Ashes 2010/11

[PaulWinch again]

Fantastic, I said before the series we were the much better side and they've backed it up. Now for the World Cup.

[KevinGage]

Superb.

The management and backroom staff have been ultra professional.

The England bowling coach (an Aussie) has been rewarded with a 3 year contract and rightly so.

Only mild concern I'd have with that is that for Aussie conditions there were probably few better placed candidates than Saker to help the squad.

But he was only ever a very good cricketer at state level in Australia, I'm not sure how useful his knowledge will be in the sub continent and so on. He's played his part and I'd rather see him here than helping the Aussies plan for 2013. Would have been shades of Troy Cooley post 2005.

But a big part of the improvement in the bowling these past few years has probably been down to the likes of Ottis Gibson, Allan Donald and David Saker being introduced at various times. Perhaps more beneficial to England now would be someone with a decent insight into how specific Sub Continent wickets play, Waqar Younis or similar. Open the knowledge base up further and expand the skill sets.  You can take different things from different coaches, but the stuff you learn from any of them along the way you keep. You don't automatically lose it by hiring a different bloke.

[olaftab]

Another one bites the dust!

Ashes to England Dust to Aussies.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Superb.

The management and backroom staff have been ultra professional.

The England bowling coach (an Aussie) has been rewarded with a 3 year contract and rightly so.

Only mild concern I'd have with that is that for Aussie conditions there were probably few better placed candidates than Saker to help the squad.

But he was only ever a very good cricketer at state level in Australia, I'm not sure how useful his knowledge will be in the sub continent and so on. He's played his part and I'd rather see him here than helping the Aussies plan for 2013. Would have been shades of Troy Cooley post 2005.

But a big part of the improvement in the bowling these past few years has probably been down to the likes of Ottis Gibson, Allan Donald and David Saker being introduced at various times. Perhaps more beneficial to England now would be someone with a decent insight into how specific Sub Continent wickets play, Waqar Younis or similar. Open the knowledge base up further and expand the skill sets.  You can take different things from different coaches, but the stuff you learn from any of them along the way you keep. You don't automatically lose it by hiring a different bloke.

On a side note, If Bresnan becomes a regular, we could afford 5 bowlers, mainly thanks to Bell and Prior's form with the bat.

So

5. Bell
6. Prior
7. Bresnan
8. Broad
9. Swann
10. Tremlett
11. Anderson

Pretty good all the way down to 9 and Tremlett can bat a bit too.
Remember, there will be no relief fifth bowler now Collingwood has gone.

[TheTimVilla]

Loved Beefy's comment last night along the lines of only playing a three test series against Oz until they can put up a better fight!

[Dave Cooper please]

Loved Beefy's comment last night along the lines of only playing a three test series against Oz until they can put up a better fight!

We'd have drawn.

[taylorsworkrate]

A quite brilliant series overall from England.

We could sit here until we are blue in the face talking about Australias problems.  But that would be wholly unfair.

England have won 3 test matches by unbelievable margins.  The discipline of the batsmen, the control and skill of the bowlers have all been World Class.  Any side would have struggled to cope with the cricket we have played in this series.

You look at this Aussie side.  It cannot be that bad:

Ponting, Clarke, Hussey - All top class batsmen.  Add Watson who has a good record
Haddin - quality wicket keeper batsmen
Johnson - 170 wickets from 40 matches.  Cannot be a bad bowler.  Siddle and Hilfenhaus both had reasonable records prior to this series also.

The batsmen have failed due to excellent bowling.  The ability to swing and seam the ball in flat conditions.  The ability to build pressure by bowling with unerring accuracy, backed up by outstanding fielding.

Australia's bowlers have looked bad due to our Batsmen.  The ability to leave the ball, to frustrate and force bad delieverys.  The concentration required to play long innings and the skill in placing the ball into gaps.

Englands work ethic and leadership from Strauss and Flower, both impressive men who command respect.


It is a very English thing, that when we do well we look at the oppositions failings rather than how well we have played.

I really hope that our achievements this series are not diminished in any way by the press or the public.

[OzVilla]

Superb.

The management and backroom staff have been ultra professional.

The England bowling coach (an Aussie) has been rewarded with a 3 year contract and rightly so.

Only mild concern I'd have with that is that for Aussie conditions there were probably few better placed candidates than Saker to help the squad.

