Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

I see that James Vince says that "Australia must back up the chat"

James Vince needs to keep his mouth shut, tbh, he's the most likely candidate on both sides to pick up a pair at the Gabba

concentrate on your batting, son... leave the war of words to the ones who've actually done something at test level

Dr Cricket wrote:I would personally pick
Warner
Cook
Root
Smith
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Starc
Broad
Hazlewood
Lyon

only tricky pick was broad or Anderson.
went with the younger man.

I'd agree with this.

I'll be at work on Thursday, so checking in and posting periodically, but Friday-Sunday will be watching with y'all.

Probably from behind the sofa.

i'll be watching live but my level of enthusiasm for this series is probably lower than for any Ashes series i can remember

Durhamfootman wrote:I see that James Vince says that "Australia must back up the chat"

James Vince needs to keep his mouth shut, tbh, he's the most likely candidate on both sides to pick up a pair at the Gabba

concentrate on your batting, son... leave the war of words to the ones who've actually done something at test level

Though there's nothing worse than a 'reformed character' continually having a go at someone who's behaviour they mimicked in the past.

Bit like ex smokers having a coughing fit everytime someone lights up in public.

Don't know much about the war of words, but if that's all Vince has said it then it doesn't amount to very much.

Like rich I'm not getting into this current Ashes series at all, haven't a clue when the first test starts.

budgetmeansbudget wrote:
Like rich I'm not getting into this current Ashes series at all, haven't a clue when the first test starts.

midnight tomorrow UK time

Funny enough I am actually looking forward to this ashes series since both team are quite evenly matched, australia just edges it on the bowling but probably got a weaker batting attack.

wonder if too many Ashes series in recent times is taking a toll, especially when quite a few of them were awful viewing or not that great of a series.
you really looking at 2009 for the last great Ashes series.
the rest are either one sided or average cricket series.

2010-11 was a good series. 2013-14 was in its way. The former went to the last Test with the series in the balance (if not the Ashes) and England ultimately won because they were irresistible to the last day. It also helped that for England, winning in Australia was a novelty and unexpected. The latter featured one of the all time great Test performances and was solid with drama on and, particularly, off the field.

2009 was pretty dull for me, maybe cast in the aftermath of 2005, but also perhaps because the quality of play was uninspiring.

Lyon's golden syrup on bread and butter, I used to love that.

Gingerfinch wrote:Am I right in saying, whoever has lost at the Gabba has never gone on to win the series?

No . Hutton lost (heavily) in 1954 but then along came Tyson...

Just seen the Nathan Lyon 'trash talk'.

Sounds like the sort of bloke who shouts homophobic jibes at gay men in Bristol!

I will be interested to see if Hazlewood passes Anderson in the ICC rankings. He is 102 points behind him.

1 Anderson 896
6 Hazelwood 794
10 Broad 737
13 Starc 727

budgetmeansbudget wrote:Just seen the Nathan Lyon 'trash talk'.

Sounds like the sort of bloke who shouts homophobic jibes at gay men in Bristol!

I wonder if they are sent out to say this stuff, or whether they say something else and the press interpret it the way they want. It clearly bemused Steely who said that he and Lyon had had a nice chat about each others kids about 10 mins earlier.

It's all knackers of course... like the tedious nonsense set up before a boxing match where both combatants try to out-rufty tufty the other. A big turn off for me................. and probably stage managed by the bean counters, anyway

Think the ashes hype getting to me, really can’t wait for the series to start now,
Australia are certainly not massive fav to be arrogant, wonder if we will see a 2012 india Home series where the underdogs won the series.
In that series India were arrogant and were in the press a lot before the series.

Australia haven’t really got the players to be this arrogant before the series.

Probably the first ashes series i been up for it since the 2005 one.

Arthur neutrals didn’t really enjoy the 2010/11 because of the one sided game but can understand why England fans will enjoy it since away wins are special.
Wasn’t a great watch if you don’t support for either teams.
2009 games were closer even if the quality of cricket was poor.

Dr Cricket wrote:
Australia haven’t really got the players to be this arrogant before the series.

some of us thought that last time, and then 5-0 happened

Don't think a PM has gone round, so any interested parties, please enter your fantasy league selections before tomorrow 23.30, GMT.

Don't think Mike's got a team in yet. Or the Reds.