Ashes 2010/11

[VillaZogmariner]

I'll give you a wave!

[PaulWinch again]

Encouraging that KP got a half century.

[Villan For Life]

Good to see that we've started the tour with a six wicket win against Western Australia. Strauss scored 120.

Cook needs to stand up and be counted after two single figure scores in two innings, otherwise a winning start to an Ashes tour is always positive.

[Dave Cooper please]

Swann and Broad amongst the wickets (looks like Anderson needs another game or two but he'll be fine).
Pietersen follwed his fifty with 35 off 22 balls, so that's encouraging.

On the downside, the Aussies have actually won a game, albeit a dead rubber against Sri Lanka.

[PaulWinch again]

Good stuff, but Cook does need to get some runs.

[TheTimVilla]

Swann and Broad amongst the wickets (looks like Anderson needs another game or two but he'll be fine).
Pietersen follwed his fifty with 35 off 22 balls, so that's encouraging.

On the downside, the Aussies have actually won a game, albeit a dead rubber against Sri Lanka.

And Oz were seriously battered in the first two ODIs.

[Mazrim]

Finn bowled a magnificent spell by all acounts. Good good.
I had concerns about how effective Jimmy will be in Aussie conditions and I'm affarid I still have them.

I'd be tempted to let him sit the next one out and see how Tremlett gets on. Jimmy is a bit of a campaigner now and doesn't need the practice. Then I'd let Broad, Colly and Swann sit the last one out and bring Jimmy back in with Panesar and Morgan.

I dont think for one moment Cook will be dropped but if he stuggles for form what's the contigency?
Trott to open and Morgan coming into the middle order?

[cheltenhamlion]

That would be my view on how we would set up the batting should Cook fail Maz.

[peter w]

I wouldn't go with Trott at the top or Morgan in the team just yet. Everything will be about the 1st test and if Trott fails, and we get quickly down to the middle-order I wouldn't want Morgan there as he hasn't shown anything that suggests he is a test batsman yet. I think it shows, though, that by sticking with Cook as the best option shows our dearth of batting talent.

[Rotterdam]

i have it on good authority that the England set up are 'quitely confident'.
I'm going £20 on 2-1 England and £20 on 1-1.

[Dave Cooper please]

England unchanged for the 2nd tour match against South Australia.

Looks like that's the Test team then.

[Mazrim]

Oh yes, you'd think so. They have to give the other players a run out at some point though surely? So I'd expect a couple of changes for the third warm up match.

And I would never suggest they'd drop Cook before the first Test. Maybe not even for the second or third but at some point, if his form didn't pick up (and I'm sure it will) what was the contingency etc...

The first XI is pretty much set in stone right now.

[peter w]

The batting does worry me as the cupboard is bare. I would venture that Cook and Collingwood are there by default, and for all his good work over the past couple of summers trott is only a poor run from being dropped as i am unsure whther he is good enough to play against the top bowling attacks. poor last winter - after a promising start - and this winter will make or break not only his international career and its longevity, but will make or break ENgland's current batting ability.

[spangley1812]

Andy Flower has said that the 1st choice bowling attack will not play v Australia A, they are expecting the pitch to be flat and conditions hot, the Test bowlers will be sent onto Brisbane to get used to conditions there. Looks like Tremlett, Monty and Bresnan will play in the last warm up game. Bad news that Carberry cant join the performance squad also

[Villan For Life]

The batting does worry me as the cupboard is bare. I would venture that Cook and Collingwood are there by default, and for all his good work over the past couple of summers trott is only a poor run from being dropped as i am unsure whther he is good enough to play against the top bowling attacks. poor last winter - after a promising start - and this winter will make or break not only his international career and its longevity, but will make or break ENgland's current batting ability.

Any player is only a poor run away from being dropped.

I think that Trott has the mental strength and technique to deal with the Aussies. It's Cook that concerns me. He's been woefully out of touch for some time now. If they dispense with him then Trott moves up to open and Morgan slots in. I think that Morgan has the sort of unorthodox technique that could prove useful.