The Ashes Blog

1 | Mike

May 25th, 2009 at 10:17 am

Forget the Hughes and Hilfenhouse et al.

The difference between the sides will be

Mitchell Johnson.

Bats at no 8 and has a test century – hits the ball harder than Gilchrist – bowls like a bat out of hell – ask Graham Smith, ko’d twice. I’m going to enjoy watching the surprises.

Mike.

2 | Dan

May 26th, 2009 at 6:55 pm

Bad move not including Symond’s. Hes shown serious character and maturity in the second half of the IPL and looks like he’s back on the way up. He might mean the difference between a close series and a massive victory for the Aussies.

3 | prakash

May 29th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

the aussies are missing a quality leg spinner. they have to find a handy leggy

4 | TheAshesBlog.com

June 2nd, 2009 at 8:39 pm

Dan: I’m not so sure. Who’s more likely to provide the runs batting at number 6 – Symonds, Watson, or North? Of that list, I’d be putting Symonds down the bottom. Yes, he’s brilliant, but I think the other two are more likely to score more runs than Symonds.

Prakash: I don’t think Australia necessarily needs a leggie. A world-class spinner of any sort will do. Hauritz is good, but he’s not going to destroy an opposition batting lineup. But then that’s not his role. His role, if he plays, will be to contain one end, and allow the rotation of quicks at the other end. And I think the pace bowlers can get the job done, with Hauritz assisting though not necessarily contributing with wickets.

5 | Dan

June 5th, 2009 at 1:48 am

Wow, I guess I was proven wrong on the Symonds issue by the man himself. You guys reckon this latest incident is the end of his career?

6 | TheAshesBlog.com

June 5th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

Dan: the end of Symonds’ career? I think his international career is over. However, he’ll continue to play IPL and domestic cricket for Queensland. Unfortunately, regardless of how well he plays, I would think that Cricket Australia would be reluctant to select him again for national duties.

I’d like to see him back … I think he’s good enough that he should leave international cricket on a positive note, but to do that he’ll need to get back into the team. If he can’t do that, or if the selectors won’t have him back, then he’ll be known as a great talent who lost the plot. And the focus will be on the way he left the game, rather than on his match-winning performances for Australia.

7 | Jake

June 17th, 2009 at 7:54 pm

Leave out Andrew Mcdonald and Hilfenhaus, Bring in James Hopes and Nathan Bracken. Why not play Bracken?

8 | TheAshesBlog.com

June 18th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

Hopes and Bracken are certainly very good options, but are they better than McDonald and Hilfenhaus at the long form of the game? Both have played well for Australia in ODIs, so you would expect them to do alright in the five day game. I think the selectors are just waiting for both players to really step up in the Sheffield Shield … or perhaps it’s just a case of not being enough room for everyone in the team.

I don’t think it matters anyway, as I think the selectors will keep Ronnie and Hilfy as reserve players, with Watson and Clark making the XI.

9 | Freddie Knaggs

June 19th, 2009 at 10:00 pm

I dont think this team is much to worry about. We played well against South Africa when they came to england last year and could have won that series. Id say SA’s squad is better than this. With all the hype too it should carry England through you would hope.

10 | uma ganesan

July 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

Where is Stewart clark? Johnson’s not working, Hilfi is but ponting keeps giving the ball to johnson, the poms didn’t make the first ashes a draw, we gave it to them as a gift.

11 | TheAshesBlog.com

July 18th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

Uma: You might be on to something there. It’ll be interesting to see what the Australian selectors do if Brett Lee is fit for the next Test. If they want to bring Stuart Clark into the side (I’d expect him to do very well in England), and Brett Lee, who gets the axe?