Ashes worries: weather and form may rock Aussies

A little bit of homework would help. The Met in the UK is predicting the hottest and more importantly driest summer in decades this year, conditions I'd suggest that would start to favour Aussie bats. What I find amazing at the moment is no one is talking about the Hussey issue, he is sadly out of form and has been for a good period of time, although a good batsman, it is time for him to have a rest. When names like Hodge and Rogers as seasoned campaigners are around and up and comers like Marsh and Ferguson, I think they represent a better option.

FP, 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

In actual fact, Hussey also has done versus England. Perhaps. that oversight came because it seems so long since he made a contribution that I forgot he could bat!

Southern Waratah, I agree that's what it stems from but what I'm suggesting is that too much is read into a player's quality hingeing on performing against one opponent. Care not, do Australian supporters that Broad has played against India (which, in my opinion - along with SA - has a stronger side than Australia at present). I think Australia will win the Ashes but many of its players are unproven against top opposition, several only proven against one opponent.

Beg your pardon - Clark also has previous v England. Speaking of which, can anyone really argue that Brett Lee should be picked ahead of Clark, Johnson, Siddle or Hilfenhaus?

Fisher Price adding to that.... 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….

Australians never rate English cricketers unless they produce in Ashes encounters. Rightly or wrongly, this is a fact. Worth noting is that Australia will be taking along plenty of cricketers who fall into this category: Katich, Hughes, Hussey, McDonald, Haddin, North, Watson, Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Hauritz, Manou and Lee for starters. 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 think people are overrating this England side. I'm not sure if Bopara can reproduce that 'form' against the Aussies, as although he is fine stroke player, he still has technical deficiencies. However, he is a battler and that's crucial. Ian Bell is the most naturally gifted batter in England (and arguably the world), but too often loses concentration. 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.

Yes there is a distinct possiblity of a real shellacking. All round poor form might just seal our fate. I dont think you can take much from the English performance against the windies.

Having watched all the test matches in the SA/Australia series I cannot help to think that this coming series will find it difficult to deliver on what the fans expect. Firstly England is a mere shadow of what it was in 2005 with few if any "best in the world" players. KP is probably in that leauge but they do not posess the allround skills of the Australians. The Aussies will be mentaly battlehardened from competeing against a foe that saw themselves equal or better than themselves and England will not think for a minute that they are on the same planet.

Interestingly, Glamorgan CCC have just been fined for a sub-standard wicket in Cardiff (venue for the 1st Test) which produced "excessive turn". A sign of things to come, I think.

Geoff 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.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/cricket/ponting-gives-symonds-hint/2009/05/19/1242498741417.html 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?

If the wickets are slow seamers as Geoff is suggesting I am interested to see what a bowler like Hilfenhaus can do if given the chance. Can he produce in England like Terry Alderman could and if so will the batsmen back up his work. On form M. Hussey would seem the weak link in the batting line up. The warm up matches I believe will be very important to the line up of the side as i don't think Australia can have any passengers waiting to hit form.

Some Good points Greg, But I'll hold my judgment on Bopara until he's scored some runs against us, Siddle may have something to say about him feeling comfortable at the crease, Collingwood is getting slower and again Siddle to unsettle him and KP hasn't looked the same since the Captain Gate affair.

I think England's batting (Cook, Strauss, Bopara, KP, Collingwood) is looking very settled and dangerous. 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.)

Rogers, Hughes, Katich (c), Ponting, Hodge/North, Clarke, Haddin, Johnson, Clark, Siddle, Bollinger.

Firstly if they didnt retire Gilly, Haydo’s & Warnie would be in the World Cup T20 side. If IPL form doesn't count explain how Marsh made the ODI team last summer? Domestically he did nothing

Brian, 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

I agree the top 6 from South Africa should be retained but no one stands out amongst the backups. I would take Watson for his talent and versatility, otherwise Rogers is probably as good as anyone else. Ferguson and Marsh probably have not made enough shield runs to merit selection. Interesting that Marsh seemed to make the ODI team based on his 2008 IPL feats yet fast forward to 2009 and of course IPL form means nothing where Hodge is concerned.