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Post by Panda on Jul 7, 2015 19:40:10 GMT 1
Starts tomorrow!
This is the fourth series in four and half years but the end of the two-year shift process and it will return to a 2.5, 1.5-year patterns with the next series in England taking place in 2019. That does mean the longer gap will now come after a series in England, rather than a series in Australia.
England looked in disarray after the World Cup and Peter Moores was sacked (again) after a disappointing series in the West Indies. Paul Farbrace oversaw the excellent New Zealand series which saw the test series end 1-1, with a convincing victory each, followed by one of the greatest ODI series ever, with records falling left, right and centre as England beat the World Cup runners-up 3-2.
That has offer some optimism that England could actually give Australia some trouble this summer as they aim to bounce back from the 5-0 humiliation early last year. Much has changed in the England team since then and many question marks still remain - Pietersen's been exiled, Trott's had a break, then come back, then retired from international cricket. Batsmen have come and gone and there doesn't seem to be a ready-made replacement for Graeme Swann.
New coach Trevor Bayliss takes charge of England for the first time, the Australian coming with an excellent pedigree, particularly in limited overs cricket. Darren Lehman remains in charge of Australia, having taken control just before the 2013 series, which saw England win 3-0 but the Aussies put up more of a fight than was expected, and that momentum helped them sweep to victory on home soil.
England squad for 1st test:
Alastair Cook (c)
Joe Root (vc)
Moeen Ali
James Anderson
Gary Ballance
Ian Bell
Stuart Broad
Jos Buttler (w)
Steven Finn
Adam Lyth
Adil Rashid
Ben Stokes
Mark Wood
Australia squad:
Michael Clarke (c)
Steve Smith (vc)
Brad Haddin (w)
Fawad Ahmed
Pat Cummins (replaces Ryan Harris who has had to retire due to a knee injury)
Josh Hazlewood
Mitchell Johnson
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Peter Nevill (w)
Chris Rogers
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Starc
Adam Voges
David Warner
Shane Watson
1st test: 8-12 July (Sophia Gardens)
2nd test: 16-20 July (Lord's)
3rd test: 29 July-2 August (Edgbaston)
4th test: 6-10 August (Trent Bridge)
5th test: 20-24 August (The Oval)
MrH's session-by-session scores for the last four Ashes series:
2009: England 29-27 Australia (England won series 2-1)
2010-11: Australia 20-40 England (England won series 3-1)
2013: England 29-27 Australia (England won series 3-0)
2013-14: Australia 42-12 England (Australia won series 5-0)
Odds for series:
4/9 Australia
9/2 England
15/2 Draw
Series scoreline:
13/2 Australia 3-1
7/1 Australia 4-0
8/1 Australia 3-0
17/2 Australia 2-1
9/1 Draw 2-2
10/1 Australia 5-0
12/1 Australia 4-1
16/1 Australia 3-2
16/1 England 2-1
20/1 Australia 2-0
22/1 England 3-1
25/1 Draw 1-1
28/1 England 3-2
66/1 England 2-0
90/1 England 3-0
100/1 England 4-1
100/1 Australia 1-0
150/1 England 4-0
200/1 England 1-0
250/1 England 5-0
500/1 Draw 0-0
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Post by wonderwall on Jul 7, 2015 20:13:41 GMT 1
Big ask for us this time around think Australia will win the series to be honest but you never know.The 1986 England team that toured Australia got called the worst England team ever and won the ashes and in 1989 the Australia touring team got giving no chance over here but wiped the floor with England so you don't know.
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Post by Robin on Jul 8, 2015 20:34:31 GMT 1
Pleasing first day for England, after falling to 43-3 I feared the worst. It's a good job we have Joe Root. Another fine innings and the test match is finely balanced.
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Post by Panda on Jul 8, 2015 22:54:19 GMT 1
Just about honours even after day 1 I think. Great start for the Aussies but an excellent fightback by England and they'll be very pleased with the runs they have on the board. If they can make 400, they're in a good position.
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Post by raliverpool on Jul 8, 2015 23:03:10 GMT 1
England are certainly in it.
Personally, I think most pundits have underestimated the impact of the home conditions on the touring side, as their bowling attack is neutralised to a degree by the different ball, less lively pitches, etc compared to Australia.
Hence, whilst I expect Australia to win the series, I did/do not expect them to thrash us; and I would not rule out us regaining the Ashes.
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Post by Shireblogger on Jul 9, 2015 7:23:48 GMT 1
As far as batting goes, I think we're alright. In Cook, Bell and Root we have 3 of the world's best, but one of them needs to score well in every innings. There is plenty of support around them - demonstrated by Ballance and Stokes yesterday - and we bat down the order.
My concern is with our bowling. Both Anderson and Broad are now past their prime, and the rest is untested and/or unreliable, whereas the Aussie bowling attack is fearsome.
We won't be humiliated in the whole series, although we might have one or two very heavy defeats. And the combination of a good day or two and a little luck could see us win one match (or possibly two).
Assuming the weather holds, I'd predict 1-4 or 2-3.
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frag
Member
*Paranoid Android*
I have no idea what you're talking about, so here's a bunny with a pancake on its head.
