Counting down to the Ashes series in 2015
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:22 am
In less than eighteen months time, the oldest surviving international rivalry will once again be played out, as a captivated audience from around the cricket world will watch two old foes slug it out once more for what they both regard as the ultimate prize in Test cricket, the Ashes. With Australia having comprehensively won the Urn during this most recent encounter, which much surely represent the lowest point for English cricket in quite a while, time will move on, allowing the Poms time for a media circus to unfold and a national enquiry to take place. [float=right][/float]
For the Aussies, it seems that the game is finally moving in an upward direction once more; national team success, huge crowds at the Test matchs, and young players starting to filter through, with a new generation of superstars now banging on the door of national selection... something that was painfully absent a few short years ago. Not only that, but an arsenal of very talented quicks await their next chance, in the shadows of a trio touted as being the best in the world.
Looking ahead and contemplating what the Australian side might look like in just over a years' time, there's every likelyhood that Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris will have retired, and possibly Brad Haddin. And for some time, I've felt that Shane Watson is one more injury away from retiring from the long form of the game. And George Bailey would seem to have played in his last Test match, in spite of his world record equaling effort in Perth. Assuming that these five gentlemen are no longer with us, five new faces come into the equation; Jordan Silk (I'd like to say Phil Hughes, but I can't be bothered arguing his case) for Chris Rogers, James Pattinson (hopefully Dennis Lillee sorts him out as he did with MJ) for Harris, Tim Paine (it might be Matthew Wade, but I hope it's Paine) for Brad Haddin, James Faulkner for Shane Watson, and Alex Doolan for George Bailey.
As for the England set-up, it seems like a case of where do we start? I suspect that Matt Prior, KP, Jonathan Trott and James Anderson will have retired, and Boyd Rankin will be cast adrift somewhere in the Irish sea. I'm undecided about Michael Carberry. He wasn't the worst English batsman on tour, so he might still be around if nobody better can be found. The England side could very well look like the one we saw in Sydney, with Joe Root at 3, Ian Bell at 4, Gary Ballance at 5, and a player to be named later at 6, with yet another player to be named later batting at 7 and keeping wicket. Stuart Broad will lead the attack, with Tim Bresnan and... Steve Finn (if the England management haven't comepletely messed him up), and a spinner, but who that is likely to be is anyone's guess.
I sensed half way through the 2013 that the pendulum was swinging, and it ended up swinging so hard, it broke the clock. I guess now, for the first time since the halcyon days of Warne, McGrath, Punter, Haydos, Gilly and co., that Australia will find themselves once more being favourites going into the next Ashes series. With Darren Lehmann transforming the culture within the dressing room, the resurgence in Oz cricket could very well continue for some time, and hopefully beyond the next Ashes series. With the dust on this last contest yet to settle, I'm already counting down the days until the next one. Only about 500 sleeps left!
My Ashes squad to tour in 2015;
Dave Warner
Jordan Silk
Alex Doolan
Michael Clarke (c)
Steve Smith
Tim Paine
James Faulkner
Mitchell Johnson
James Pattinson
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
Jackson Bird
Mitchell Starc
Adam Zampa
Phil Hughes
Joe Burns
Peter Neville
For the Aussies, it seems that the game is finally moving in an upward direction once more; national team success, huge crowds at the Test matchs, and young players starting to filter through, with a new generation of superstars now banging on the door of national selection... something that was painfully absent a few short years ago. Not only that, but an arsenal of very talented quicks await their next chance, in the shadows of a trio touted as being the best in the world.
Looking ahead and contemplating what the Australian side might look like in just over a years' time, there's every likelyhood that Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris will have retired, and possibly Brad Haddin. And for some time, I've felt that Shane Watson is one more injury away from retiring from the long form of the game. And George Bailey would seem to have played in his last Test match, in spite of his world record equaling effort in Perth. Assuming that these five gentlemen are no longer with us, five new faces come into the equation; Jordan Silk (I'd like to say Phil Hughes, but I can't be bothered arguing his case) for Chris Rogers, James Pattinson (hopefully Dennis Lillee sorts him out as he did with MJ) for Harris, Tim Paine (it might be Matthew Wade, but I hope it's Paine) for Brad Haddin, James Faulkner for Shane Watson, and Alex Doolan for George Bailey.
As for the England set-up, it seems like a case of where do we start? I suspect that Matt Prior, KP, Jonathan Trott and James Anderson will have retired, and Boyd Rankin will be cast adrift somewhere in the Irish sea. I'm undecided about Michael Carberry. He wasn't the worst English batsman on tour, so he might still be around if nobody better can be found. The England side could very well look like the one we saw in Sydney, with Joe Root at 3, Ian Bell at 4, Gary Ballance at 5, and a player to be named later at 6, with yet another player to be named later batting at 7 and keeping wicket. Stuart Broad will lead the attack, with Tim Bresnan and... Steve Finn (if the England management haven't comepletely messed him up), and a spinner, but who that is likely to be is anyone's guess.
I sensed half way through the 2013 that the pendulum was swinging, and it ended up swinging so hard, it broke the clock. I guess now, for the first time since the halcyon days of Warne, McGrath, Punter, Haydos, Gilly and co., that Australia will find themselves once more being favourites going into the next Ashes series. With Darren Lehmann transforming the culture within the dressing room, the resurgence in Oz cricket could very well continue for some time, and hopefully beyond the next Ashes series. With the dust on this last contest yet to settle, I'm already counting down the days until the next one. Only about 500 sleeps left!
My Ashes squad to tour in 2015;
Dave Warner
Jordan Silk
Alex Doolan
Michael Clarke (c)
Steve Smith
Tim Paine
James Faulkner
Mitchell Johnson
James Pattinson
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
Jackson Bird
Mitchell Starc
Adam Zampa
Phil Hughes
Joe Burns
Peter Neville