Ashes 2013/14

[OzVilla]

One of the most enjoyable threads ever on H&V was the Ashes thread for 2010/11 and i've just read that the England boys leave for Oz on Wednesday this week before their first game against Western Australia starting on 31st Oct.

Is anybody planning any trips Down Under for this?  There are still plenty of tickets available I believe - certainly for the Gabba.

[robbo1874]

I've got tickets for Fri, Sat & Sun at the Gabba.

Also going to Adelaide and Sydney.

If they can avoid defeat at the Gabba, England have a very good chance of retaining it.
Loose the first one and it's difficult to get back into it against Aus in Aus.

[Simon Ward]

 :'(Wish I was going!

[Ads]

Ballance has to start at six instead of Bairstow.

[OzVilla]

Got tickets for the first 4 days at The Gabba.  Going with mates who are a Boggie and a Nose, along with a Palace friend too.

That number 6 spot will be decided in the tour games.  Having not seen Balance i've no idea about him.

Any news on Pietersen joining the squad?

[Dave Cooper please]

Pietersen flying out tomorrow apparently,
Not sure on Ballance yet, hopefully he will get his chance in the warmup games.

[taylorsworkrate]

Ballance was the rock on which Yorkshires title challenge was built.

He averages over 50 in both first class and list a cricket, over a decent no of matches.

From what I've seen of him, i've always thought he is a better prospect than Root and Taylor.

[paul_e]

Ballance was the rock on which Yorkshires title challenge was built.

He averages over 50 in both first class and list a cricket, over a decent no of matches.

From what I've seen of him, i've always thought he is a better prospect than Root and Taylor.

It's a big step up, Bell is the example to look at, exceptional at club level for a long time but internationally he was inconsistent for a long time, it's only the last 12-18months where he's really showing the form he did for Warwickshire on a regular basis.  Middle order batsmen in particular need time to show they can contribute regularly so, if he plays Ballance needs to be judged on his technique and temperament rather than his scores.  Bairstow had a poor ashes but his record is no worse than a number of others, the issue was that he never looked right at the crease and was waiting to get out rather than expecting a big score.

[Ads]

Bairstow's technique is suspect for me and I don't think he will ever be up to it at Test Match level.

[TheTimVilla]

If we're not 100% on a batsman at six then I would ease the burden on the quicks and go with prior at six and, say, Stokes at seven. Then you're looking at Stokes, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Rankin. That still gives batting down to nine and a greater chance of breakthroughs in what should be higher scoring matches.

[cdbearsfan]

I doubt they'll go with an extra bowler. England tend to choose the conservative option and, in any case, Cook has been banging on about the need to score 400+.

[TheTimVilla]

You're right, but we have tried and failed to find a number six for so long now - since Colly retired and Bell moved to five - that having a bowler who can bat at seven would surely help. For instance, if Bairstow fails at six, what else can he do? Be reserve wicketkeeper.

[Villan For Life]

Bairstow is only in the  squad as reserve keeper so I can only see him playing if Prior gets injured.

I hope Balance makes it. Messrs Boycott and Vaughan have raved about him for a while as they did for Root so let's hope we see the same again.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Stokes long term could give us a better balance as a side.

[paul_e]

I think Stokes long term could give us a better balance as a side.

Prior up to 6 and Bres at 7 has been my thinking for about the last year, then Stokes can be eased in to 7 long term.  We should give Ballance a good look though.