A month to go till the big one – and high time we indulged in some wild speculation.
We’d like to hear your views on the big talking points around the most-hyped England tour to Australia since, er, the last one.
And do let us know, too, if you’re planning to head down under to watch some of the action in the flesh. Which matches will you be seeing?
So here are the big questions. Please post your thoughts below – and thanks.
1. What will the scoreline be?
2. At which grounds are we most likely to win?
3. How will Broad and Anderson fare?
4. Will Australia be deflated or galvanised by their recent defeat by India?
5. Morgan or Bell?
6. If there’s an injury, Tremlett or Bresnan?
7. Which Australians pose England the greatest danger?
8. From the two sides, who would be in your composite XI?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
As an Australian, the player I most fear is Ricky Ponting. His decisions can be perfect or disastrous. His ability to engender comradeship is also in question.
I predict a big win to England in the first test. Brisbane will suit them and the Aussie team mood is low.
Check the Monty Panesar Song via the link. Aussies love Monty!
Aus 2-1 England 1. England to win in Sydney. Ponting and Clarke to head the batting for Aus, Trott for England. The basic problem for sides touring Aus is lack of acclimatisation – only RSA have won a series there in recent times. I also foresee a struggle to bowl Aus out twice regularly.
Pontings captaincy certainly helps England, but I’m going to predict a 2-1 or 3-2 victory to Australia. Our win will be a consolation victory at Sydney, where Swann/Monty will outbowl Haurtiz. My logic is this: both sides are pretty even on paper but Australia have home advantage. Also, there may be question marks over the Aussies batting line-up, but I have more doubts about England. In fact, Strauss in the only batsman in our team who doesn’t have a question mark about his name. Cook has a very poor record agaisnt Australia, Pietersen and Collingwood can’t buy a run at the moment, and although I rate Bell, his temperament is still a worry. If only we could put Morgan’s personality into Bell’s body! I also disagree with experts who claim that England’s attack is better than Australia’s. Swann is the best bowler on either side, but England fans forget that Mitchell Johnson is a different animal at home, Hilfenhaus is improving all the time, and Siddle/Bollinger have great records at in home tests.
So here goes:
1. 2-1 or 3-2 to Australia
2. Sydney
3. Broad will do well but Anderson will be a big disappointment overseas, again.
4. Australia will neither be galvanised or deflated. Their confidence will be slightly lower though.
5. Bell …. although I’d play Prior at pick 5 bowlers. It’s not like our specialist batsmen are any good, any way!
6. Tremlett, but depends on the balance of the side.
7. Hilfenhaus
8. Strauss, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Pietersen (if he can remember how to bat), Hussey, Prior, Swann, Broad, Johnson, Hilfenhaus
Predictions are irrelevant. It all comes down to the first Test. If England win, I think we’ll stay on top and beat them solidly. If England lose, I think it’s all over.
Don’t know about a draw, but I don’t think one of those is likely.
You’d think that draws are unlikely considering the weaknesses in both sides’ batting line-ups
Quite. Both sides try to score 400 a day, but neither really has the consistency any longer to play out five full days of cricket without a result.
Barring weather, every game will end in a result, so attack and go for the win. Most important thing might end up being the toss.
It usually is at Sydney!
1. Australia 2-1
2. 5th test at Sydney
3. Anderson better than expected. One good spell by broad to win 5th test but no runs and bounced out most innings.
4. Sadly galvanised – they don’t lose many at home.
5. Both with Cook missing out and Trott opening (assuming we are talking selection and not looks).
6. Can we play with 10?
7. Siddle is fit and will dangerous. Hilfenhaus will be tough but not in the McGrath / Gillespie class of opening bowler.
8. Strauss, Katich, Ponting, KP, Watson, Morgan, Haddin, Swann, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Hauritz (who England will make look like a modern day Lance Gibbs)
1. What will the scoreline be?
Either 2-2 or 2-1 to England
2. At which grounds are we most likely to win?
Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney…
3. How will Broad and Anderson fare?
Broad will take more wickets but Anderson will be less expensive. Have a feeling Finn may just outshine them both though.
4. Will Australia be deflated or galvanised by their recent defeat by India?
Utterly deflated for now, but the series against Sri Lanka will be crucial.
5. Morgan or Bell?
Morgan’s the one who could take a game away from Australia in a single session, so I’d go for him, but Bell is by no means substandard.
6. If there’s an injury, Tremlett or Bresnan?
Tremlett
7. Which Australians pose England the greatest danger?
John Buchanan
8. From the two sides, who would be in your composite XI?
Replace Cook with Watson and Pietersen with Ponting, then use the remaining nine Englishmen.