summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
After the great hors d'ouevres that was New Zealand comes the main course : the Australians. The last series humiliating 5-0 defeat,2013-14, is best forgotten because this is 'New England' now. A new coach, Trevor Bayliss, will be eager to maintain the momentum gained from the one day series, and in parts from the two Tests against New Zealand.
England pre-Ashes squad :
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Mark Footitt (Derbyshire)
Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)
Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Mark Wood (Durham)
The actual squad is announced after they return from the training camp in Spain. A few players need to hit the ground running : Ian Bell and Gary Ballance in particular. Bell is averaging 6.75 from his last six innings since scoring 143 in Antigua. Since the last Ashes series his average is 29. Worrying times and he needs a big score early on. Ballance managed only 36 runs against New Zealand and seemed to be troubled more by Trent Boulton. A concern, considering the Aussies' left armers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson.
Alistair Cook has returning to form and is batting as better than ever. However, his conservatism as a captain is a continuing bugbear - to me anyway.
Broad and Anderson lead the bowling attack. Anderson with his bowling record secured and a nice rest will be eager to put doubts amongst the Australian top order. Who knows which Stuart Broad will turn up - lifeless and too short, or hostile with movement and the odd speedy bouncer.
The second string are Plunkett and Wood. Mark Wood is riding the crest of a wave at the moment but can he bowl 30 overs and come back strong at the end of the day ? Plunkett for me flatters to deceive, perhaps after his strong performance in the one dayers David Willey might be put on standby.
The spin department is a continuing cause for concern
Moeen Ali's stats against New Zealand were concerning : five wickets at 50 a piece and at 4 runs an over. Since last summer he's averaging 41 and is lacking consistency. Options this late are thin on the ground however. Adil Rashid, after criminally not being used in the winter is probably too much of a risk, but could prove useful if the series starts badly or with more responsive wickets later on. So it will probably be Ali with Joe Root.
Jos Butler's star is in the ascendant but his keeping can look ropy at times. He has dropped a few recently. Not that he's on his own, 9 catches dropped against New Zealand, and more in the one dayers. We'll never win if we don't grasp every opportunity.
Australia arrive after swatting W.Indies aside like a troublesome fly. This is all you need to know :
National Selector Rod Marsh went for experience over youth in naming Australia’s 17-man squad to take on England in the Ashes this summer. While others might have picked a couple of young players on the fringes to give them experience of the biggest Test rivalry of them all, Marsh ignored that approach and ensured his team is packed with players who know exactly what to expect in English conditions.
Three uncapped players were chosen. Adam Voges is a familiar figure on the county circuit, having spent six summers playing in this country, scoring 3119 runs at an average of 46.55, including five centuries during his spells for Nottinghamshire (2008-12) and Middlesex (2013). However, it was his form this season for Western Australia – he made 1358 runs at an average of 104.46 – that demanded his selection. At 35, he’s heading towards the veteran stage of his career, but Chris Rogers has shown over the past couple of years that 35 need not mean a player should be consigned to the scrapheap.
Much less familiar to us in England is Peter Nevill, the New South Wales wicketkeeper, brought as back-up to Brad Haddin (who, like Rogers, is also 37 years old). Nevill is no youth himself and will reach the age of 30 later in the year. He’s played 50 first-class matches for New South Wales since his debut in 2008-09, and this season scored 764 runs at an average of 76.40, including a career-best 235 not out in Hobart when he helped the last three wickets to add 341 runs. The Melbourne-born keeper will clearly be a tough opponent if called upon, providing resilience for the lower order.
Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is the third uncapped player in the squad. Born in Pakistan, he made his first-class debut for Abbottabad in 2005-06 before leaving the country in 2010 to seek asylum in Australia. He didn’t make his Victoria debut until 2012-13, but it was only last season that he hit the heights – another example of Marsh picking the men in form, whatever their age. He took an impressive 48 wickets at 24.79, including a career-best eight for 89 in the Sheffield Shield final to help his side secure the trophy. He does have some experience of English conditions, touring with Australia A in 2013, when Cricket Australia were trying to speed up his citizenship, in the hope he could form part of the Ashes party then. He then played three LOIs and two IT20s at the end of the English summer. He will have to fight it out with Nathan Lyon for the senior spinner’s role.
Among those to miss out on selection were batsman Joe Burns, who will head out to India with Australia A instead; James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell’s World Cup-winning form wasn’t sufficient to attract the selectors; and James Pattinson was discounted due to injury. This meant the seam attack will feature three senior bowlers – Ryan Harris (35), Mitchell Johnson (33) and Peter Siddle (30) – and two younger pacemen: Josh Hazlewood (24) and Mitchell Starc (25).
