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

[GarlicJam]

good post, fts. not much there to disagree with.

[from_the_stands]

A few more points to add;

12 - Fawad Ahmed will possibly play at Adelaide and Melbourne and definitely in Sydney... as a fifth bowler, replacing who ever will be batting at 6.
13 - There will be no sign of John Hastings, Ashton Agar and Rob Quiney (gawd, did the selectors really pick these 3!?)
14 - If a right-field selection is made this summer, it will either be Joe Burns or Jordan Silk.
15 - There will be more nonsense in the Oz media undermining the Clarke captaincy.
16 - Twatto will pick up injury... which is long overdue... after failing to convert a 50 into a 100.
17 - Some clown will suggest that Mike Hussey will make a comeback.
18 - I'm not so sure we'll see too much of Dave Warner in this series... despite probably having a bumper year for NSW.
19 - The Marsh's will be no-where to be seen. I still think Mitch Marsh will eventually break into the Test team, but at this rate, not until he reaches 30 years of age.
20 - We will know who the next Oz Test captain will be by the end of the summer... or not.

[braveneutral]

I reckon Mike Hussey could be called up if it goes all tits up.

[Durhamfootman]

When do England head south?

why wouldn't Warner play, Has he burned his bridges that badly? He looked very good at CLS

[Arthur Crabtree]

Curious that England's warm ups against NSW and WA, are being played while these states have Shield games! Will we be playing against reserve teams?

And when we play AusA, all six states have first class fixtures.

[alfie]

Curious that England's warm ups against NSW and WA, are being played while these states have Shield games! Will we be playing against reserve teams?

And when we play AusA, all six states have first class fixtures.

I understand the state teams may be reinforced by idle players from other States...much as England did with Compton etc...I suspect the Australian selectors may want to have a look at a few fringe candidates against the tourists.

Even so the strength of these outfits remains to be seen.

[GarlicJam]

Just saw a snippet of what is no doubt a longer ad for the upcoming Ashes series on Channel Nine. Embarrassing.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Modern players dressed as Victorian era players?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Rogers
Warner
Watson
Clarke
Smith
Bailey
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Starc
Lyon

Is most likely then? Never rule out Phil Hughes though.

[GarlicJam]

Modern players dressed as Victorian era players?

No, but it was as bad as England's "gladiator" campaign a couple of years back.

oh, no it can't have been that bad, on second thoughts.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm thinking that their line up isn't that settled, and I'm not sure about Starc's fitness chances. It looks like he's out, so Johnson, Faulkner (and Bird?) come into focus, plus the half dozen A bowlers who toured England/SA. Has Bailey something of the new Mike Hussey about him? Hardest question is, who would replace Clarke?

[alfie]

Rogers
Warner
Watson
Clarke
Smith
Bailey
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Starc
Lyon

Is most likely then? Never rule out Phil Hughes though.

Johnson for Starc and that might not be far wrong , Arthur. Not sure Warner is any sure thing but he did get a hundred the other day so is in the mix.

[Arthur Crabtree]

With the first Test only a month away, and the first tour game against WA reserves only 11 days, now is the time to raise the level of antagonism between the supporters a notch.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Darren Lehmann hasn't blasted England for something no one gives a toss about for a couple of days. Has he had a laryngectomy?

[GarlicJam]

With the first Test only a month away, and the first tour game against WA reserves only 11 days, now is the time to raise the level of antagonism between the supporters a notch.

get stuffed.