The Ashes 2009

[Dujon]

I too am looking forward, as always, to this series. Ponting as a batsman is always suspect early in his innings, but let him get 15 or 20 on the board he seems to settle in. As a captain I don't rate him particularly highly - he is certainly not a Border, Benaud or Chapell in my view.

The Australian attack without Warne and McGrath is still weak, particularly in the spin department. I'm not too sure whether their medium quicks can take advantage of the swing that is so often available in England and Walesshire. I see that the 'British Lions' (where did they come from?) are more than holding their own at the moment so perhaps it bodes well for the contest.

[Verbal]

Yesterday versus England Saxons:

Mitchell Johnson (20.0 overs, 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets)

Brett Lee (20.0 overs, 5 maidens, 53 runs, 5 wickets)

Best bowler in the world my eye.

[Worthy4England]

Yesterday versus England Saxons:

Mitchell Johnson (20.0 overs, 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets)

Brett Lee (20.0 overs, 5 maidens, 53 runs, 5 wickets)

Best bowler in the world my eye.

I'll take strike against Johnson if I may...

You take Lee for the first couple of overs while we get our eye in.

It's good to be the skipper.

[thebish]

Yesterday versus England Saxons:

Mitchell Johnson (20.0 overs, 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets)

Brett Lee (20.0 overs, 5 maidens, 53 runs, 5 wickets)

Best bowler in the world my eye.

I'll take strike against Johnson if I may...

You take Lee for the first couple of overs while we get our eye in.

It's good to be the skipper.

as a sidenote - Brett Lee is a cracking good bloke - you'd like to dislike him - but you just can't - he's a top geezer!

[Verbal]

Yesterday versus England Saxons:

Mitchell Johnson (20.0 overs, 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets)

Brett Lee (20.0 overs, 5 maidens, 53 runs, 5 wickets)

Best bowler in the world my eye.

I'll take strike against Johnson if I may...

You take Lee for the first couple of overs while we get our eye in.

It's good to be the skipper.

Gee thanks, capt.

I hear Johnson likes to rough em up though...

[jimbo]

Yesterday versus England Saxons:

Mitchell Johnson (20.0 overs, 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets)

Brett Lee (20.0 overs, 5 maidens, 53 runs, 5 wickets)

Best bowler in the world my eye.

I'll take strike against Johnson if I may...

You take Lee for the first couple of overs while we get our eye in.

It's good to be the skipper.

Gee thanks, capt.

I hear Johnson likes to rough em up though...

Yeh, I'll hide in the pavillion until Hauritz and Katich come on. My name will soon be on the honours board!

[jimbo]

Oh and ironically it is Johnson who is now seen as the leader of the attack, with question marks over Lee's place. They must have disappeared yesterday though after that spell. Johnson was only running in at 90%. Expect much more come next Wednesday whereas Lee had something to proove.

[Worthy4England]

Yesterday versus England Saxons:

Mitchell Johnson (20.0 overs, 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets)

Brett Lee (20.0 overs, 5 maidens, 53 runs, 5 wickets)

Best bowler in the world my eye.

I'll take strike against Johnson if I may...

You take Lee for the first couple of overs while we get our eye in.

It's good to be the skipper.

Gee thanks, capt.

I hear Johnson likes to rough em up though...

No more than you'd want from an opening bowler - which is why I worry about our guys somewhat. Last time they were scared of ABH - it's a different type of scared being worried about some away swing.

Anyhow, the weather has changed which means that someone must be better going up the order - I'll move down a few places.

Jimbo - get yer pads on mate - yer opening.

It's good to be the skipper...

[jimbo]

Yesterday versus England Saxons:

Mitchell Johnson (20.0 overs, 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets)

Brett Lee (20.0 overs, 5 maidens, 53 runs, 5 wickets)

Best bowler in the world my eye.

I'll take strike against Johnson if I may...

You take Lee for the first couple of overs while we get our eye in.

It's good to be the skipper.

Gee thanks, capt.

I hear Johnson likes to rough em up though...

No more than you'd want from an opening bowler - which is why I worry about our guys somewhat. Last time they were scared of ABH - it's a different type of scared being worried about some away swing.

Anyhow, the weather has changed which means that someone must be better going up the order - I'll move down a few places.

Jimbo - get yer pads on mate - yer opening.

It's good to be the skipper...