The batting line-up has looked pretty settled, with Chris Rogers and David Warner opening, followed by Shane Watson (34 this summer), Michael Clarke (34) and Steve Smith. Brothers Shaun and Mitchell Marsh may find themselves battling with Voges for the sixth spot in the Test side and, given his English experience and current form, it may be Voges that gets the nod.
All things considered, this looks a formidable line-up, with a collection of in-form batsmen, hostile fast bowlers and decent spin options. It is hard to spot a weakness – so different from the team that arrived on our shores just two years ago, when they appeared in disarray. Darren Lehmann deserves immense credit for the speed and skill with which he has turned things round. Now it is up to Peter Moores to show he has the requisite ability to do the same for England and to prevent this from becoming a very long and challenging summer.
Full Names Birthdate Birthplace Team Type F-C Debut
CLARKE, Michael John 02.04.81 Liverpool NSW RHB/SLA 1999-00
FAWAD AHMED 10.03.79 Marghuz, Pak Victoria RHB/LB 2005-06
HADDIN, Bradley James 11.10.79 Cowra NSW RHB/WK 1999-00
HARRIS, Ryan James 23.03.87 Sydney Queensland RHB/RF 2001-02
HAZLEWOOD, Josh Reginald 08.01.91 Tamworth NSW LHB/RFM 2008-09
JOHNSON, Mitchell Guy 02.11.81 Townsville W Australia LHB/LF 2001-02
LYON, Nathan Michael 20.11.87 Young NSW RHB/OB 2010-11
MARSH, Mitchell Ross 20.10.91 Perth W Australia RHB/RM 2009-10
MARSH, Shaun Edward 09.07.83 Narrogin W Australia LHB/SLA 2000-01
NEVILL, Peter Michael 13.10.85 Melbourne NSW RHB/WK 2008-09
ROGERS, Christopher John Llewellyn 31.08.77 Sydney Victoria LHB/LBG 1998-99
SIDDLE, Peter Matthew 25.11.84 Traralgon Victoria RHB/RFM 2005-06
SMITH, Steven Peter Devereux 02.06.89 Sydney NSW RHB/LBG 2007-08
STARC, Mitchell Aaron 30.01.90 Sydney NSW LHB/LF 2008-09
VOGES, Adam Charles 04.10.79 Perth W Australia RHB/SLA 2002-03
WARNER, David Andrew 27.10.86 Paddington NSW LHB/LB 2008-09
WATSON, Shane Robert 17.06.81 Ipswich NSW RHB/RMF 2000-01
It will be interesting to see what pitches are prepared, on the slow side I would imagine. England really need a good start and with the crowd behind them, who knows. Australia are undoubtedly favourites but let's hope age catches up on them
England pre-Ashes squad :
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Mark Footitt (Derbyshire)
Adam Lyth (Yorkshire)
Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Mark Wood (Durham)
The actual squad is announced after they return from the training camp in Spain. A few players need to hit the ground running : Ian Bell and Gary Ballance in particular. Bell is averaging 6.75 from his last six innings since scoring 143 in Antigua. Since the last Ashes series his average is 29. Worrying times and he needs a big score early on. Ballance managed only 36 runs against New Zealand and seemed to be troubled more by Trent Boulton. A concern, considering the Aussies' left armers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson.
Alistair Cook has returning to form and is batting as better than ever. However, his conservatism as a captain is a continuing bugbear - to me anyway.
Broad and Anderson lead the bowling attack. Anderson with his bowling record secured and a nice rest will be eager to put doubts amongst the Australian top order. Who knows which Stuart Broad will turn up - lifeless and too short, or hostile with movement and the odd speedy bouncer.
The second string are Plunkett and Wood. Mark Wood is riding the crest of a wave at the moment but can he bowl 30 overs and come back strong at the end of the day ? Plunkett for me flatters to deceive, perhaps after his strong performance in the one dayers David Willey might be put on standby.
The spin department is a continuing cause for concern
Moeen Ali's stats against New Zealand were concerning : five wickets at 50 a piece and at 4 runs an over. Since last summer he's averaging 41 and is lacking consistency. Options this late are thin on the ground however. Adil Rashid, after criminally not being used in the winter is probably too much of a risk, but could prove useful if the series starts badly or with more responsive wickets later on. So it will probably be Ali with Joe Root.
Jos Butler's star is in the ascendant but his keeping can look ropy at times. He has dropped a few recently. Not that he's on his own, 9 catches dropped against New Zealand, and more in the one dayers. We'll never win if we don't grasp every opportunity.
Australia arrive after swatting W.Indies aside like a troublesome fly. This is all you need to know :
National Selector Rod Marsh went for experience over youth in naming Australia’s 17-man squad to take on England in the Ashes this summer. While others might have picked a couple of young players on the fringes to give them experience of the biggest Test rivalry of them all, Marsh ignored that approach and ensured his team is packed with players who know exactly what to expect in English conditions.
