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English Ashes squad sets the series

26th September, 2010
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Roar Guru
26th September, 2010
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England AshesEngland has gone the New York way with the announcement of their Ashes squad. The selection of Chris Tremlett suggests England hope that height will extract bounce from the ‘Gabba pitch come November. Steve Finn, all 6’ 7” of him, is the incumbent and first choice with Tremlett the cover.

Are Steve Finn and Tremlett England’s answer to Garner and Ambrose?

There are no surprises which to me suggest that England is going to be conservative. Panesar will not strike fear in Australian hearts, Rashid would have sent a more attacking message.

England will not win with being timid. They have to take the fight to Australia.

Monty Panesar returns to the England squad and may well partner Swann in Sydney. England will go into the first Test with the same team that played the last Test against Pakistan. The only change may be Bell for Morgan.

England have made 17 visits to Australia and only won on three occasions. In 1954 they were inspired by “Typhoon “Tyson. In 1971 it was the smouldering poet, John Snow, and in 1987 it was the portly but combative Mike Gatting.

Hutton, Illingworth and Gatting were all strong men and did not take a backward step. Strauss will need to put on the boxing gloves and do what he did last year. Set attacking fields and bat positively.

Tyson took 28 wickets in the five Tests in ’54-’55 including ten in Sydney and nine in Melbourne. He ended with 77 wickets in 17 tests at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 45. Richie Benaud rated him the fastest he had seen. Tyson’s support cast included Statham and Bailey who both were masters of swing and seam.

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As they say speed kills.

In 1970-71 Snow almost killed Terry Jenner with a vicious bouncer. Right though the series Snow was intimidating and had the measure of the two Chappells and also Stackpole, Redpath and Walters. His backup was a young Bob Willis who was to terrorise Australia many years later at Headingley.

Mike Gatting did not have the bowling firepower but the batting was strong with Broad, Gower, Lamb and Gatting himself. The bowling had “no neck” Gladstone Small and Botham with canny spin from Emburey and Edmonds.

This 2010 version is a totally different lion. It rules the Twenty20 jungle. It bested the current holders of the 50 overs World Cup. Most importantly, the pride of place in this lion’s den belongs to the Ashes.

Australia will start the series as the hunter. The main target will be Andrew Strauss. Australians have always targeted the opposing captain.

Strauss has had a mediocre Test year in 2010. His last century was in July 2009 against Australia. He has gone 23 innings without a century and struggled in South Africa passing 50 only once. In 10 innings in Australia he has a top score of 50. His opening partner Cook is yet to score a hundred against Australia.

Trott has played one test against Australia and has one century. He is now batting in the pivotal no 3 spot and will be vulnerable if the openers go early. But with an average over 50 he remains England’s best performer.

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No other England batsman averages 50.

Pietersen at 4 is an enigma. He has not yet come to terms with losing the captaincy, regardless of his public twitterings. Twitter, incidentally, is banned for the England players. Time for Phil Hughes to get on the blower.

KP has not had a good 2010. No hundreds, an injury, and being dropped for the first time in his career. His confidence is down and Australia will smell the blood.

Collingwood would appear the batsman most likely to succeed and Bell will be expected to deliver. The pressure will be intense on Bell as he struggles against Australia averaging 25 in 13 matches. Against India he averages 24, again highlighting his failures against strong opposition.

Australia on the other hand has Ponting, Clarke and Hussey all averaging over 50. Katich is close to 47 and Watson against England averages 48. But all this is in the past and Ponting and Hussey have to prove they still have it.

But in the end it is bowlers that win matches and Australia’s pace trio of Hilfenhaus, Johnson and Siddle/Bollinger have better averages and strike rates than their England counterparts. There is only a struck match between the pacers of both sides.

It is in the spin department that England possesses the edge and in Graeme Swann they have a match winner. He is averaging 26 for his 102 wickets and is without question the preeminent spinner in Test cricket.

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Ponting, Clarke and Hussey must attack Swann.

They have to use their feet and not let him settle. England on the other hand will target Hauritz and how he stands up will go a long way in determining the stronger side.

There is no clear cut favourite. There are questions waiting to be asked of every player. Every session will be an examination of technique and temperament. Every day will be a new set of challenges.

There is no more engrossing rivalry than England versus Australia. We know the England side that will walk on to the ‘Gabba on the 25th of November. Bell to be the only change for Morgan from the side that played against Pakistan in the last test.

If one was setting odds based on form and the first test was next week then England are the clear favourites.

Australia will not show their hand till the week before the test. They will be battle hardened after India and a few Shield games. The two Tests in India in October will give us some of the answers.

If Australia wins the series, or even draw, in India then they will steamroll England.

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If on the other hand Australia flounders in this passage to India they will be the raging underdogs against England. It is too early to pick the Ashes winner. We have to wait till Greg Chappell announces the squad for Brisbane.

England’s Ashes squad 2010 / 2011: Andrew Strauss (Capt.), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Steve Davies, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar

England’s Performance squad: Jimmy Adams, Jonny Bairstow, Danny Briggs, Michael Carberry, Maurice Chambers, Jade Dernbach, Andrew Gale, James Hildreth, Craig Kieswetter, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett, Ajmal Shahzad, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes

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