But he was only ever a very good cricketer at state level in Australia, I'm not sure how useful his knowledge will be in the sub continent and so on. He's played his part and I'd rather see him here than helping the Aussies plan for 2013. Would have been shades of Troy Cooley post 2005.

But a big part of the improvement in the bowling these past few years has probably been down to the likes of Ottis Gibson, Allan Donald and David Saker being introduced at various times. Perhaps more beneficial to England now would be someone with a decent insight into how specific Sub Continent wickets play, Waqar Younis or similar. Open the knowledge base up further and expand the skill sets.  You can take different things from different coaches, but the stuff you learn from any of them along the way you keep. You don't automatically lose it by hiring a different bloke.

What about Mushtaq, isn't he part of the backroom staff.  I reckon he'd know all about bowling in the sub-continent.  Plus Saker is the coach that they trust - the last thing we need to do now is upset him or such a togerther unit.  They'l know what to do.

As for the Sydney Test, more domination in every level of the game, even down to running between the wickets, Infact I can't think of one aspect of the game where we've not been the absolute superiors of Australia.  It's gone so well, I fully expect to wake up any moment.

[VillaZogmariner]

Well that was a fun few weeks!

Someone was saying last night that if we beat Sri Lanka 3-0 in the Summer, then we'll be facing India with the winners becoming World Number 1.

[cdbearsfan]

Can't wait to see Bangladesh stuff the Aussies later this year they are shite they will go from greatness to awfulness like the Windies did.

[OzVilla]

Quite surprised to learn that Englands win makes the head to head in Ashes series now stands at Australia 31 - England 31 (that's outright series wins). 

Australia have won about 20 more Test matches though thanks to some recent stuffings we've received.

[TheTimVilla]

Loved Beefy's comment last night along the lines of only playing a three test series against Oz until they can put up a better fight!

We'd have drawn.

He meant in the future, ie only play 3 tests against the crap nations. The Ozzies said similar about us after they whitewashed us on the last tour.

[Dave Cooper please]

Well that was a fun few weeks!

Someone was saying last night that if we beat Sri Lanka 3-0 in the Summer, then we'll be facing India with the winners becoming World Number 1.

Can't see it unless South Africa lose somewhere along the line.

[Dave Cooper please]

Loved Beefy's comment last night along the lines of only playing a three test series against Oz until they can put up a better fight!

We'd have drawn.

He meant in the future, ie only play 3 tests against the crap nations. The Ozzies said similar about us after they whitewashed us on the last tour.

I know, I was being facetious.

[KevinGage]

Superb.

The management and backroom staff have been ultra professional.

The England bowling coach (an Aussie) has been rewarded with a 3 year contract and rightly so.

Only mild concern I'd have with that is that for Aussie conditions there were probably few better placed candidates than Saker to help the squad.

But he was only ever a very good cricketer at state level in Australia, I'm not sure how useful his knowledge will be in the sub continent and so on. He's played his part and I'd rather see him here than helping the Aussies plan for 2013. Would have been shades of Troy Cooley post 2005.

But a big part of the improvement in the bowling these past few years has probably been down to the likes of Ottis Gibson, Allan Donald and David Saker being introduced at various times. Perhaps more beneficial to England now would be someone with a decent insight into how specific Sub Continent wickets play, Waqar Younis or similar. Open the knowledge base up further and expand the skill sets.  You can take different things from different coaches, but the stuff you learn from any of them along the way you keep. You don't automatically lose it by hiring a different bloke.

What about Mushtaq, isn't he part of the backroom staff.  I reckon he'd know all about bowling in the sub-continent.  Plus Saker is the coach that they trust - the last thing we need to do now is upset him or such a togerther unit.  They'l know what to do.

As for the Sydney Test, more domination in every level of the game, even down to running between the wickets, Infact I can't think of one aspect of the game where we've not been the absolute superiors of Australia.  It's gone so well, I fully expect to wake up any moment.

He works with the slow bowlers, no?

I'm not advocating getting shot of Saker, or anything like that. The players seem to like him and respond to him. More a case of simply highlighting that the progress of recent years is probably down to the impact of a few coaches over different periods of time and one possible opening that still exists is a coach for the quicks who knows sub continent wickets inside out. Perhaps not right now, but in time.

Any attack that can call upon the likes of Anderson, Broad, Finn, Tremlett, Shazad, Bresnan and Onions when fit is in decent shape. That's seven top class quicks, most nations would be quite happy with three.

England should realistically be targeting the no.1 slot, and should avail of every opportunity for improvement to reach that goal.