1st Ashes Test: Australia v England @ Gabba Dec 8-12, 2021

[TheParraboy]

Marnus might as well walk out with the openers and hang out with the square leg umpire for an over or two. Three tops.

Could bring half a sandwich ?

 

[hineyrulz]

Could bring half a sandwich ?

 

[herbert henry1908]

This Australian team is very weak, I’m stunned to see any talk of a 5-0 victory in the media.

Carey improves the batting a bit, but huge question marks over four players for mine

Harris - Has never looked comfortable at test level, despite being a run machine in first class cricket. He’s got some serious technical problems with his batting.

Head - Has only produced in test cricket against weaker bowling lineups. His average is massively skewed from the Sri Lanka tests.

Lyon - Failed dismally Last summer, we needed him to bowl out the tail but was nowhere to be seen.

Starc - Last two test matches last summer was some of the worst fast bowling I’ve ever seen. Completely impotent. White ball bowling has been similar this year. Never really rated him with the red ball but he is capable of some moments.



Re Carey, I would’ve gone with Inglis, but Carey in the team is still a decent improvement over Paine. Paine’s captaincy was obviously rubbish, but his batting was declining as well. In terms of keeping it’s probably a wash, although that reflects well on a 37 year old Paine being just as good as a 30 year old Carey.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I would’ve had Jhye Richardson in the lineup over Starc, obviously.

By the middle of this series I’d like to see this lineup, assuming the guys who I think will struggle, do in fact struggle

Warner
Khawaja
Labs
Smith
Green
Pucovski (if it can’t happen, then Maddinson)
Carey
Cummins
Richardson
Swepson
Hazlewood

 

[herbert henry1908]

The other thing with with Starc, he will be 32yo next month

If he does get axed, might be hard to come back in the test side over the next year or two, then buckleys after that, he is no Peter Siddle

I’ve never rated Starc much with the red ball, he’s had mis moments, though. But I’ve always really respected his choice of prioritising playing for Australia over the IPL. Might be time for him to cash in on some IPL dollars soon.

 

[herbert henry1908]

They will give Starc until Adelaide I reckon. If he doesn't take wickets with the pink ball, he never will.

I can't see any scenario where they drop Lyon for Swepson. He would have to cop some serious stick from the England batsmen to get dropped, and I can't see any apart from maybe Stokes who will go after him.

Swepson has really improved in recent years, and Lyon only had 9 wickets @ 55 last summer. Maybe it doesn’t happen this series, but another summer like that for Lyon and it’ll be very close to Swepson a shot.

 

[simmo1]

Swepson has really improved in recent years, and Lyon only had 9 wickets @ 55 last summer. Maybe it doesn’t happen this series, but another summer like that for Lyon and it’ll be very close to Swepson a shot.

Yeah, I'm not saying Lyon isn't anything other than bog average. Australian selectors have always been conservative, so will not drop a 400 wicket player for a rookie legspinner in an Ashes series.

There are three tours of the subcontinent next year. Swepson will likely play as a second spinner, and if he outperforms Lyon he should take his spot next summer.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Yeah, I'm not saying Lyon isn't anything other than bog average. Australian selectors have always been conservative, so will not drop a 400 wicket player for a rookie legspinner in an Ashes series.

There are three tours of the subcontinent next year. Swepson will likely play as a second spinner, and if he outperforms Lyon he should take his spot next summer.

I could actually see Swepson being bypassed for the sub continent tours. The preference has always been for finger spin and control in the sub continent, look what’s happening in this NZ series. Even Warne struggled in India.

 

[Meth]

Head will have 2 Tests, I think.

Hard to believe that with 2 spots available, they still couldn't find a spot for Khawaja. But I'd imagine we'll see him in the side at some point.

 

[Meth]

If Usman comes back into the side, what does the top 6 look like? Who budges?

Is there a feeling that Pucovski is a goner?

If so, Usman could open if Harris shits the bed. Still can't believe Marcus Harris got the gig.

 

[JJ]

Really hope Pucowski isn’t a goner, that would be really sad tbh

 

[JJ]

If Usman comes back into the side, what does the top 6 look like? Who budges?

Is there a feeling that Pucovski is a goner?

If so, Usman could open if Harris shits the bed. Still can't believe Marcus Harris got the gig.

Marcus Harris is Strayan Jeet Raval

 

[Bazal]

If Usman comes back into the side, what does the top 6 look like? Who budges?

Is there a feeling that Pucovski is a goner?

If so, Usman could open if Harris shits the bed. Still can't believe Marcus Harris got the gig.

Personally I think Pucovski is done unless he can work out how to play short stuff like an actual batsman. If he's getting concussed by throwdowns the boy has a serious deficiency. I think the selectors love a wonderboy though and will pick him again the second he scores a thousand at Karen Rolton oval again.

No one can believe Harris got the gig. Except locky who is an idiot. Uzi averages 97 opening in Australia...if he comes in I'd suggest it's as an opener, I think they're likely to stick with Head for this series given the captaincy issues and given he can trundle out some overs where guys like Uzi and Harris can't. But who knows?

If I could pick what our selectors are gonna do over the last decade or so I'd be concerned for my sanity

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Ashes shock with star ruled out

England have taken a massive gamble on the eve of the opening Ashes Test and left out veteran fast bowler Jimmy Anderson to save him for the second Test in Adelaide.

www.news.com.au

England will really miss his 2/130 off 30 overs.

 

[Bazal]

That's what you get for picking your attack out of a Cornwall nursing home

 

[herbert henry1908]

If Usman comes back into the side, what does the top 6 look like? Who budges?

Is there a feeling that Pucovski is a goner?

If so, Usman could open if Harris shits the bed. Still can't believe Marcus Harris got the gig.

Not sure if Pucovski is done, but he can’t open, that’s for sure. He needs to come in lower when the ball is a bit softer to give him a fighting chance against the bouncers.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Thank f**k Jimmy is gone. Hate the prick, also the bowler most likely to bum us at GABBA and Adelaide D/Ner.

 

[Bazal]

Thank f**k Jimmy is gone. Hate the prick, also the bowler most likely to bum us at GABBA and Adelaide D/Ner.

Yeah but it makes it so much harder for us now that they're going to pick the greatest number 8 in the history of the game to fill the most important position on the order!

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Not sure if Pucovski is done, but he can’t open, that’s for sure. He needs to come in lower when the ball is a bit softer to give him a fighting chance against the bouncers.

Shouldn't play Test cricket until he can play the short ball in any condition. More of a liability than Watto with reviews remaining.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Yeah but it makes it so much harder for us now that they're going to pick the greatest number 8 in the history of the game to fill the most important position on the order!

Young Steven Smith?