Harmy managed to rough up the Aussies on Wednesday. On that basis should he be in?

And Worthy, I'll see you at lunch. Piece of piss this opening lark.

[Worthy4England]

Yesterday versus England Saxons:

Mitchell Johnson (20.0 overs, 1 maiden, 101 runs, 0 wickets)

Brett Lee (20.0 overs, 5 maidens, 53 runs, 5 wickets)

Best bowler in the world my eye.

I'll take strike against Johnson if I may...

You take Lee for the first couple of overs while we get our eye in.

It's good to be the skipper.

Gee thanks, capt.

I hear Johnson likes to rough em up though...

No more than you'd want from an opening bowler - which is why I worry about our guys somewhat. Last time they were scared of ABH - it's a different type of scared being worried about some away swing.

Anyhow, the weather has changed which means that someone must be better going up the order - I'll move down a few places.

Jimbo - get yer pads on mate - yer opening.

It's good to be the skipper...

Harmy managed to rough up the Aussies on Wednesday. On that basis should he be in?

And Worthy, I'll see you at lunch. Piece of piss this opening lark.

I don't think anyone would even ask the question of Harmy being in if his head's in the right place. He has something that no other bowler we have, has got. I still feel that our best chance of winning is if Flintoff and Harmo are firing 90%+ than the others firing 100%...

Wouldn't know really about the opening lark - they only ever let me get as high as 6 unless it was a rain affected run chase....

[jimbo]

Harmison has just bounced out Phil Hughes again. Brilliant.

[Worthy4England]

Harmison has just bounced out Phil Hughes again. Brilliant.

I get the feeling I should be watching....

[jimbo]

Harmison has just bounced out Phil Hughes again. Brilliant.

I get the feeling I should be watching....

He's really struggled with the short ball under the arm pit and has been out fending off to gully twice. Margins for error are tight though with the cut being his strength. This has got to put Harmy in the driving seat for the first test.

[Verbal]

Ponting out too. By Harmy.

Overall he's bowled 33 overs, 5 maidens, picking up 6 wickets off of 129 runs. averaging in the twenties? yes plz.

[thebish]

Ponting out too. By Harmy.

Overall he's bowled 33 overs, 5 maidens, picking up 6 wickets off of 129 runs. averaging in the twenties? yes plz.

if that's the harmy currently inhabiting that lanky frame - then yes please!!

[Worthy4England]

Looks like the selectors weren't watching then - No Harmy in the squad...

[jimbo]

Looks like the selectors weren't watching then - No Harmy in the squad...

Bit of a joke that. Can someone please explain to me what the Lions game was for then? Ian Bell got a first baller and 20 and a call-up, whereas Harmy takes wickets and roughs them up. Looks to me like they made a decision to never go back to Harmison a while ago, and they're sticking by it.

[Tombwfc]

He'll be back the first time we lose a test, where he'll excel and then do nothing else until he's dropped again. At that point, the whole cycle starts over again.

He'd be in if it were up to me though, Onions will never make a test bowler in a million years.

[Worthy4England]

Looks like the selectors weren't watching then - No Harmy in the squad...

Bit of a joke that. Can someone please explain to me what the Lions game was for then? Ian Bell got a first baller and 20 and a call-up, whereas Harmy takes wickets and roughs them up. Looks to me like they made a decision to never go back to Harmison a while ago, and they're sticking by it.

Doesn't seem to make huge sense - Brocket has said he wants to go in with 5 bowlers, two of which this time around may well be spinners. I am worried that leaves us with 3 "more of the same" type bowlers. If one of them is Freddie, then that concerns me - anything happens to Freddie and we're probably down to Broad and Anderson, both of whom have question marks from me at the top level.

[thebish]

Looks like the selectors weren't watching then - No Harmy in the squad...

Bit of a joke that. Can someone please explain to me what the Lions game was for then? Ian Bell got a first baller and 20 and a call-up, whereas Harmy takes wickets and roughs them up. Looks to me like they made a decision to never go back to Harmison a while ago, and they're sticking by it.

Doesn't seem to make huge sense - Brocket has said he wants to go in with 5 bowlers, two of which this time around may well be spinners. I am worried that leaves us with 3 "more of the same" type bowlers. If one of them is Freddie, then that concerns me - anything happens to Freddie and we're probably down to Broad and Anderson, both of whom have question marks from me at the top level.[/quote


I suspect Lords will bounce and he'll be in contention....