The Ashes
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Wooooohoooooo.
While it is a bit poo that we get Jack Palance Tests, my security blanket of happiness is provided by The Ashes.
One of my favourite sporting contest and often find myself watching that instead of NZ tests if play at same time.
A lot of hot air being flung about to get everyone frothing at the mouth.
Bring it!!
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@hooroo I fear you are going to be let down old chap ...
Unless Stokes somehow gets the green card for punching somebodies lights out, using the homophobic abuse card, I struggle to see past 5-0 to Aussie.
The poms are good ... very good ... but I'm not convinced they have the mentality to succeed down in Aussie.
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@majorrage said in The Ashes:
@hooroo I fear you are going to be let down old chap ...
Unless Stokes somehow gets the green card for punching somebodies lights out, using the homophobic abuse card, I struggle to see past 5-0 to Aussie.
The poms are good ... very good ... but I'm not convinced they have the mentality to succeed down in Aussie.
In my mind, Aussie have looked fragile all year. I think it will be tight. Shame about Stokes being a moron but they are better than that and were doing pretty well when he was in a form slump
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I think Pom commentators are describing it as the worst Ashes squad to leave England means that Aussie are doomed.
Last England side to be described thus were Gattings tourists (30 years ago) and they carved up everything.
BBC has a good feature on last times disaster
The Ashes tour when it all went wrong
A moustachioed menace, the disintegration of a team and the fall-outs - the inside story of England's 5-0 Ashes drubbing in 2013-14.
I'm with you @Horroo one of the great sporting events. Went to Boxing Day at Gee four years ago
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Stokes will turn up by test 3.
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Stokes will turn up by test 3.
Do some googling boys. Stokes actually isn't that great. The word 'all rounder' gets thrown around and everyone assumes Sobers/Kallis/Imran/Beefy/Miller etc. Old fanta pants isn't even as good as Andrew Flintoff yet.
Nice fucken right cross though.
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In a lot of ways, Botham wasn't that great either.
BUT ... his presence lifted the team. Stokes has similar attributes.
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You have two batsman and two bowlers legitimately in the discussion for all time England XI - and this is the worst side of all time? OK. Just on muscle memory alone, with quality coaching and squad harmony they will be able to hang better than past squads - specifically thinking 2007.
Nothing will be worse than the 1997 squad though, particularly the bowling - when Mullally is your #2 strike bowler you are really battling.
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@majorrage said in The Ashes:
In a lot of ways, Botham wasn't that great either.
BUT ... his presence lifted the team. Stokes has similar attributes.
Botham was pretty much an untouchable legend for his first 50 odd tests then pretty ordinary for the next 50 odd. Overall I don't think anyone would deny he's a cricketing great though.
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Stokes is the second best batsman and 3rd best bowler in the current England squad.
But meh, statsguru tells MN5 that his all rounder status merits single quotes.
Cutting edges analysis.
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I'm torn on the Stokes issue.
He's a bloody good player, and I think he's perfectly suited to Australian conditions. From memory he was the only England player to score a century in the last Aussie Ashes series, even though he was very green.
That's why I'd be glad if he stayed home.
However, can you imagine the reception if he plays? God it will just be carnage. And while I sometimes distance myself from the more rabidly jingoistic members of my nation, on this topic I will be joining them in full voice. The Ashes thrives on grubs like Stokes and Warner, and for that reason I say... LET BEN PLAAAAYYY.
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@barbarian 'ken oath!
Fourth Test. MCG. Series in the balance when Stokes walks out to bat on Boxing Day.
Can you fucking imagine?
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The ashes have been disappointing for a number of series now. More hype than substance currently.
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@baron-silas-greenback said in The Ashes:
The ashes have been disappointing for a number of series now. More hype than substance currently.
A bit like State of O since....forever
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The 3rd best team is playing the 5th best team and it will be hyped to within an inch of its life like it is 1 playing 2, bewilders me how non English or Aussies can get excited about it. It isn't like there is really much intense dislike or rivalry between the teams nowadays.
I find Aus vs India far more entertaining in that regard. -
Is Stokes in prison yet?
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Aussie team named today.
Paine being touted as keeper by News Ltd.
Good. Never liked Wade. Haddin-lite.
New opener in place of Renshaw and S Marsh to 6 (just for @NTA )
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Fuck.
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@baron-silas-greenback said in The Ashes:
The 3rd best team is playing the 5th best team and it will be hyped to within an inch of its life like it is 1 playing 2, bewilders me how non English or Aussies can get excited about it. It isn't like there is really much intense dislike or rivalry between the teams nowadays.
I find Aus vs India far more entertaining in that regard.You need to stop drinking, your glass is half empty.
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Aussie Confirmed
Australia Test squad
Steven Smith (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.
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Aussie Confirmed
Australia Test squad
Steven Smith (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.
I can't wait til Bird bowls to Root
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Aussie Confirmed
Australia Test squad
Steven Smith (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.
Interesting. No 5th bowler in their top 6 to take on any workload. Lyon is a trooper though. Not an issue if they blow them away.
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Voges out to pasture for being too old?
If so he'll finish his career with a hell of a test average.
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Voges was dropped a while back MN5. Before the last summer, actually. Think he's actually retired now.
Marsh is a fucking outrageous selection. Maxwell didn't do much wrong at all, and is now out to pasture. Same for Renshaw.
Welcome to Aussie cricket, where we push out 35-year old Ed Cowan for being too old, and then pick 34-year old Shaun Marsh.
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@barbarian said in The Ashes:
and then pick 34-year old Shaun Marsh
Whose Dad clearly has some fucking wonderful photographs as @Virgil said above.
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@barbarian said in The Ashes:
and then pick 34-year old Shaun Marsh
Whose Dad clearly has some fucking wonderful photographs as @Virgil said above.
You must be thrilled M Marsh isn't there though?
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@mn5 meh. I'd actually prefer the guy who can take the odd wicket and not expect runs from, to the guy who has been given more chances than ... well, pretty much anyone.
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@barbarian said in The Ashes:
Voges was dropped a while back MN5. Before the last summer, actually. Think he's actually retired now.
You have to cater for the fact that @MN5 is at least a couple of years behind in most sports. Better than rugby though where he's a good 20 years off the pace now.
