Q ? ashes mom so far

[rovinrover52]

who`s your mom so far this series
and what do you predict for Sydney game

[RedJ]

For me, Bell or Anderson. Both very steady influences on the team and both very valuable.

We'll smash them in Sydney, I reckon.

[The Red Baron]

I know as a Warwickshire fan I'm biased but I have to say Jonathan Trott. For years, England have been looking for a solid No.3 and now we've found him. He just grinds the Aussies down.

There's been much said about the general ignorance of sports journalists on other topics, but never was this more apparent when Trott made his debut in 2009 in the final test of the Ashes series. The number of journos who said that they couldn't throw in a debutant who might freeze was incredible. Instead, they wanted to pick Mark Ramprakash, a man who has frozen so many times that he'll probably be reincarnated as a polar bear. Trott wouldn't freeze on any occasion- he's one of the most confident and self-assured batsmen I've ever seen- and that was before he scored a run for England!

And as for that w*nker Michael Henderson who said Ian Bell would never be an England player, he should be forced to eat those words for breakfast every day of his miserable life.

[CusworthRovers]

I know it's the obvious answer, but this has been a team effort where everyone has contributed and chipped in. To have the reliance on 1-2 players doing something special when 2 others don't quite do it, is a luxury that's usually been the Aussie way. It's easier to name the players who have not performed at the peak of their standards and from what I've seen that's just Colly. No disrespect to him, as it's a big ask to think all 11 players are totally on their game in a match.

Finn/Tremlett have not played all the games, yet remain up there as high wicket takers. Our batsmen have batted twice less than the Aussies yet cover the leaderboard of run getters. Prior has scored runs and taken all the catch's, run outs. Even Bresnan has come in for just 1 game and played very well taking 6 wickets and overtaking many Aussies who have played more games.

I couldn't give it to one person.

For the final test I would be tempted to bring in Shazad for ??? and Morgan for Colly. I still feel that we will be far stronger and both have scored runs/taken wickets in the warm ups and would hardly weaken this team. Just to rub it in more and make everyone part of it.

[The Red Baron]

I wouldn't leave Collingwood out for one simple reason- this is likely to be his final test. Morgan is the future but Collingwood has been a fantastic servant to English cricket and will probably play for another 2-3 years if he now concentrates on the shorter form of the game.

Bresnan or Finn for Sydney is the only conundrum for me. Will probably depend on the pitch.

[GM-MarkB]

The Red Baron wrote:

I wouldn't leave Collingwood out for one simple reason- this is likely to be his final test. Morgan is the future but Collingwood has been a fantastic servant to English cricket and will probably play for another 2-3 years if he now concentrates on the shorter form of the game.

Bresnan or Finn for Sydney is the only conundrum for me. Will probably depend on the pitch.

On the last Ashes tour, Warne took a grand total of 2 wickets in the entire Sydney Test, Panesar took 2 also...the Aussies won by 10 wickets.

In 2003 in the corresponding fixture, Warne took 1 wicket in the match, Richard Dawson took 1 also...England won by 225 runs

Seamers pitch me thinks in which case I wouldn't change a winning side. And based on the last 2 meetings there, I can't see it being a draw...only an England win  

[Lytham Rover]

if i had to pick one person

it would be andrew strauss

batted well enough but marshalled the players well made the right changes at the right time

the captain should always be the best and most important  player

[BobG]

Thank you MarkB Mentioning Richard Dawson - my new favourite ex Yorkshire and England player. I've spent most Saturdays since last October preventing him doing his coaching job at the County Ground, Bristol. He's supposed to be passing on his knowledge to 8-13 year olds rather than chatting with me all the time A nice bloke - and boy is he good with the kids! I've learned quite a bit from him too - and I've been playing for a lot more years than he has... As he's from Rosso and supports the Rovers, he's an all round good egg

But back on topic, if there really has to be a Man of the Series, then I too would plump for Strauss. It's not often England gets a capable captain - yet now we've had two on the bounce. Strauss has organised, directed and led the team so that the individual cogs can all perform at their very best. You can't ask for more than that.

Cheers

BobG

[RedJ]

I knew his mum. Used to teach (might still do) at West Road in Moorends.

[CusworthRovers]

I knew his dad Les. Shite on the piano, but a funny fella all the same.


West Rd Infants. My first school. Happy days, just down from the Bullring and across from the old knackers yard

[RedJ]

Shame West Road's gone to shite lately. t'Lad got out the year before the school fell apart (obviously not literally).