Cricket: The Ashes (Summer 2023)

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PlaistowIron
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Cricket: The Ashes (Summer 2023)

Post by PlaistowIron »

Leach out of the Ashes. Big blow.

Do they go for the inexperienced Rehan Ahmed? If you’re good enough, you’re old enough….
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Plashet Grove Pete »

Really feel for Jack - he's had more than his share of injuries and illness to contend with.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Row X »

PlaistowIron wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2023 5:25 pm Leach out of the Ashes. Big blow.

Do they go for the inexperienced Rehan Ahmed? If you’re good enough, you’re old enough….
You can’t go into a home Ashes series without a spinner.

There is no way they rely on Root’s golden arm to get through a series, especially an Ashes.

I’m not familiar with the county level, but there must be someone, somewhere that is a first and foremost spinner. Get them in, no matter what their ability with the bat… it not as though Leach offers much batting anyway
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by smuts »

Poor Jack.

Some big worries now with our bowling attack due to injuries.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by PF. »

I think it’ll be Wood in for Leach considering Stoke’s knee.

They’ll try Root for the first and maybe second test to hold an end. The advantage is that it’s in England.

It’s a big blow make no doubt, but again, softened a little because the series is here.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Rio »

I’m not a fan of Leach but it’s a a damming indictment of English spin bowling that he was our trusted option.

Rehan? I like the concept more than the performances. An ashes series looks like way to big a step for him, and could send his career backwards.

I can see them going with Root as the spin option.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Turns to Stone »

With the way McCullum and Stokes are asking the batsmen to play, they could do worse than Moeen opening with Duckett and play 4 seamers.

What could go wrong??
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Tenbury »

They'd be mugs to go into an Ashes series without a specialist spinner.
Moeen's probably favourite, but Dawson has been pretty useful this summer so far, and in terms of 'Bazball', he's a big hitting batsman, and very competitive.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Billydinho »

My first though is they’ll go for Will Jacks but Moeen Ali - if interested - is the obvious option.

We play like a one day side in a Test Match anyway.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by PF. »

PlaistowIron wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2023 5:25 pm Do they go for the inexperienced Rehan Ahmed? If you’re good enough, you’re old enough….
Ahmed has taken six wickets from six matches so far this season and whilst he has a strong googly, his leg break is not at the level required for an Ashes series in England. That being said, the Aussies have a fair number of left-handers in their batting line-up so a strong googly is a fairly decent gamble. The experienced Aussies will go after him though, I have some doubt he is ready for the Ashes.

If they do go with a specialist spinner (which I don't think is as cut and dry as a 'must have' in England as some), then I'd be surprised if either Jacks or Livingstone are picked in the XI as they are generally decent batsmen but not great options to take wickets against the Aussies. Lawrence is alright I guess but the most like-for-like option is Dawson, however I genuinely cannot remember the last time he played for England in a test - must be over five years ago. Parkinson is not being picked at County Level and Bess is really struggling up in Yorkshire.
Tenbury wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:32 pm They'd be mugs to go into an Ashes series without a specialist spinner.
We have played with a seam attack under Root's captaincy and with Stoke's injury, it's probably the safest option to put in either Wood or Potts alongside Robbo, Jimmy and Broad. Root is capable of holding an end for a spell. A bit of a wild card could be Sam Curran who will offer something different to the seamers.
Billydinho wrote: Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:56 pm My first though is they’ll go for Will Jacks but Moeen Ali - if interested - is the obvious option.
It's rumoured that Moeen is retiring from all forms at the end of the summer so will be interesting if they turn to him. I'd be surprised, but it's not that unrealistic.

Personally, and taking into account the limited amount of overs Stokes will bowl, I'd go for Wood.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Tenbury »

Agree with a lot of that. Very likely they could do Edgbaston with Root 'making do' (despite what I've already said :D) but, for me that's just kicking the can down the road, pick a spin option from the start (I agree, PF, the young Yorkshireman isn't ready)
and stick with him, if he can bat so much the better.. step forward Dawson!
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Bend it like Repka »

Moeen considering it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65816609

Personally it's another blow to red ball cricket. Yes I'm stuck in the mud, but we don't need a proper keeper any more, now we are going to choose a guy who has "retired" over a county player.

Not much incentive for county cricket is it?
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Turns to Stone »

Bend it like Repka wrote: Mon Jun 05, 2023 9:30 pm Moeen considering it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65816609

Personally it's another blow to red ball cricket. Yes I'm stuck in the mud, but we don't need a proper keeper any more, now we are going to choose a guy who has "retired" over a county player.

Not much incentive for county cricket is it?
I think that's a little bit harsh. Bairstow (imo) should never have lost the gloves to Buttler and was (at one time), the best keeper/batsman in the world in Test cricket. Moeen is only behind Laker and Swann in terms of wickets taken in test matches. It's not like they're turning to Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone. These are proper test match cricketers and England need a quick fix.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by dasnutnock3 »

Moeen's back :thup:
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by psychoscoredthelot »

moeen back in then - hes better than leach anyway
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by smuts »

Yeah mixed feelings about Moeen. Not his fault but it's not a great look to have to get the begging bowl out to someone who retired from the format a few years ago.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by smuts »

I'm starting to think I can't cope with another 5 tests of Steve Smith endlessy fidgeting and knocking hundreds of runs with the same nudge and flick to the left side for hours on end...

Let's hope Starc doesn't bowl many more this summer like the one he got Kohli with.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by smuts »

If we had Archer, a less flakey opener and a reliable spinner then I'd be a lot less nervous.

So much now relying on Stokes knee, Pope proving he's a real number 3 and Bairstow showing his form from a year or so ago and not his previous Test showings.

Hopefully Wood is fully fit and firing on all cylinders or else the bowling is very samey and not ideal if we are in for a roasting hot summer with little cloud etc.
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Re: England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by alf git »

If we had Archer we'd all be waiting for the inevitable series ending injury.
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England Mens Cricket 2023

Post by Bend it like Repka »

Taken Travis Head at 10/1 top Ashes runscorer. He may well benefit from Smith & Lasagne grinding us down. :furrow:
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