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

[Bazal]

Young Steven Smith?

Current Steven Smith is one tenth the number 8 that Lord Sir Christopher Woakes is.

And therefore one tenth the cricketer

 

[Mr. Shaman]

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.

The browns have been dealt with harshly since Roy went fishin'

 

[simmo1]

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.

It would be a mistake to leave him out, as there really isn't any other options apart from maybe Agar?

 

[herbert henry1908]

It would be a mistake to leave him out, as there really isn't any other options apart from maybe Agar?

Only Holland and Agar really.

I can just see them going that way. Remember last tour to India O’Keefe did very well.

But there could actually be a chance to play three spinners in some matches, especially in India. Personally I don’t think the Pakistan tour will go ahead.

 

[Meth]

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.

Totally understand what you're saying, but surely a top order batsman needs to be able to handle short stuff

 

[herbert henry1908]

Totally understand what you're saying, but surely a top order batsman needs to be able to handle short stuff

For sure, but there’s degrees. Pucovski is never going to be great at handling the short ball, but maybe he can get to an passable level along the lines of Steve Waugh? Waugh developed a technique of being able to take the ball on the body a bit. Playing down the order will assist him.

 

[Meth]

Waugh developed a technique of being able to take the ball on the body a bit.

As Matthew Wade has shown, a #5 can just let the ball thud into his ribs. No problems

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Pucovski's troubles are against shield attacks, he hasn't even been tested by Test class bowlers.

It's not looking good for him. Technique, mental health issues, multiple concussions, he's got a lot to overcome down the order or anywhere.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Pucovski's troubles are against shield attacks, he hasn't even been tested by Test class bowlers.

It's not looking good for him. Technique, mental health issues, multiple concussions, he's got a lot to overcome down the order or anywhere.

He’s got so much talent he’s worth the shot.

it’d probably be a different story if we were blessed with heaps of options, but the batting stocks are bare.

 

[Twizzle]

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.

just in time for the new ball

 

[herbert henry1908]

just in time for the new ball

Not with the current Australian batting

Seriously though, yeah you get some new ball down the order, but not as much as at opener. I don’t see how a guy who struggles this much with the short ball can open.

 

[TheParraboy]

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.

That article says he has a calf injury


This one says he is fit , but will sit out the first test. Cause playing 5 tests is too much for Jimmy, and has the Gabba blues too, boo hoo

James Anderson sits out first Test with an eye on Adelaide pink-ball contest

England said there are no injury concerns around the quick bowler, and he was fit for selection

www.espncricinfo.com

Anderson does not have a good record at the Gabba with seven wickets at 75.14 from four matches. In Adelaide he has taken 16 wickets at 29.50.

"Jimmy is fit to play, and is not carrying an injury," an ECB statement said. "With five Tests in six weeks the plan was to get him ready for the second Test in Adelaide.

 

[jargan83]

Classic Pom with no ticker

 

[hineyrulz]

Pucovski's troubles are against shield attacks, he hasn't even been tested by Test class bowlers.

It's not looking good for him. Technique, mental health issues, multiple concussions, he's got a lot to overcome down the order or anywhere.

Plus his biggest obstacle to overcome is he’s a Victorian.

 

[hineyrulz]

I reckon the ball will do quite a bit tomorrow, it’s as humid AF up in Brisbane atm. We’ve had a month of rain and barely any dry days whatsoever.

Pretty piss weak from the geriatric, if it’s not swinging around corners he’s bog average.

 

[Bazal]

Jimmy Cowardson

 

[blaza88z]

Bat first and bat for the best part of 5 sessions, we will have them beaten before the series even gets going.

Their strength is their bowling, I feel like they are where we were at a few years ago with it being a 1 man batting team, for me it's Joe Root or bust with them and I reckon we've got the quality to get him out consistently enough for him to not be as big of a factor as Smith has been against them. Their other noted batters are white ball specialists who could chime in here and there but I don't think they'll be doing it every time they walk out to bat.

Just on Anderson, they did this in their tour of India and it didn't work then either, they won the first game and sat him out, they didn't feature again and in the process ruined their hopes of getting into the Test championship final. If you're not up to physically being able to play an entire test series, you should probably hang them up.

 

[King-Gutho94]

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

Its all a joke everytime the poms come out here we just say 5-0 to wind them up ever since Glenn McGrath started saying it during his career.

In fact since watching my first ashes series in Australia the 02/03 summer every series has gone close to 5-0 except the year england won in 10/11.

02/03 - 4-1 england won a consolation game in Sydney.
06/07 - 5-0
13/14 - 5-0
17/18 - 4-0 england got a draw in Melbourne when series was over.

All been over in Game 3 at perth

 

[blaza88z]

Its all a joke everytime the poms come out here we just say 5-0 to wind them up ever since Glenn McGrath started saying it during his career.

In fact since watching my first ashes series in Australia the 02/03 summer every series has gone close to 5-0 except the year england won in 10/11.

02/03 - 4-1 england won a consolation game in Sydney.
06/07 - 5-0
13/14 - 5-0
17/18 - 4-0 england got a draw in Melbourne when series was over.

All been over in Game 3 at perth

The past few results here have been surprising, especially the last one back in 17/18

I think we're better than we were then with the emergence of Marnus

 

[herbert henry1908]

Its all a joke everytime the poms come out here we just say 5-0 to wind them up ever since Glenn McGrath started saying it during his career.

In fact since watching my first ashes series in Australia the 02/03 summer every series has gone close to 5-0 except the year england won in 10/11.

02/03 - 4-1 england won a consolation game in Sydney.
06/07 - 5-0
13/14 - 5-0
17/18 - 4-0 england got a draw in Melbourne when series was over.

All been over in Game 3 at perth

Typically we can smash them, sure. But this is one of the weakest test teams I can remember. Although Tim Paine‘s absence helps us.