Ashes 2013/14

[TonyD]

Just glad it happened over there rather than over here.

[Chris Jameson]

Whilst people are congratulating themselves on getting something right. A long time ago I suggested England getting some Aussie bloke in as a coach, chap called Lehmann, no idea what became of him. I used to love watching him play for Yorkshire and he would always be encouraging the younger players, always hoped he would return to the county some day, shame he didn't pursue a career in coaching.

[PaulWinch again]

Whilst people are congratulating themselves on getting something right. A long time ago I suggested England getting some Aussie bloke in as a coach, chap called Lehmann, no idea what became of him. I used to love watching him play for Yorkshire and he would always be encouraging the younger players, always hoped he would return to the county some day, shame he didn't pursue a career in coaching.

He's done a fantastic job so far, and I think we need more aggression and to be a lot more proactive.

[PaulWinch again]

Come the start of India's tour over here I think our side should look something like -

Carberry
Root
Cook
Bell
Ballance
Stokes
Buttler
Broad
Anderson/Onions
Finn
Panesar

There are lots of young players coming through, but I don't think we want to rush them through so come the next Ashes the likes of Lees, Robson, Mills, Overton might well be involved. I'm not shutting the door on KP and Prior but they need to show they want it.

[Villan For Life]

Seems a reasonable side and with Broad at 8 it has a reasonable depth of batting.

I'm unconvinced by Finn and Monty worries me. Of all of the players who are nearing the end of their careers, we'll miss Swann the most.

[PaulWinch again]

Seems a reasonable side and with Broad at 8 it has a reasonable depth of batting.

I'm unconvinced by Finn and Monty worries me. Of all of the players who are nearing the end of their careers, we'll miss Swann the most.

Finn needs to be back by the squad as a whole and he'll become a great bowler, he needs to be told 'you're the strike bowler, if you take wickets but go at 4 an over that's ok'. Monty is decent, but I'm hoping Borthwick's spin comes on and then you've got a player who can bat and bowl spin.

[Villan For Life]

Seems a reasonable side and with Broad at 8 it has a reasonable depth of batting.

I'm unconvinced by Finn and Monty worries me. Of all of the players who are nearing the end of their careers, we'll miss Swann the most.

Finn needs to be back by the squad as a whole and he'll become a great bowler, he needs to be told 'you're the strike bowler, if you take wickets but go at 4 an over that's ok'. Monty is decent, but I'm hoping Borthwick's spin comes on and then you've got a player who can bat and bowl spin.

Finn has age on his side but needs to work on his game overall. Sides will try and blast him out of the attack and he can/does go to pieces.

There's a young quicky at Essex whose name escapes me who is supposed to be a bit tasty. Time for a bit of fast tracking I think.

[Dave Cooper please]

There's a young quicky at Essex whose name escapes me who is supposed to be a bit tasty. Time for a bit of fast tracking I think.

Tymal Mills?

[Villan For Life]

There's a young quicky at Essex whose name escapes me who is supposed to be a bit tasty. Time for a bit of fast tracking I think.

Tymal Mills?

Yes that's him. Reported to be the quickest bowler on the county circuit. Left arm who bowls at over 90mph would be a handful.

[eastie]

Interesting to see bob willis team for Melbourne-

Cook
Root
Bell
Pieterson
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Broad
Finn
Anderson
Panesar

 I thought it was a bit harsh to leave carberry out but as bob pointed out its time to look to the future and carberry is approaching his mid 30s now.

I doubt broad will be fit for Melbourne either .

[PaulWinch again]

Mills looks a prospect but he needs to start getting game time for Essex before he plays for England. Jamie Overton looks really good as well. As regards Finn I think England use him wrong, they try and make him another Bresnan like a holding bowler with more pace. Stokes allows us to bowl Finn in the correct way, very much like Australia use Johnson. You bowl him in 4 over spells and say 'come in and bowl fast and hostile' he'll take wickets and if he gets hit too much you can take him off. Finn isn't a bowler you want bowling long, draining spells.

[PaulWinch again]

Interesting to see bob willis team for Melbourne-

Cook
Root
Bell
Pieterson
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Broad
Finn
Anderson
Panesar

 I thought it was a bit harsh to leave carberry out but as bob pointed out its time to look to the future and carberry is approaching his mid 30s now.

I doubt broad will be fit for Melbourne either .

I don't think you need to look too far to the future, Carberry shouldn't be dropped as it sends completely the wrong message. He's done ok and he's still got at least a couple of years in him if he performs.

[paul_e]

I agree pwa, Finn can be very important for us but he needs to 1 of 5 not 1 of 4, Englands biggest issue for a long time is that we've not had a genuine all rounder for a while, given his start Stokes deserves the opportunity to fill that gap.

I also think that Prior needs to drop out, he's been poor for at least a year now, it's just a shame that Bairstow is the only option in the squad to replace him, I'd be looking at Buttler first as he's an excellent keeper and he gives us an aggressive option with the bat (as well as having better technique than he gets credit for).

I'd keep Carberry in because I think Root will benefit more from a run at 3 than as an opener.  Carberry will retire in a year or 2 which will be a great time to promote Root.

[Monty]

I agree with the Pauls. It is just great to have a real all-round option again. He may of course fail in the long run, but he looks the real thing.

[tomd2103]

I agree pwa, Finn can be very important for us but he needs to 1 of 5 not 1 of 4, Englands biggest issue for a long time is that we've not had a genuine all rounder for a while, given his start Stokes deserves the opportunity to fill that gap.

I also think that Prior needs to drop out, he's been poor for at least a year now, it's just a shame that Bairstow is the only option in the squad to replace him, I'd be looking at Buttler first as he's an excellent keeper and he gives us an aggressive option with the bat (as well as having better technique than he gets credit for).

I'd keep Carberry in because I think Root will benefit more from a run at 3 than as an opener.  Carberry will retire in a year or 2 which will be a great time to promote Root.

Disagree.  Get Root in at opener after this series and let him get experience batting there.