The Ashes

[wba13]

I know it's only opinions... but surprised to see Sir Geoffrey as low as 41.
And only 3 English in the top ten.

Did Boycott have a great ashes record, good undoubtedly. Plus he did have a test hiatus which spared him the series when Thomson and Lille took us apart.

More surprised by the gap between Flintoff and Botham. Might be thinking of their overall test career not their Ashes career. Take the view that Flintoff was a better cricketer than Botham.

Now you are kidding check out the stats Botham beats Flintoff in every field Batting, bowling and catching so who was the better cricketer. Loved them both for there passion and there love of playing for England but there’s only one winner here.

[backsidebaggie]

Botham definitely the better batsman. Both class bowlers

[Old Fart]

The Gruniad is doing the 100 Greatest Ashes players of all time.

100-41 here 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/ng-int...cricketers

the final 40 tomorrow.

I would imagine my great great uncle SF Barnes will feature tomorrow,  disappointing if not.

Indeed he is at No 29 

29Sydney Barnes (SF Barnes)
England
Role Bowler
Ashes era 1901-1912
Matches 20
The Jimmy Anderson of his day, only a whole lot grumpier. Barnes interrogated batting techniques for his sport, armed with the unique ability to swing and spin the ball both ways at decent pace. The ultimate demonstration of his skill came on the first morning at Melbourne in 1911-12, with England 1-0 down. Barnes opened the bowling and after five overs had figures of four for one. England went to win the series 4-1. A decade earlier, after being plucked from league cricket to make his Test debut, Barnes took 19 wickets in the first two Tests, including 13 at the MCG.  

Ashes record

Bowling Inns 36   Wkts 106    BB 7-60    Avg 21.58 5w 12    Overall Test average 16.43

His Wiki page is an interesting read.    Smethwick born.  We're all grumpy fuckers. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Barnes

[Gzbaggy]

Barnes was a very interesting character, Nicholl's biography of him is well worth a read

[Tom Joad 25]

One things for certain if England lose this first test it will be a very long way back!!..

Win or lose, it's a long way back from Australia whatever. 

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I was at that test on Boxing Day 2006. Wandering around by some statue outside a bloke in an Albion top came up to me and said “ow dyow think we’ll gerron today mate?”

We beat Preston 4-2 which was considerably better than the England performance

That's the one, Warney's 700th wicket. Attendance announced at 87, 000, cue the Barmy Army singing 'you couldn't sell all your tickets'. Second day was designated football shirt day, me in the 78 Albion classic, a mate in the blues penguin shirt and a couple of villa mates in their 1957 Cup final shirts. Me and the bluenose drew loads of favourable remarks while the villa fans were repeatedly asked 'what year is that West Ham kit?'
Did you go to Sydney afterwards?

[Midget In A Pinstripe Suit]

I was at that test on Boxing Day 2006. Wandering around by some statue outside a bloke in an Albion top came up to me and said “ow dyow think we’ll gerron today mate?”

We beat Preston 4-2 which was considerably better than the England performance

We had a box that day for me nan’s Christmas present, it’s an odd experience being in corporate. They was lucky to get 2 IIRC.

[tHEgLASSdOORS]

One things for certain if England lose this first test it will be a very long way back!!..

Win or lose, it's a long way back from Australia whatever. 

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I was at that test on Boxing Day 2006. Wandering around by some statue outside a bloke in an Albion top came up to me and said “ow dyow think we’ll gerron today mate?”

We beat Preston 4-2 which was considerably better than the England performance

That's the one, Warney's 700th wicket. Attendance announced at 87, 000, cue the Barmy Army singing 'you couldn't sell all your tickets'. Second day was designated football shirt day, me in the 78 Albion classic, a mate in the blues penguin shirt and a couple of villa mates in their 1957 Cup final shirts. Me and the bluenose drew loads of favourable remarks while the villa fans were repeatedly asked 'what year is that West Ham kit?'
Did you go to Sydney afterwards?

Unfortunately not, just did two days of the MCG; flew to Melbourne from Adelaide. IIRC, it wasn’t actually that warm on Boxing Day in Melbourne having come from mid 30s in Adelaide. Great experience though at the ground and in the city as we had some Aussies mixed into the party.

My abiding memory of the test is thinking you could’ve let Monty Panesar bowl for a year and he’d still be getting swatted away.

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I was at that test on Boxing Day 2006. Wandering around by some statue outside a bloke in an Albion top came up to me and said “ow dyow think we’ll gerron today mate?”

We beat Preston 4-2 which was considerably better than the England performance

We had a box that day for me nan’s Christmas present, it’s an odd experience being in corporate. They was lucky to get 2 IIRC.

I’ve been in a few times this season, it doe half get more appealing as the weather gets colder. The food and service is absolutely top notch tbf

[backsidebaggie]

What a win for South Africa in India. Low scoring spinners paradise, but Harmer out bowled the India spinners

[rsbaggy2]

What a win for South Africa in India. Low scoring spinners paradise, but Harmer out bowled the India spinners

Harmer superb, as was Bavuma's captaincy.
Poor from India, not helped by losing the services of Gill from pretty much both innings. Gambhir should be held accountable.

[Shabby Russian]

I know it's only opinions... but surprised to see Sir Geoffrey as low as 41.
And only 3 English in the top ten.

Did Boycott have a great ashes record, good undoubtedly. Plus he did have a test hiatus which spared him the series when Thomson and Lille took us apart.

More surprised by the gap between Flintoff and Botham. Might be thinking of their overall test career not their Ashes career. Take the view that Flintoff was a better cricketer than Botham.

Now you are kidding check out the stats Botham beats Flintoff in every field Batting, bowling and catching so who was the better cricketer. Loved them both for there passion and there love of playing for England but there’s only one winner here.

Yes you are right on averages, looked it up after posting.
It's not a hill I would die on just a view which is less secure because of distance of time.
Not much of a difference in batting averages, but Botham comfortably ahead with bowling stats.
What i would argue is that the Aussie sides Botham faced were not nearly as good as the Flintoff era Aussie sides