Ashes 2019

Looking forward to this starting today. I think we need to get off to a decent start in this test to stand any chance- I think the Aussies have always been stronger psychologically. I can't see any match lasting the full 5 days unless there's some rain.

 

I'm confident we'll win, for all our frailties we're extremely strong at home and have been for a long time. Won't be an easy series and I'm expecting plenty of batting collapses but think we'll squeeze past them in the end.

 

3-1 win

 

It will be close. For all the talk of our weak top order, the Aussie middle order is as bad, if not worse.

If we can get Smith out early in each Ashes innings, we should win the match. If he strangles the game with a big score then we are going to struggle.

 

Watched a programme on the build up. Root and Bairstow sounded extremely bullish and could
both play a big part in all the games. I have a feeling that Buttler will do well also.

Some pundits are saying that this Australian side is not as good as some of their teams in the past.
Archer is not being risked in the first game, so with the ball it's essential that Anderson, Ali and
in particular Broad play consistently well throughout the series, if we have any chance of winning
the overall rubber.

 

Aussies to win it for me, can’t be 40/2-3 all time and get away with it in the Ashes

 

I have a very limited knowledge of cricket, but I I think I've heard we are much better at batting the one day game that test cricket. How is it that there's such a discrepancy if this is correct?

 

The red ball does a lot more than the white ball and you can put fielders where you like. Red ball cricket requires concentration and application for prolonged periods of time. White ball cricket requires a good eye

 

Loving the positivity on this so far. I think we have the better bowlers and can see plenty of sub 200 innings for both parties throughout the series.

 

They have dropped Hazlewood for Siddle, that is a big bonus for England

 

Disagree about the 'psycholigically' bit strongly. Very few test matches last 5 days in the modern era mainly because test cricket has been significantly transformed over the last 15 years or so (for better or worse?). I'd say we have more potential match winners in our team and the duke ball and english conditions in our favour: 2-0 england.

 

They haven't won a series in England since 2001. Can't see that changing.

 

Different balls
You dont face as many balls in odi
Need more patience
Need better technique

 

20 days or less in total for the 5 tests.

What are the odds of that at the bookies?

 

Can’t find odds for that. You can get 125/1 on England to win 3-1 with Root top runs and Anderson top wickets, worth a 5er of anyone’s money

 

Not sure it is, because it's just a horses for courses. If the pitch is a typical English seamer that's on the slow side, then Siddle will be very dangerous. Look at what Murtagh did last week.

I think that's also the main reason Archer isn't playing. We're going to need him more at places like Lords and the Oval, when there's not much in it for fast medium bowlers.

The series hangs on how early we can get Smith to the crease and how many runs he gets. They have a weaker middle order than us, but if they're coming in at 200/3 then it doesn't matter. We need to find a way to give our middle order a platform. Think I'd swap Denly and Roy around in the batting order, and give Roy a KP style role.

 

Old man Siddle over Starc is crazy. They haven't won here for 18 years and I see that continuing. Home advantage counts for a lot in test cricket these days. We will win the Ashes back and then lose them back in Australia.

 

Names and numbers on the back... heresy!

 

The convicts aren't very good apart from the cheats. Problem is, we're not very good either, however much Sky try and whip it up.

Still hope we wallop the sandpaperers.

 

Aussies to take the series, hate to say it but Smith is a class bat, cheating Aussie **** mind but class wi’t bat.
Fulham to edge it on Saturday n’all.
In both cases I hope we gi the ***** a right good game.