The Cricket Thread 2017

[Gareth]

Would guess the likes of Leach, Buttler & Hameed will be on the Lions tour which I believe is also in Aus at the same time so might find they want a few playing cricket and there will be a bit of chopping and changing of the drinks carriers

[tomd2103]

Aggers saying it is the weakest squad he has seen, which I think is a bit OTT.  Vince and Ballance selections are being heavily criticised, but seeing as the most likely alternatives were Westley and Hales, it's not really that much of a controversial selection.  Wood will be a big miss on those pitches, but 8 of the 11 are still very strong (supposing Stokes makes it).  Michael Vaughan on the BBC saying Liam Dawson should have been selected as the second spinner which I just don't see to be honest.   

[PaulWinch again]

Vince may be decent on Aussie pitches. We really lack variety in the pace bowling and I think Ballance is a mistake.

[PaulWinch again]

Stokes is the really key one we need him there and playing.

[PaulWinch again]

Billings delivers again.

[OzVilla]

We lack genuine pace and with only 2 of the top 5 nailed down we lack batting too, that's the 2 attributes you need to win here.

Thank McGrath the Aussies aren't what they were.

[paul_e]

That's the thing for this Ashes, both teams seem to be in a bit of a mess right now and I honestly can't remember the last time that was the case, home advantage will probably make the difference but a couple of players on either side having a stand out tournament could be enough to swing it.

[TonyD]

The Sun have a video clip of the Stokes brawl.  He ain't going to Oz.

[Gareth]

I would say its very unlikely he'll be on that plane.

What I will say is we have to consider the moral toilet that publication resides in so hopefully the police will have the full video not just the edited highlights designed to shock.

No excuses for the blows thrown & he will have to face the consequences.

What the hell he was doing in a low end bar at that time on a Sunday night during a series smashed out of head is just mental & suggests someone who needs firm mgmt. 

[PaulWinch again]

That video is pretty damning and is an absolute disaster.

[Risso]

The Sun have a video clip of the Stokes brawl.  He ain't going to Oz.

Not unless they bring back deportation. The video is pretty bad, and whatever provocation there was, that last punch that completely floors the bloke will lead to a short spell inside I reckon. Bloody idiot.

[OzVilla]

I think we're fucked without Stokes.  The Aussies are loving it.

[PaulWinch again]

What on earth is any player doing outside a nightclub at 2.45 in the morning in the middle of a series anyway?

[OzVilla]

Exactly, utter stupidity to put yourself in that position in the first place.

You can imagine what goes on outside these places at 2.30am, the usual random no mark pissheads having a pop hoping for a reaction and guess what.........

Nothing good happens where sportsmen are involved outside nightclubs at that time in the morning.

[passitsideways]

That's the thing for this Ashes, both teams seem to be in a bit of a mess right now and I honestly can't remember the last time that was the case, home advantage will probably make the difference but a couple of players on either side having a stand out tournament could be enough to swing it.

This is probably going to bite me later, but I would actually say that we (i.e. Australia) are reasonably well-settled going in, recent terrible ODI form aside. There's a question or two as to who's the no. 6 and whether Wade really is the best keeper we can get, but those aren't really massive issues.

I think it'll basically come down to how good the English quicks are - hold Australia to enough sub-350 totals and we'll have a series on.