Which team will experience the biggest decline in 2015?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Surely beat the West Indies though? Might not even beat the WI of 5-10 years ago, but they'll beat the current team.

[hopeforthebest]

Surely beat the West Indies though? Might not even beat the WI of 5-10 years ago, but they'll beat the current team.

There are reasons to doubt that they will beat WI but even if they do can they do so in a convincing manner. A 1-0 series win would hardly set the pulses racing.

[Arthur Crabtree]

No, a 1-0 will be seen as a negative result. England should expect to win each match.

WI will be better at home than the standard we see in SA. But even at home, they shouldn't bat long enough to get draws. England aren't currently strong of course, but should be expected to win well.

[Durhamfootman]

In the countdown to the 05 Ashes Fred will be massive. But can't be called Fredalo because that hasn't happened yet.

sorry AC, I meant only the resorts in the carib comment. Thought Fred might still have some influence at HQ

[Aidan11]

As much as I'd like to say England, I think the WIs will just go further down. Not that they can fall much further but until things improve at admin level there will be discord among the players.

[Durhamfootman]

Maybe the Aussies should refuse to play anywhere over here that doesn't have a medieval castle.

rock and roll....

a whole ashes series played at the riverside. so many ashes tests that Durham will be forced to rename the ground the Quaintarse Durham ICG.

Durham would still struggle to turn a profit

#bunchoftossers

[Making_Splinters]

Suprised to see votes for the Windies, where can they decline to? They've been completely outclassed by the larger test nations for quite some time.

England have a make or break year next year: They should thump the West Indies, but English batsmen don't get on well with spin. They should beat New Zealand, but New Zealand have shown themselves to be a pretty decent side of late. The trio of Boult, Southee and Wagner will be a handfull. The Ashes looks hard to call at present, Australia are in better form but have a far from settled line up and always look a day away from an injury. As far as the UAE and South Africa go, we'll get hammered.

A pass grade for Cook, Moores and Downton would be wins against the Windies and Kiwis, and at least a competitive series against Australia. England have the furthest to fall out of any of the top teams.

[Durhamfootman]

agree about the WIndies

England might have the furthest to fall, but I'm not sure they will. India are the ones most likely to go on the slide, imo . Dhoni can only take them down, and I'm not sure whether there is as great a taste for regicide over there, as there is over here

[Making_Splinters]

India are expected to win at home and lose to decent sides overseas. Seeing as they're only touring Bangladesh next year, they're unlikely to lose that. The South Africa tour will be tough, but if there's a side who are going to beat you at home it's the Saffers.

India again don't seem to have far to fall, a poor showing at the World Cup is unlikely.

[Durhamfootman]

a lot less likely than England, that's for sure. I hadn't considered the WC, tbh. I was only thinking about tests

[Durhamfootman]

agree about the WIndies

England might have the furthest to fall, but I'm not sure they will. India are the ones most likely to go on the slide, imo . Dhoni can only take them down, and I'm not sure whether there is as great a taste for regicide over there, as there is over here

and now they don't need to

I will now need to change my team

Perhaps I'll go with Pakistan who are losing spinners at a great rate of knots

[Making_Splinters]

agree about the WIndies

England might have the furthest to fall, but I'm not sure they will. India are the ones most likely to go on the slide, imo . Dhoni can only take them down, and I'm not sure whether there is as great a taste for regicide over there, as there is over here

and now they don't need to

I will now need to change my team

Perhaps I'll go with Pakistan who are losing spinners at a great rate of knots

Pakistan again are a side that is pretty much only expected to win at home. They looked formidable even without their big name spinners this year, their batsmen are doing a good job of becoming the most immovable object in World Cricket.

Next year they have a free win against Bangladesh, a tough tour to Sri Lanka, a free series win against England and if it goes ahead a potentially dificult home series against India.

Not much room for them to not meet expectations either.

[Durhamfootman]

so who's left?

[Durhamfootman]

perhaps England will surprise Pak in the UAE by playing mystery spin as a slow straight one and not tie themselves in knots expecting imaginary turn that isn't there

[Durhamfootman]

although, in truth, it's been nearly 10 years since England surprised anybody, at any time, with anything

#formulaicpendancy