Ashes 2010/11

[Warren Aspinall]

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.

I would go the opposite way. I would tell Cook he's in for the series. If he fails this time i'd drop him next summer, this way his replacement would have a chance. England have to often chopped & changed & panicked in Australia, this time let's take a deep breath & go with what we've got, review performances at the end & make changes accordingly.

[Mr Diggles]

Playing nicely in the game v SA then. Strauss is filling his boots, hitting 3 sixes already for his 50, Cook is still there playing a bit more fluently than of late. It was also good to see the bowlers do well, and all of them picking up wickets (albeit under cloudy skies). I'm getting very excited now - I may even order some HD on my skys ports channel.

[Mazrim]

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.

I would go the opposite way. I would tell Cook he's in for the series. If he fails this time i'd drop him next summer, this way his replacement would have a chance. England have to often chopped & changed & panicked in Australia, this time let's take a deep breath & go with what we've got, review performances at the end & make changes accordingly.

A sound philosophy.

[Yeltzer]

From the Beeb:

Tourism officials are predicting a sharp fall in the number of British cricket fans heading to Australia for this winter's Ashes series.

Numbers are expected to be down by almost half compared to 2006, with fewer than 20,000 supporters now likely to make the long journey from the United Kingdom to watch the battle for the legendary urn.

Cricketing authorities are blaming the runaway Australian dollar and economic uncertainty.

"Unfortunately we're not expecting as many UK visitors this time," says Peter Young from Cricket Australia.

"The huge tidal wave of UK visitors including the Barmy Army that we had four years ago is not going to be repeated.

"The twin impact of the financial crisis and the exchange rate has meant that the pound buys so much less than it did four years ago."

The Ashes will be the biggest sporting event in Australia this year and strong ticket sales have been reported for the first three days at all five test venues, including the much-anticipated blockbuster in Brisbane that starts on 25 November.

So, the grounds will be far from empty but those stay-away England fans will be missed.

The 2006/07 Ashes series and the one-day internationals that followed pumped $320m into the domestic economy, more than both the Formula One Grand Prix and Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne.

On average travelling England fans spent more than $10,000 during their stay, a sizeable chunk doubtless frittered away drowning sorrows during a forgettable tour that saw the tourists thumped 5-0 in the test series.

For Tourism Australia, a government marketing agency, the absence of thousands of big-spending England fans is a disappointment but not a disaster.

"Ashes cricket is always a great time," says said Andrew McEvoy, Tourism Australia's managing director.

"Once every four years we get to host it here, and last time about 30,000 Brits came and watched it all the way through or [in] parts.

"It hasn't sold quite as well this time but we could expect that upwards of 15,000 - 20,000 people will come.

"It is a great time and like a British and Irish Lions rugby tour, the Ashes tour is good news for tourism in Australia."

In early December, the fever will reach Adelaide, the city of churches in sedate South Australia, which is also anticipating healthy financial returns despite muted interest from supporters in the UK.

"Business SA welcomes the economic benefit the Ashes brings to South Australian businesses and the local economy in general," says Business South Australia acting chief executive Brett Mahoney in a statement.

"The flow on effect from both international and interstate tourists can be seen across a range of industries like hospitality, travel and retail."

There will, of course, be enthusiastic swathes of white punctuating every test match in Australia this northern winter, where Andrew Strauss' team will have the near-hysterical support of legions of UK backpackers and expatriates.

But those gaps left by the travelling faithful do highlight broader problems within Australian tourism
 
Analyst Tony Charters told the BBC that a combination of competition from other countries, complacency, exchange rates, and declining investment had dealt the industry several painful blows in the past decade.

"The tourism industry right through the early 2000s became a bit punch-drunk from the impacts of SARS and avian flu, obviously September 11, and the Bali bombings," he says.

"At that point we thought 'things can't get any worse' but the reality is what the industry is dealing with now is actually worse.

"I wouldn't say crisis but it certainly is extraordinarily challenging for particularly the leisure component of the industry."

[hilts_coolerking]

Excellent stuff from England in their second innings.  240 for 1 so far, with both Strauss and Cook getting tons.

[cheltenhamlion]

A draw it is then but nice to see Cook in the runs.

We are starting to shape up quite nicely and at least we are actually getting some cricket into us before the big boys stuff starts this time.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'm worried because everything is going far too well for England.

[KevinGage]

Aye.

It's like pre season when you piss it and then have a 'mare of a campaign.

The second string bowlers in Tassie should be enough to hopefully bring about a morale boosting defeat!

[Simon Ward]

"love to see Aussies prepare for next Ashes series by playing England A in Stornoway. Come on ECB."

Direct quote from Simon Mann on twitter.

[Warren Aspinall]

"love to see Aussies prepare for next Ashes series by playing England A in Stornoway. Come on ECB."

Direct quote from Simon Mann on twitter.

They played England A last year

[VillaZogmariner]

Anyone been watching Swanny's Ashes Video Diary on Youtube? Much fun!

[Warren Aspinall]

Anyone been watching Swanny's Ashes Video Diary on Youtube? Much fun!

Funny stuff.

[Warren Aspinall]

Episode 2

[hilts_coolerking]

In the final warm up game, Australia A are 65 for 4 off 22 overs.

England's back-up bowlers are playing so it's a good effort so far.  Two wickets for Bresnan and one each for Shahzad and Tremlett.  All the fringe Aussie batsmen (Hughes, Khawaja and Ferguson) went cheaply.  Be interesting to see how Cameron White gets on.  He's on the fringe of their squad too, and being talked up in some quarters as an alternative to Michael Clarke when Ponting finally calls it quits.

ETA - And a catch for Monty!  It's just going too well.

ETA - 68 for 5.  Cameron White didn't even get started.  Bowled by Tremlett for 5.

[Warren Aspinall]

Aus A 230-all out

Eng 22-1 Strauss gone for 10, playing at a wide one.

Close