Ashes 2021… at risk?

[jargan83]

So what's the back up plan if the poms pull the pin?

Extended BBL season?

Imagine the summer being dominated by Clive Rose, Peter Hatzoglou and Tanveer Sangha instead of those Test losers.

 

[TheParraboy]

Its on baby !!!


Jo Butler and Moeen look like the only ones not coming

Stokes taking a break as he was, and Archer is injured

England players set to agree to Ashes tour after further talks

Reports from the UK indicated that Joe Root has confirmed he will captain the side

www.espncricinfo.com

The men's Ashes is set to go ahead this summer with England's players reportedly agreeing to tour in a move that will green-light the A$200 million series.


England's cricketers spoke with Cricket Australia (CA) bosses again on Tuesday evening, to thrash out their concerns over strict Covid-19 protocols. Players have been given until the end of this week to make a decision by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), with the team only set to tour if an adequate number of front-liner players agree to travel.


However, those fears have now seemingly been allayed with the UK's Daily Telegraph reporting that captain Joe Root has led a group of players committing to the series.


According to the report, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler could be the only England player not to agree to tour. He had previously indicated his concerns over the tour and potential time away from family.


Allrounder Moeen Ali will be unavailable after he recently retired, while Ben Stokes is taking a break from the game and Jofra Archer is out injured. CA are yet to officially be informed but will no doubt be breathing a massive sigh of relief given the magnitude of the decision.


In a series of two separate meetings with England players in recent days, it's understood fears over snap lockdowns and quarantine conditions for families were the chief concerns.


But CA CEO Nick Hockley stressed to England players that conditions in Australia were improving, with the country's vaccination rate on the rise. Likewise, it's believed a move to have a second group England's players' families arrive before Christmas to quarantine in Melbourne has also been crucial.


Players had feared that families would only be able to arrive with them in November, meaning a hard quarantine before a long tour.


But the move to let a second group into Victoria would be welcome news, given they do not need to spend as much time away from home. There could be some freedoms for families in regional Victoria.


That deal is not officially over the line with the state government, but would be in line with the road map out of COVID-19 as Victoria edges closer to 70 and 80 percent double dosage rates.


The last concern for CA will now be the Perth Test, with officials adamant they will be granted clearance to play in Western Australia just days after being in Sydney. If that does fall through, Canberra or Hobart could seize their first Ashes Test. Alternatively, the match could be held as a second fixture at the SCG or MCG

 

[Twizzle]

Rob Key will be pissed after his Twitter rant

 

[AlwaysGreen]

England Squad named:

England unveils 17-player squad for 2021/22 Ashes series

England has unveiled its 17-player squad for the 2021/22 Ashes series, featuring 10 names who have never played a Test match on Australian soil.

www.news.com.au

Joe Root (c)
James Anderson
Jonathan Bairstow
Dom Bess
Stuart Broad
Rory Burns
Jos Buttler
Zak Crawley
Haseeb Hameed
Dan Lawrence
Jack Leach
Dawid Malan
Craig Overton
Ollie Pope
Ollie Robinson
Chris Woakes
Mark Wood

 

[The Mad Hatter]

England will win 2-1

 

[hineyrulz]

This could be a Plodfest for the ages.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

This could be a Plodfest for the ages.

Pretty sure that's the same squad Ricky Stuart has been naming for Canberra all year.

 

[TheParraboy]

Rob Key will be pissed after his Twitter rant

What did he say? Coudlnt see any rant


Saw this on his tweets though,

In regards to his golf he did say

RK: "Im so close to genius I could touch it"

Kevin Pietersen chipped in

"You could If I was near you"

 

[TheParraboy]

 

[Twizzle]

What did he say? Coudlnt see any rant


Saw this on his tweets though,

In regards to his golf he did say

RK: "Im so close to genius I could touch it"

Kevin Pietersen chipped in

"You could If I was near you"

he raved on about Tim Paine saying Tim Paine stuff

he took the bait hook, line and sinker

 

[baggygreen man]

A quiet achiever as opener has been Sam Whiteman yet his name does not get many mentions when discussing Ashes candidates. Over the past three seasons since relinquishing the WA gloves Whiteman has been a consistent scorer at the top, with 20/21 being an especially successful summer for the unassuming lefty. He piled on three centuries in his 555 at almost @40 from 8 games. Whiteman has started this season in similar manner.

 

[baggygreen man]

England Squad named:

England unveils 17-player squad for 2021/22 Ashes series

England has unveiled its 17-player squad for the 2021/22 Ashes series, featuring 10 names who have never played a Test match on Australian soil.

www.news.com.au

Joe Root (c)
James Anderson
Jonathan Bairstow
Dom Bess
Stuart Broad
Rory Burns
Jos Buttler
Zak Crawley
Haseeb Hameed
Dan Lawrence
Jack Leach
Dawid Malan
Craig Overton
Ollie Pope
Ollie Robinson
Chris Woakes
Mark Wood

Did I read that other than Root no top order England batsman averages over @35 FC..

 

[baggygreen man]

Had a chuckle over this. One Tele scribe has Sean Abbott as a likely replacement for Patto in our Ashes squad. Neser, Steketee probably, Jhye Richardson definitely if fit.. but Abbott @33.4 FC. He is also not an all rounder @23 with bat. Starc almost averages that. Patto added raw aggression to his bowling. Who do we have in state cricket that has a similar trait.

 

[Twizzle]

Sabbott is a decent white ball player but thats it

 

[Twizzle]

 

[Mr Spock!]

What odds on Ben Stokes going back to blighty after a mental breakdown?

 

[some11]

What odds on Ben Stokes going back to blighty after a mental breakdown?

Probably about the same as Paine shitting himself when the opposition is down 9/286 chasing 360

 

[baggygreen man]

If CA is again playing a Possibles vs Probables match then they are obviously undecided on a full Ashes squad. This opens the door for others.
My list of 15 POSSIBLES:
Street
Hunt
Whiteman
Carey
Renshaw
Inglis
Wildermuth
Paris
Neser
Richardson
Swepson

Holland (12th)

My smokies: Ellis, Ward, Neil Smith, T Sangha.

 

[baggygreen man]

What odds on Ben Stokes going back to blighty after a mental breakdown?

Looks like from that pic he is already having one.

 

[TheParraboy]

If CA is again playing a Possibles vs Probables match then they are obviously undecided on a full Ashes squad. This opens the door for others.
My list of 15 POSSIBLES:
Street
Hunt
Whiteman
Carey
Renshaw
Inglis
Wildermuth
Paris
Neser
Richardson
Swepson

Holland (12th)

My smokies: Ellis, Ward, Neil Smith, T Sangha.

IMO They would know who most of the squad is. Other than maybe an opener. I reckon they will go for Head at 5, Green at 6

Do we really think Neser or Paris is gonna replace one of the top 3 pace bowlers on the back of this match?

More importantly its probably a much needed hit out for blokes who haven't had red ball cricket in a good while. Paddy, Starc, Hazlewood, Smith, Warner, Paine (if fit).

Though to be honest, I wouldnt mind if Paines recovery takes longer and Carey starts in the test series. Swepson over Lyon. And someone new to stake a claim for the opening spot