Posts: 25,423 
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Post by frag on Jul 9, 2015 11:07:42 GMT 1
Just about honours even after day 1 I think. Great start for the Aussies but an excellent fightback by England and they'll be very pleased with the runs they have on the board. If they can make 400, they're in a good position. Definitely Australia's morning and Engand's afternoon. How about the evening? |
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Post by Panda on Jul 9, 2015 20:27:53 GMT 1
Session-by-session:
DAY 1
Morning: Eng 88-3 (Superb start for Australia - three early wickets and despite a fightback from England, it has to be Australia's session)
Afternoon: Eng 102-0 (The England charge is on - Root and Ballance bring England into the game and up the run-rate in the process. England's session)
Evening: Eng 153-4 (England continue the charge towards 400 and although late wickets even things up a bit, with the runs on the board, it's England's session)
DAY 2
Morning: Eng 87-3ao, Aus 26-0 (England all out but make it past 400 and smash the Aussies around at more than a run-a-ball in the sesssion. Australia's openers survive until lunch but it's England's session)
Afternoon: Aus 119-2 (Solid progress for the Aussies with the lifeless pitch still not offering much for the bowlers. A couple of key wickets but it's Australia's session)
Evening: Aus 119-3 (A similar session but the hard work of the bowlers gives the home side the upper hand and every chance of a decent first innings lead. England's session)
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Post by o on Jul 9, 2015 20:45:40 GMT 1
Can we bowl them out with a lead that is the question, we do look better, but I still think they will beat us narrowly, or hold onto them by drawing the series?
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Post by Panda on Jul 10, 2015 20:20:07 GMT 1
DAY 3
Morning: Aus 43-5ao, Eng 21-1 (Near-perfect morning for England, getting two wickets before the new ball was even taken and quickly finishing off the Australian tail. England's session)
Afternoon: Eng 128-2 (England turn the screw and take the lead beyond 250. England's session)
Evening: Eng 140-7ao (England look for quick runs and build a lead of over 400 but their caution-to-the-wind approach means with two days remaining (albeit with rain forecast for Sunday), Australia aren't completely out of the game. Australia's session)
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Post by raliverpool on Jul 10, 2015 20:33:32 GMT 1
I'm cautiously optimistic about England winning this match.
I suspect the Welsh weather rather than the Australian batting line up will save them in the next two days..
Hence, England's best chance to win the match is to bowl them out on Saturday.
If by the end of the 4th day the Australian score is say 308-5, then Sunday will be squeaky bum time with all three results possible due to the current weather forecast.
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Post by o on Jul 10, 2015 21:51:45 GMT 1
Brilliant performance by our bowlers, very impressed, need to do the same again tomorrow, let's see if they are up for it!
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Post by Shireblogger on Jul 11, 2015 7:23:49 GMT 1
And the combination of a good day or two and a little luck could see us win one match (or possibly two). We certainly had one of those good days yesterday. Maybe we'll have several more. |
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Post by wonderwall on Jul 11, 2015 14:39:13 GMT 1
Wow 122-6 game over bowlers bowled brilliantly
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Post by raliverpool on Jul 11, 2015 17:12:27 GMT 1
Hearing the Barmy Army sing Joe Root to the tune of Dolly Parton's Jolene is one of the finest things to behold.
England win a Test Match inside 4 days versus Australia playing the type of "Fighting fire with gasoline" attacking cricket KP was urging them to play (for which he got "Steve Brookstein'd" for by the ECB hierarchy).
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Post by Panda on Jul 12, 2015 16:12:25 GMT 1
DAY 4
Morning: Aus 97-2 (Australia probably would've settled for 1 down at lunch but a wicket in the last over of the morning pushes it in England's favour. England's session)
Afternoon: Aus 65-5 (4 wickets in the first hour after lunch end the game as a contest. Add in the customary Watson lbw and England's dominance is almost complete. England's session)
Evening: Aus 80-3ao (Despite Mitchell Johnson doing more with the bat than he's ever done with the ball on an English pitch, it only delays the inevitable and victory is wrapped up with a day to spare. England's session)
MATCH TOTAL: ENGLAND 9-3 AUSTRALIA (3 sessions not required)
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Post by Shireblogger on Jul 13, 2015 9:42:23 GMT 1
Well, that was sensational. A nearly faultless performance, aside from the first hour. I completely withdraw the reservations I had previously expressed about the current team.
Of course, we'd be foolish to write-off Australia this quickly. But it does look like we'll witness a competitive Ashes series this year.
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Post by Panda on Jul 16, 2015 20:31:53 GMT 1
2nd test, session-by-session:
DAY 1
Morning: Aus 103-1 (Australia win a vital toss and choose to bat, making hay on a great batting pitch, bar a typically brainless Warner dismissal. Australia's session)
Afternoon: Aus 88-0 (Rogers and Smith continue to frustrate England, both passing 50. Australia's session)
Evening: Aus 146-0 (Another wicketless session as the 2nd-wicket stand passes 200, both batsmen achieving centuries. England's only consolation being Australia didn't put as many runs on the board as some were predicting. Australia's session)
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Post by Shireblogger on Jul 16, 2015 21:34:20 GMT 1
Thank goodness that was the 1st day of the 2nd Test, and not the 1st day of the 1st Test.
Firstly, it means England won't be totally demoralised. Secondly, the Press won't yet be clamouring for Cook's head. And thirdly, the Press won't yet be questioning why we've just appointed an Australian coach.
From the highlights, I'd say England weren't too bad. And Rogers and Smith played almost faultlessly, which is your obligation as a batsman on a pitch like that.
Day 3 will be the important one in this match.
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Post by o on Jul 16, 2015 22:25:24 GMT 1
It was only a matter of time, before they did something like this, now it's about how we limit the damage, and how WE bat!
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