Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Been looking forward to it ever since England adopted bazball.

There’s a few people that actually post on the cricket board, creating match threads, when there’s big games on so probably worth checking it out when it starts.

I’m not that confident given Crawley is a facking joke, Stokes is knackered and Foakes has been dropped. However, Australia don’t win the Ashes in England that often so we’ll obviously have a chance given home advantage.

Should be good but the loss of Archer and Leach is a blow. Anderson will not be 100% fit or available for every test and Stokes will probably not bowl. Wood's fitness is also never certain. Not sure Potts is the answer. Moen will not tie up an end like Leach and will be targetted by the Aussies.

I am really looking forward to it because it will be entertaining. The Aussies have a great bowling attack, but just a little bit down heartened by the injuries which i think have weakened us quite considerably and tips the balance in their favour.

I am looking forward to Bazball vs the Aussies but think we will see us bowled out for 150 or less at least once. Its a kinda all or nothing approach

Yep can't wait....thinking about getting one of the hooky link ups so I can tune in.

Bowling issues will mean the Aussies retain the ashss

The cricket board isn't completely dead. The thread for the test against Ireland has nearly 200 comments on what is effectively a warm up game.

Not sure Bazball has come up against an attack like ours though. Can see Cam Green taking loads of wickets

New Zealand, India, South Africa and Pakistan are famous for having poor bowling attacks to be fair

Shouldn't you be focusing on the world test final before the Ashes?

I think people forget how good Anderson, Broad, Woakes and Robinson are in English conditions when they talk about our bowling.

The Aussies would have targeted Leach, like they did in the last Ashes. I think he went at 7 an over in the one test and averaged 54 with the ball across the series. Conditions in the UK aren't really that favourable for spin bowling and although it is devastating for Leach personally, I think the impact of him missing is being overstated.

In terms of the Bazball approach and the Aussie attack, it will be interesting to see how it gets on. It was effective last summer against the New Zealand attack of Southee, Boult and Jamieson; India's attack of Bumrah, Siraj and Shami; as well as Rabada, Nortje and Ngidi of South Africa. I'm sure there may be the odd game where we have a low scoring innings, but it has already been tested against other World Class bowlers. Luckily I dont think the England team will be as defeatist with the approach when looking at the Aussie attack. Particularly when it is being touted that Cam Green who has an average of 30+ with the ball in first class cricket will get loads of wickets.

comment by (K̇ash) - Liverpool 7-0 Man U (U1108)
posted 7 minutes ago
Shouldn't you be focusing on the world test final before the Ashes?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

That is in the OP and we’ve made a relatively decent start

According to Sky last week Stokes and Baz have asked for flat pitches for the Ashes.

If that is the case I just can not see England bowl Australia out.

I don't think Englands batting is good enough either to survive the Aussies bowling, even on flat pitches. A lot will depend on Root and Brook.

I think the Aussies win 2-0 and the rest are draws.

I would put this on the Cricket board but it’s completely dead but for one Indian guy and one Pakistani guy arguing which nation is better.

...............

The cricket board is amusing when Pakistan are playing. Kash knows less about cricket than he does about football and is equally as irritating.

Moeen Ali has answered the call and will play.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

As far as I can remember England has only had two top drawer spinners. Derrick Underwood and Graeme Swann.

We don’t seem to produce them in county cricket.

Australia looking good so far. Great warm up against a top India side

Went to oval yesterday for day 1 Robb. Aussies look strong!!

Yeah, Travis Head is our big threat in the Ashes and Scotty Boland has arrived with a bang. Going to take a few wickets this series.

comment by Robb #gotheSwans (U22716)
posted 19 seconds ago
Yeah, Travis Head is our big threat in the Ashes and Scotty Boland has arrived with a bang. Going to take a few wickets this series.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Head looked so composed. Gave a good knock yesterday. Posted a good total to did aus today so set up nicely for a good thriller!

India are going down like Scholays mum. Sorry 😎

comment by Robb #gotheSwans (U22716)
posted 9 minutes ago
India are going down like Scholays mum. Sorry 😎
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Not been overly impressed by India in this to be honest. Saw earlier that after 90 overs, the Indian seamers had only bowled 40 balls that would have hit the stumps; which is pretty poor. Bazball wouldn't allow the England bowlers to bowl like that so it will be a different proposition in the Ashes.

Indian batsmen can struggle at times in the UK with the extra movement. Particularly when using the Dukes ball too. So it's difficult to gauge the Aussie attack when batsmen are leaving the ball on off stump.

Scotty Boland. Legend