I agree with your comment “too much is read into a player’s quality hingeing on performing against one opponent”

It’s the difference of the Waugh(s), Border & co who had success against most opponents as opposed to a one opponent player, but then we’re talking about chalk and cheese, Legends and the rest who have been lucky enough to get a cap

I think Australia will win the Ashes but many of its players are unproven against top opposition, several only proven against one opponent.

Speaking of which, can anyone really argue that Brett Lee should be picked ahead of Clark, Johnson, Siddle or Hilfenhaus?

That judgement is made in the same way as Australian batsman were judged in the 80’s against the West Indies. I think that’s fair?

Fact remains that since ’95 we’ve been No1 and in Ashes since ’89. (’06/’07 confirmed 2005 was a dip on the chart and that they just got away with it) So the likes of English bats and maybe even South African bats are going to get judged by their performances against us.

Atherton is judged by his 1 test century against Australia as is Graeme Smith who only has one…. So far….

Basically only Ponting and Clarke have decent form against England.

Therefore, if one is to question, say, Bopara, Swann or Broad’s ability to produce against Australia, it should similarly be noted that the likes of Cook, Strauss, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff and, even Panesar and Harmison have done well in previous Ashes encounters.

I disagree with your assertion that you think Prior isn’t a test 6, because I think he can be. However, I don’t think Broad is a test 7 quite yet. Swann is a very good bowler, who turns it a decent amount and he will cause the Australian left-handers plenty of problems. Anderson is finally reaching his potential to be a world leading bowler. Obviously, we can only judge is he has reached this level against top opposition. He’s more consistant and he swings it both ways, which makes for a good combination. Broad is a frustrating bowler as he’s consistant with his line and length, but despite bowling at a decent pace, doesn’t seem to the most out of a pitch, like the top bowlers do.

Onions and Bresnan are unknown quantities, but they both get pace and bounce and both can swing the ball. I think Onions will develop into an excellent bowler, I’m not so sure about Bresnan.

I dont think you can take much from the English performance against the windies.

A sign of things to come, I think.

The long range weather forecast for the UK in the summer is hot, dry and sunny. How accurate these forecasts are I don’t know, but last year they predicted a wet and poor summer and they were correct.

I don’t think the series against the Windies is any indication of England’s present squad, the weather conditions conspired against the Windies and some of their squad gave the impression of not really wanting to play in May. However there are encouraging signs from an England perspective.

Broad (22) has now a number of tests under his belt and whilst his performances to date have been mixed he is becoming more settled and adding more variation to his bowling. His batting has also come on and he being seen more as a all rounder. Bopara (23) has shown an excellent temperament and looks as though he has tied down the 3 spot, but the Aussies will really test him. Swann (27) has spun the ball more than Panesar and together with his batting and fielding is stronger proposition than Panesar. It is anticipated that the first test in Swansea will be conducive to spin and both Swann and Panesar will play. Anderson (25) has become the first line of attack and has definitely improved. He can swing the ball both ways and is bowling faster than ever.

KP had a poor series against the Windies he seemed to be distracted. Flintoff continues to be injured and will not be part of 20/20 WC. Interestingly England have won more Tests when Flintoff has been injured. Perhaps they play better as a team when such a dominant personality is out. Strauss as a captain is showing good leadership skills, he is intelligent and seems to be a good man manager.

Finally Geoff have you been invited to join TMS? For the benefit of other Roarers TMS (Test Match Special) is the radio commentary which has become an English summer institution over the last fifty years.

Pathetic, Ponting’s judgement (off-the-field captaincy) truly is worse than his on-field leadership (if not his batting in the past 18 months).

Symonds has “worked his way back into domestic cricket pretty well”. Pah! You. Could. Not. Make. It. Up.

What sort of message does this matey attitude send to batsmen who actually make runs at Test, Shield or even district/grade level?

In particular I am concerned about the emergence of Bopara, who for a long time has been regarded as an exceptional talent (people might remember that on the 2005 Ashes tour, Bopara and Cook took Essex to 1- 400 in a tour match against Australia). Until now Bopara has flopped in test cricket, but with 3 successive centuries, his nerves must have calmed, and the exceptional talent is shining through. There is nothing more frustrating for a team in the field than someone who was thought to be an easy wicket making runs. Amla was a good example of this: although he didn’t convert any 50s into 100s, the point is that he made a lot of 50s against Australia, and the resulting partnerships were very damaging. So I now see Bopara in much the same light for this series.

I doubt the ability of Prior to be a test 6, and ditto Flintoff if he is fit (a great bowler, but not a great batsman).

I have to wonder whether the series against the WI has done England any favours in the bowling department. Because of their easy success against the WI, the English will now by dutybound to select Onions, Bresnan and Swann, But who honestly is quaking at the prospect of Australia facing such a bowling attack? I’ll believe they are potent only when I see it.

Similarly, Stuart Broad is a good all-round cricketer, but his test bowling record is very, very modest.

Finally, I suggested with Kersi’s article last week that Chris Rogers should be chosen. Since then he has missed out on a CA contract, which I take as a very strong sign that he will not be selected for the Ashes tour. “Fringe” batsmen who did get CA contracts are Hodge, Watson and Symonds. So I now expect one or more of these to be in the Ashes squad. Geoff may well be correct about Symonds. (Just to stress: this is me guessing at what the selectors will do, not me saying what I would do if I were a selector.)

If IPL form meant anything then Gilly, Haydo’s & Warnie would be in the 20/20 side for the world cup, Slapping around a bunch of hack Indian bowlers doesn’t warrant International selection

It’s for that reason alone I think the idea of taking a young batsman such as Callum Ferguson or Shaun Marsh and letting them gain experience in an Australian Test squad is so much more beneficial. If they think Rogers might be needed, then tell him to get over the England and keep making runs (if he’s not already), and bring him into the squad as required.

If there isn’t a lot of tour games to be played, you could get away with an Ashes squad of 14 or 15, but have “replacements” stationed around the English counties.