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Off Topic Sport Other than Football - formerly the Ashes Thread

Discussion in 'Tottenham Hotspur' started by SpursDisciple, Sep 20, 2017.

  1. SpursDisciple

    SpursDisciple Booking: Mod abuse - overturned on appeal
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    I believe there are a few cricket fans on here so thought I'd create a dedicated thread for this winter's series. Start by sharing your first 11s (courtesy of BBC)
     
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  2. Blue and White

    Blue and White Well-Known Member

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    Cricket fan here signing in.

    Toby Roland-Jones not fit enough to play today after pulling up mid over yesterday.
     
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  3. deedub93

    deedub93 Well-Known Member

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    Dam, I thought that there might have been a fire at the Emirates when I saw the title of this thread.
     
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  4. yossarian

    yossarian Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure most of their fans would welcome a bit more fire in that soulless manure factory
     
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  5. littleDinosaurLuke

    littleDinosaurLuke Well-Known Member

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    Great thread<applause>

    Top order batting looks a bit weak.
    And the bowling too when the ball stops swinging.

    The Aussies aren't world beaters but they have two top bowlers for the conditions in Starc and Hazlewood and some good quicks as back up.
    2-1 or 3-1 to the Aussies, I fear.
     
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  6. Billy The Spur

    Billy The Spur Well-Known Member

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    It will depend somewhat on the pitches but my line up would be 2 spinners if its looking like it might spin or an extra pace man if it looks a seamers wicket.

    Cook
    Stoneman
    Malan
    Root
    Stokes
    Bairstow
    Ali
    Woakes
    Rashid or Wood or Finn or Roland Jones or Ball
    Broad
    Anderson

    On paper this gives a solid top order with stroke players in the middle order and 6 bowling options. If they decide 5 bowlers is enough and go for an extra batsman then perhaps lose the number 9 slot here and bring in Ballance at number 5 pushing the next 3 down one place.

    I think it could be a close series, a draw or narrow Aussie win is my prediction.
     
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  7. littleDinosaurLuke

    littleDinosaurLuke Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn't want Malan coming in against 90mph bowlers with the new ball.
    Root will have to bat three as he's the best player and most capable in these circumstances.
    I'd bat Hales at 4.
    With some weaknesses in the top five, England will need Stokes, Bairstow and Ali at 6,7 & 8 to score some runs when the wicket flattens and the ball is doing nothing.
    I'd play Wood with his extra pace. 4 pace bowlers and 1 spinner (with Root and Malan able to bowl a few overs of spin) should be enough.

    I've picked this team on the BBC site running an Ashes XI poll - Cook, Stoneman, Root, Hales, Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Broad, Wood, Anderson.
     
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    Last edited: Sep 21, 2017
  8. No Kane No Gain

    No Kane No Gain Well-Known Member

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    Agree with most of that. Root should really be 4 but with our weakness at the top order we need his steadying influence in early before the pressure can build, can't all be on Cook. Like SD, I think Moeen could be a shout at 3, instead but it might be a bit late for that. Not sold on Hales though, particularly at 4, neither with Hameed who has a long way to go. I prefer Wood over Woakes but I think we'll need all the runs we can get. I'd go with: Cook, Jennings(on gut as much as anything), Root, Malan, Bairstow, Stokes, Mo, Rashid, Woakes, Broad, Anderson.
     
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  9. The Changing Man

    The Changing Man Well-Known Member

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    please log in to view this image
     
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  10. littleDinosaurLuke

    littleDinosaurLuke Well-Known Member

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    Stoneman or Jennings? Not sure, as neither proven.
    I can't disagree with your choices except I don't think two spinners are needed.
    It might be worth playing Jos Buttler as a batsman. I'd use the same argument for Hales too. Found lacking at Test level in temperament and technique, but the Aussie pitches tend to be hard and fast and once the new ball has worn a bit, conditions are good for stroke playing batsmen who like the ball coming on to the bat. Both are talented and if they get in, can destroy the opposition. Westley, Malan, Hameed and the like can't do that.
     
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  11. No Kane No Gain

    No Kane No Gain Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, we'll see how the conditions go. Buttler in as a bat sounds like a plan. It would help for us to have someone in the field that can catch too! Only concern is that Root would be the only part-timer in the line up with 5 proper bowlers.
     
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  12. littleDinosaurLuke

    littleDinosaurLuke Well-Known Member

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  13. Spurf

    Spurf Thread Mover
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    Is Stokes going?
     
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  14. littleDinosaurLuke

    littleDinosaurLuke Well-Known Member

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    Not travelling with main party, but may join them depending on the outcome of the police investigation.
     
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  15. Spurf

    Spurf Thread Mover
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    <ok>
     
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  16. SpursDisciple

    SpursDisciple Booking: Mod abuse - overturned on appeal
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    Apparently the BBC are inviting people to put their all time best ashes team. Let's see yours..
     
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  17. PowerSpurs

    PowerSpurs Well-Known Member

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    Hobbs, Hutton, Ponsford, Bradman, Border, Botham, Knott, Warne, Lillee, Anderson, Laker
     
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  18. littleDinosaurLuke

    littleDinosaurLuke Well-Known Member

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    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/41836192
    This is it.

    Mine is Hutton, Sutcliffe, Bradman, Border, Hammond, Botham, Gilchrist, Warne, Lillee, Thomson, McGrath.
    I'm basing selection on performances in Ashes matches only- which means all the players from the great Aussie team from late '80s to 2000s deserve a mention (especially Steve Waugh) as do Terry Alderman, Mike Hussey, Ken Barrington (although he never won the Ashes), Alistair Cook and others.
     
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  19. SpursDisciple

    SpursDisciple Booking: Mod abuse - overturned on appeal
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    Everyone would include Bradman, but sticking only to the players I have seen

    Boycott
    Hayden
    Border
    Pietersen
    Waugh S (Capt)
    Botham
    Knott
    Warne
    Anderson
    Lillee
    Thompson

    http://bbc.in/2Ah24u5
    All-time Ashes XI
    please log in to view this image
     
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  20. SpursDisciple

    SpursDisciple Booking: Mod abuse - overturned on appeal
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    Interestingly Botham's stats look awful. 33 wickets in 9 series???? Anyone alive in 1981 would pick him though.
     
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