Cant wait for the series. Going to be the best cricket since IND V Aus 2001 IMO.
Anyway despite all the hype i still think England have their problems. Michael Vaughn looks to be in a massive hole to be honest. I watched him bat on flat pitches against the West Indies in England last season and he was struggling, he struggled in South Africa and he is still struggling now. The form he showed 3 years ago in Australia must be a bit of a distant memory, he produced batting that had class written all over it there so i wont discount his ability to reproduce against the best, however i think its unlikely. His one day form has never been much to write home about but watching him struggle against medium paces such as Dwayne Bravo and Langeveld is South Africa and not move his feet i think he is in for a torrid time. If the captain struggles it might have an affect on the rest of the team.
Im not convinced Flintoff is a top class batsman. Im sure Aussies will play Lee, and i think he and Waren will really trouble him. Against South Africa against some decent quicks in Ntini and Nel he struggled against the bouncing ball. Sure he might hook a few over the fence, but is he capable of making 100's against the Aussie attack.
Ashley Giles against Warne represents the biggest mis match of the series. Giles is a decent bowler, "honest" you might say but i agree with Kim Hughes in that if he gets wickets of the aussie top 6 they should neck themselves. Giles loves to bowl over the wicket at middle and leg, its pretty defensive stuff. He got away with it in South Africa but against us i think he should be looking to come around the wicket and use his height and variations (which he does have) to trouble the likes of Ponting who can striggle against left arm spin.
On the other side of the coin i think Jason Gillespie since the Indian tour. He seems to have dropped pace, dropped his run up down and is bowling without the same accuracy. In NZ he looked tired, here he looks underdone, its early stages but i think Aussies would be mad not to play lee in the tests and the way Dizzy is going he might be forced out. Kasper is probably in the same boat
Clarke had a dream start to his career. But his last 7 tests he averages 17. Mosre disturbing were watching him get out to Aktar in Perth in the manner he did and then Astle in NZ being totally squard up a little swinger. His shied average is not great i believe and although he will be a fantastic player I think e still has a weakness against genuine pace and Harmison will be coming to get him.
Ponting will be targetted. Thw way he is getting out is quite clear - falling acorss his crease, over balancing and getting LWB.
I still think we will win the series on the back of Warne taking 30 odd wickets on dry pitches.
Anyway despite all the hype i still think England have their problems. Michael Vaughn looks to be in a massive hole to be honest. I watched him bat on flat pitches against the West Indies in England last season and he was struggling, he struggled in South Africa and he is still struggling now. The form he showed 3 years ago in Australia must be a bit of a distant memory, he produced batting that had class written all over it there so i wont discount his ability to reproduce against the best, however i think its unlikely. His one day form has never been much to write home about but watching him struggle against medium paces such as Dwayne Bravo and Langeveld is South Africa and not move his feet i think he is in for a torrid time. If the captain struggles it might have an affect on the rest of the team.
Im not convinced Flintoff is a top class batsman. Im sure Aussies will play Lee, and i think he and Waren will really trouble him. Against South Africa against some decent quicks in Ntini and Nel he struggled against the bouncing ball. Sure he might hook a few over the fence, but is he capable of making 100's against the Aussie attack.
Ashley Giles against Warne represents the biggest mis match of the series. Giles is a decent bowler, "honest" you might say but i agree with Kim Hughes in that if he gets wickets of the aussie top 6 they should neck themselves. Giles loves to bowl over the wicket at middle and leg, its pretty defensive stuff. He got away with it in South Africa but against us i think he should be looking to come around the wicket and use his height and variations (which he does have) to trouble the likes of Ponting who can striggle against left arm spin.
On the other side of the coin i think Jason Gillespie since the Indian tour. He seems to have dropped pace, dropped his run up down and is bowling without the same accuracy. In NZ he looked tired, here he looks underdone, its early stages but i think Aussies would be mad not to play lee in the tests and the way Dizzy is going he might be forced out. Kasper is probably in the same boat
Clarke had a dream start to his career. But his last 7 tests he averages 17. Mosre disturbing were watching him get out to Aktar in Perth in the manner he did and then Astle in NZ being totally squard up a little swinger. His shied average is not great i believe and although he will be a fantastic player I think e still has a weakness against genuine pace and Harmison will be coming to get him.
Ponting will be targetted. Thw way he is getting out is quite clear - falling acorss his crease, over balancing and getting LWB.
I still think we will win the series on the back of Warne taking 30 odd wickets on dry pitches.
