Counting down to the back-to-back Ashes series in 2013/14

[Arthur Crabtree]

Heh, heh. He's just sticking a nettle under Siddle's saddle so he's nice and feisty for the first Test.

[braveneutral]

I remember seeing this thread when it was posted and thinking how long away it seems. Now it is here.

[from_the_stands]

I remember seeing this thread when it was posted and thinking how long away it seems. Now it is here.

Only half an hour left! Depending on how the first 5 minutes go, I could well be starting a thread counting down to the Ashes series in 2015!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can Lehmann not walk past the fire without poking it with a stick?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/24199296

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe 3-0 to England because there might be rain?

Ha!

Obviously I meant that without rain it would be 3-2.

[hopeforthebest]

Can Lehmann not walk past the fire without poking it with a stick?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/24199296

He was interviewed by Vaughan so maybe the BBC were looking for controversy, they have a history of being
agent provocateurs.

[Arthur Crabtree]

So England go into Brisbane with a question mark over the third seamer.

Partly due to injury, the Australian team looks less certain.

Who has been discarded from the Ashes tour? Probably Agar, Bird, Khawaja and Cowan.

These look like certainties for the first Test.

Rogers
*
Watson
*
Smith
*
Haddin
Siddle
*
*
Lyon

Obviously Clarke and Harris can be added if fit.

Who are the likely replacements for those two if not fit? And the other places?

[GarlicJam]

Harris had his first game - a one dayer for the Qbillies - yesterday since the Ashes. Good.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Rogers
*
Watson
*
Smith
*
Haddin
Siddle
*
Harris
Lyon

I lose touch with who's injured. I think Pattinson is out. And I reckon Starc is injured.

If Harris is out, I reckon England will be favourites.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Mitch?

[shankycricket]

Maddinson and Bailey have a fair chance.

[Alviro Patterson]

Mitch?

Starc?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Mitch?

Starc?

MJ?

[GarlicJam]

Scary

[from_the_stands]

Having read through some of the recent posts on here, I offer the following points;

1 - James Pattinson and Pat Cummins won't play any part in the ashes... sadly.
2 - Ryan Harris will be a starter... before almost certainly breaking down at some point... and then retiring.
3 - Michael Clarke will play... but is only one more injury away from having to retire... which will be a huge blow for Australia.
4 - Nic Maddinson is still a year or two away from being ready... but he is definitely the future.
5 - George Bailey could come in, especially if Clarke succumbs to injury.
6 - Opening with Rogers will be one of; Twatto, Phil Hughes or... Aaron Finch.
7 - The number 6 role will be filled by possibly Adam Voges, Alex Doolan or... Cameron White.
8 - Should Brad Haddin be dropped, or poked in the eye, he'll be replaced with Tim Paine.
9 - Mitchell Johnson will play at Perth... replacing the injured Ryan Harris, probably.
10 - Should a new bowler be introduced to Test ranks, that bowler will be Josh Hazelwood.
11 - England will still probably win... sadly.