closest (I can see each Test being close, rather than Aus dominating most Tests like that have done over the years) down under for a while, but ultimately I think Aussies will have too much for us. On paper there's no much between the two sides, really.

I think they reigned it in somewhat this summer and at least stopped talking shite about wanting to entertain. There were still moments that could be described as reckless but that will go with the territory of a team made up of attacking players. 

I think the biggest obstacle is the conditions, in my lifetime,  we've rarely handled them well, with better and more balanced teams at our disposal. Joe Root is the biggest example, he's never played with any consistency out there.

I think, because of the inability to handle fast bouncy pitches, we will lose. We have also struggled to handle the pressure over there and the aggressive nature of their players and home support. I can't see this team being anything but motivated by that so think that will be less of an issue but we have to control that and not over attack. Positive but controlled.

[garryowensneck]

I expect to be praying for rain to prevent another Aussie whitewash.

[rsbaggy2]

I am loving the downplaying of England's chances. I honestly believe it is a deliberate ploy.  

Aussies 
No Cummins for at least the first test.
A partially fit Hazelwood to lead the attack.
A brittle batting line up with the veteran Kawaja having his umpteenth opening partner. 
Labuschagne on the wane.
No recognised all rounder of any repute.

Compared to England this is definitely a weaker outlook.

A close series that is in the balance for me. England have an excellent chance of bringing it home. The fitness of their pace bowlers could be a pivotal factor.

[Ted Maul]

Tough to call.

Cummins not being fit first up and not knowing if he's going to pull up well after injury could be a huge bonus for England. Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon will continue to cause problems although there are question marks about the fitness of Hazlewood. I predict Scott Boland turns into prime-McGrath anyway.

Labuschagne has come back into form but it would be a real mistake for them to open the batting with him and put Green at three, I think if they do this it gives us a great opportunity to at at Smith and Head early. That's where games will be won. Likewise, it's a huge series for Ollie Pope who probably has the first couple of games (maybe only one if it's really terrible) before Baz and Stokes look again to Bethell.

We've gone all in on pace, Perth gives us a chance first up so I'm surprised the Aussies have given up the 'Gabbatoir' advantage. If Wood and Archer can't get anything out of the deck in Perth then we're in big trouble. The rest of the Aussie pitches have not been great for batting the last few years and often improve for batting as games progress - we know England like to bowl first? Big series as well for Atkinson, probably our most skilful bowler and quick enough with it. He needs to get some movement off the pitch, it what will be the most helpful Australian conditions for a number of years.

I do worry in Australian conditions that our lack of a serious spinner will really hurt us, where they have an all time great holding up an end, we have a lad who averages 40 in test cricket and sometimes struggles to land it, let alone turn it. In a five game series where looking after Wood and Archer will be paramount this could be our Achilles heel.

I know we say it every time we tour, but this feels closest to the 10-11 side that won there, equally it would not be a surprise at all if the whole thing goes to shit by the third days play and we end up getting pumped 5-0 again.

[Jacko]

Think it'll be a close series, we're big underdogs as usual, but the Aussies are aging and have a few injuries.

Nathan Lyon/Shoaib Bashir looks to be the only serious mismatch in the two teams, IF Wood and Archer's bodies hold up.

I'll go 2-1 Aus, and the usual suspects lamenting we could have drawn the series if only we could DIG IN.

[AnelkasBeard]

3-2 Australia - don't see any draws, do see the Aussies getting the best of their conditions enough to get to the win.

[Ted Maul]

Think it'll be a close series, we're big underdogs as usual, but the Aussies are aging and have a few injuries.

Nathan Lyon/Shoaib Bashir looks to be the only serious mismatch in the two teams, IF Wood and Archer's bodies hold up.

I'll go 2-1 Aus, and the usual suspects lamenting we could have drawn the series if only we could DIG IN.

If we miss out on a drawn series and our first moderate bit of 'success' over there in 15 years because we couldn't "dig in" for a few sessions, I'd say that's a pretty valid moan.

[backsidebaggie]

I am loving the downplaying of England's chances. I honestly believe it is a deliberate ploy.  

Aussies 
No Cummins for at least the first test.
A partially fit Hazelwood to lead the attack.
A brittle batting line up with the veteran Kawaja having his umpteenth opening partner. 
Labuschagne on the wane.
No recognised all rounder of any repute.

Compared to England this is definitely a weaker outlook.

A close series that is in the balance for me. England have an excellent chance of bringing it home. The fitness of their pace bowlers could be a pivotal factor.

I think it will be close too.

Although Labuschagne has had a bad couple of years, he’s returned to form recently. And Green and Webster are reasonable all rounders.

But yes I think it could be very close.

[Tom Joad 25]

I am loving the downplaying of England's chances. I honestly believe it is a deliberate ploy.  

Aussies 
No Cummins for at least the first test.
A partially fit Hazelwood to lead the attack.
A brittle batting line up with the veteran Kawaja having his umpteenth opening partner. 
Labuschagne on the wane.
No recognised all rounder of any repute.

Compared to England this is definitely a weaker outlook.

A close series that is in the balance for me. England have an excellent chance of bringing it home. The fitness of their pace bowlers could be a pivotal factor.

I think it will be close too.

Although Labuschagne has had a bad couple of years, he’s returned to form recently. And Green and Webster are reasonable all rounders.

But yes I think it could be very close.

Looking through the pluses and minuses on both sides the big difference I see is in the spin bowling. All the rest could go either way but we seem hell bent on not picking our best, whoever it might be.

[backsidebaggie]

I am loving the downplaying of England's chances. I honestly believe it is a deliberate ploy.  

Aussies 
No Cummins for at least the first test.
A partially fit Hazelwood to lead the attack.
A brittle batting line up with the veteran Kawaja having his umpteenth opening partner. 
Labuschagne on the wane.
No recognised all rounder of any repute.

Compared to England this is definitely a weaker outlook.

A close series that is in the balance for me. England have an excellent chance of bringing it home. The fitness of their pace bowlers could be a pivotal factor.

I think it will be close too.

Although Labuschagne has had a bad couple of years, he’s returned to form recently. And Green and Webster are reasonable all rounders.

But yes I think it could be very close.

Looking through the pluses and minuses on both sides the big difference I see is in the spin bowling. All the rest could go either way but we seem hell bent on not picking our best, whoever it might be.

Yep. Lyon is possibly past his best, but still in a different stratosphere to Bashir, who isn’t even one of the 2 best spinners in Somerset.