Three uncapped players were chosen. Adam Voges is a familiar figure on the county circuit, having spent six summers playing in this country, scoring 3119 runs at an average of 46.55, including five centuries during his spells for Nottinghamshire (2008-12) and Middlesex (2013). However, it was his form this season for Western Australia – he made 1358 runs at an average of 104.46 – that demanded his selection. At 35, he’s heading towards the veteran stage of his career, but Chris Rogers has shown over the past couple of years that 35 need not mean a player should be consigned to the scrapheap.
Much less familiar to us in England is Peter Nevill, the New South Wales wicketkeeper, brought as back-up to Brad Haddin (who, like Rogers, is also 37 years old). Nevill is no youth himself and will reach the age of 30 later in the year. He’s played 50 first-class matches for New South Wales since his debut in 2008-09, and this season scored 764 runs at an average of 76.40, including a career-best 235 not out in Hobart when he helped the last three wickets to add 341 runs. The Melbourne-born keeper will clearly be a tough opponent if called upon, providing resilience for the lower order.
Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is the third uncapped player in the squad. Born in Pakistan, he made his first-class debut for Abbottabad in 2005-06 before leaving the country in 2010 to seek asylum in Australia. He didn’t make his Victoria debut until 2012-13, but it was only last season that he hit the heights – another example of Marsh picking the men in form, whatever their age. He took an impressive 48 wickets at 24.79, including a career-best eight for 89 in the Sheffield Shield final to help his side secure the trophy. He does have some experience of English conditions, touring with Australia A in 2013, when Cricket Australia were trying to speed up his citizenship, in the hope he could form part of the Ashes party then. He then played three LOIs and two IT20s at the end of the English summer. He will have to fight it out with Nathan Lyon for the senior spinner’s role.
Among those to miss out on selection were batsman Joe Burns, who will head out to India with Australia A instead; James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell’s World Cup-winning form wasn’t sufficient to attract the selectors; and James Pattinson was discounted due to injury. This meant the seam attack will feature three senior bowlers – Ryan Harris (35), Mitchell Johnson (33) and Peter Siddle (30) – and two younger pacemen: Josh Hazlewood (24) and Mitchell Starc (25).
The batting line-up has looked pretty settled, with Chris Rogers and David Warner opening, followed by Shane Watson (34 this summer), Michael Clarke (34) and Steve Smith. Brothers Shaun and Mitchell Marsh may find themselves battling with Voges for the sixth spot in the Test side and, given his English experience and current form, it may be Voges that gets the nod.
All things considered, this looks a formidable line-up, with a collection of in-form batsmen, hostile fast bowlers and decent spin options. It is hard to spot a weakness – so different from the team that arrived on our shores just two years ago, when they appeared in disarray. Darren Lehmann deserves immense credit for the speed and skill with which he has turned things round. Now it is up to Peter Moores to show he has the requisite ability to do the same for England and to prevent this from becoming a very long and challenging summer.
Full Names Birthdate Birthplace Team Type F-C Debut
CLARKE, Michael John 02.04.81 Liverpool NSW RHB/SLA 1999-00
FAWAD AHMED 10.03.79 Marghuz, Pak Victoria RHB/LB 2005-06
HADDIN, Bradley James 11.10.79 Cowra NSW RHB/WK 1999-00
HARRIS, Ryan James 23.03.87 Sydney Queensland RHB/RF 2001-02
HAZLEWOOD, Josh Reginald 08.01.91 Tamworth NSW LHB/RFM 2008-09
JOHNSON, Mitchell Guy 02.11.81 Townsville W Australia LHB/LF 2001-02
LYON, Nathan Michael 20.11.87 Young NSW RHB/OB 2010-11
MARSH, Mitchell Ross 20.10.91 Perth W Australia RHB/RM 2009-10
MARSH, Shaun Edward 09.07.83 Narrogin W Australia LHB/SLA 2000-01
NEVILL, Peter Michael 13.10.85 Melbourne NSW RHB/WK 2008-09
ROGERS, Christopher John Llewellyn 31.08.77 Sydney Victoria LHB/LBG 1998-99
SIDDLE, Peter Matthew 25.11.84 Traralgon Victoria RHB/RFM 2005-06
SMITH, Steven Peter Devereux 02.06.89 Sydney NSW RHB/LBG 2007-08
STARC, Mitchell Aaron 30.01.90 Sydney NSW LHB/LF 2008-09
VOGES, Adam Charles 04.10.79 Perth W Australia RHB/SLA 2002-03
WARNER, David Andrew 27.10.86 Paddington NSW LHB/LB 2008-09
WATSON, Shane Robert 17.06.81 Ipswich NSW RHB/RMF 2000-01
It will be interesting to see what pitches are prepared, on the slow side I would imagine. England really need a good start and with the crowd behind them, who knows. Australia are undoubtedly favourites but let's hope age catches up on them
