chris955

Indeed, I think the next series will be closer, Australia might even win a test

OzTennis

We shall but see.

Broad Shoulders

I genuinely believe that unless England improve they will be handing back the Ashes later this year. Our batting is a shambles at the moment, only saved by the fact that the Aussie's batting is even more shambolic. Old Trafford should have been a warning of what lies ahead in Aus.

roaringmouse

There's going to be English blood at the WACA..

Jon77

Is Warner going to start throwing his fists around again is he? Other than that I see no aggresion from the Aussie side other than the odd well aimed standard bouncer. The English bowlers could get more out of the hard Perth track then the Aussies, just as likely.

Anyway hopefully by the Australian summer England will have found their form again. I mean we have been pretty awful all series will the odd exception like Broad & Anderson's bowling and Bells batting. We have pretty much beaten Australia with one hand tied behind our backs.

So many Aussies seem to think t will be a walk over for them in Australia, all this talk of revenge and what they are going to do to England. They need to back all this talk up with how they are going to do this and who.

What I see is the prospect of a very close ashes series in Australia, much closer then this one. And yes Australia might well nick back the urn but there is lots of ***** being spouted by Aussie fans right now.

Beoz

You should really quote your sources Jon

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/...cle3841130.ece

Did you mean Bresnan? Jimmy's figures for the last 3 tests are 7/371. That's 2 and a bit wickets a match.

Yeah not quite. There were no innings defeats, etc, etc. Get a few of those and you can probably claim a bit of that

Really ...... are you in Australia? Really? All I hear locally is "where do we go from here", "how do we fix the batting", etc, etc

Jon don't take this the wrong way as you are clearly a good sports lover which is a great thing, but your knowledge of the game is poor at best.

Jon77

I comment as someone who has watched and played the game. I played at a reasonable level for a regional competition in the North of England from 1994 - 2002. Never a full captain of the side but a vice captain who could step up and lead when required. I love many other sports such as football and rugby but cricket is the sport I love the most, especially the longer version of the game.

If you want to take from that one post that I have no knowledge of the game then so be it. I won't waste any further time justifying myself any longer, I am confortable with the knowledge I have is good. always room for improvement I will admit, but then I am never one to confess I know it all and am happy to listen to other opinions / views and not jump to conclusions.

Beoz

That sounds like Ricky Ponting ...... step up and lead when Warnie wasn't around

Beoz

Wow .... just had my first chance to see the end of the oz innings. England got that ball reversing like a b***ard. Shine on the way it was going, moving miles on a day 4 pitch. Good bowling - not much you can do about that as a batsman.

papilon

Can't believe so many people on here think the aussies have a good chance in Australia. They have been thrashed by a sub par England. Cook, Trott and Prior have been well out of form and Pietersen Root not much better but as the old adage goes. Form is temporary but class is permanent. Don't worry they will be back and Australian pitches hold no gremlins for any of these guys. They scored heavily last time and will do so again. Add A now fit again Tremlett and Finn to the already formidable bowling lineup. England already know there team, they are settled, confident and know how to win. The Ashes will not be changing hands for the foreseeable future. Australia are awful and it's vgoing to get worse before it gets better. Lehman was also not the right choice and will be out the door after a home series defeat.

Beoz

You know, Watson and Hughes were in form once. Just saying

Out of interest, who would you replace if Tremlett and Finn were fit?

chris955

Absolutely, I dont think Australia will suddenly become a force to be reckoned with because they are at home. England are 3-0 up with a team firing on 4 out of 8 cylinders, if they even get to 6 it will be too easy

papilon

Hughes in form??? If your talking about 1 series in SA as a debutant then c'mon.
Watson has always been very inconsistent. After all these years what is he? Nobody seems to know. All rounder, opener, bowler, batsman? ??? Or just an average player who struggles very hard to stay fit.

Tremlett and Finn will both be used in Australia if fit, on the hard and fast Aussie wickets they both offer something different because of their height. They both played last time to good effect. Anderson, Broad, Finn, Bresnan and Tremlett. Scary!

Beoz

I have a hunch he might be an all-rounder. Just a hunch though.

5 seamers in the same team. That would be for the WACA test right?

OzTennis

Simple question. Please explain why you have had one hand tied behind your backs?

You are playing at home, you hold the Ashes, you are apparently playing a poor team, what's stopping you?

BTW at times Root, Bresnan, Swann, Pieterson, Trott, Cook have chipped in but don't let that spoil your exaggerated claim that just 3 have performed nonsense. Strictly speaking, remember that Broad was stuck on 199 test wickets for what 3 innings? Anderson appears since Trent Bridge to be a spent force, particularly at Durham. Bell consistently good, Swann has been consistently good as well.

Just defend your claims without the I've played this game at a high level so I know malarkey.