Squads for the 2010-11 Ashes Cricket Series have been selected for hosts Australia and touring nation England with the first of five matches across Australia beginning in Brisbane on Nov 25. Meanwhile, a match between Australia A and England is underway in Tasmania that could herald some changes to the starting XI for both teams.
Australia has picked a large squad of 17 that has caused some controversy and thrown doubt into their stability.
There are suggestions that Australia has all but selected their first XI, with the other players given notice that selectors are watching them closely during Sheffield Shield (state competition) and Australia A representation.
Meanwhile England appears more settled selecting 16 players for their squad, but there is room for change should some under-perform with strong alternatives waiting in the wings.
Questions mount for both teams. Experts remain divided on which team is most likely to win, but there is a general agreement that it will be a close fought fierce contest – isn’t that always the way on the eve of The Ashes?
Across a long hot dry Australian summer, five Test matches each lasting five days, the series is sure to reveal much about these two traditional rivals. Endurance may well be the key to victory or misery.
For England and their bowling line-up, they lack a fast bowling attacking spearhead that has brought them success in recent past series such as Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison. They have also often struggled on Australia’s drier and faster pitches at bat.
For Australia, they too seem to lack that fearsome fast bowling of the recent past such as Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee – England’s batsmen should hold no fear this series. Mike Hussey (35) and Marcus North (31) are ageing batsmen with no ready replacements and are at the centre of selection controversy.
Warm-up
While countless questions remain, a tiny piece of the puzzle was turned over yesterday (Wednesday Nov 17) when Australia A and England began a “warm-up” 5-day match at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval in Tasmania. Where it fits, hindsight will tell.
England’s bowling troubled Australia’s likely top order batsmen for next week, despite sending most of their first-string bowlers to Brisbane to acclimatise for the first Test at the Gabba.
However, while they mayn’t be the bowlers that are used in The Ashes, England’s bowling attack may have already set the tone needed for the coming series. Bowling short and aggressively, they appeared to make the Australians look second-rate.
It was Australia’s middle-order batsmen who fought back to be all-out for 230 after things looked grim at 5/66. Steve Smith’s 59 and Stephen O’Keefe’s 66 batting at 7 and 8 respectively were outstanding. All-rounder, Smith in particular has done his case for Ashes selection no harm.
Meanwhile England appears more relaxed and confident. Of note, England’s bowler Christopher Tremlett took four wickets while conceding 54 runs. Ajmal Shahzad (3 for 57) may be called to join the squad after also impressing with the ball in Hobart.
The wicket, however, was still a little green and far more suitable for bowlers than batters. If the pitch dries out and cracks begin to widen as expected, it will suit batsmen far better.
Testament to that, England’s captain Andrew Strauss was an early loss for the visiting side scoring just 10 runs. At stumps England were 1/22 with play to resume today.
Australia has picked a large squad of 17 that has caused some controversy and thrown doubt into their stability.
There are suggestions that Australia has all but selected their first XI, with the other players given notice that selectors are watching them closely during Sheffield Shield (state competition) and Australia A representation.
Meanwhile England appears more settled selecting 16 players for their squad, but there is room for change should some under-perform with strong alternatives waiting in the wings.
Questions mount for both teams. Experts remain divided on which team is most likely to win, but there is a general agreement that it will be a close fought fierce contest – isn’t that always the way on the eve of The Ashes?
Across a long hot dry Australian summer, five Test matches each lasting five days, the series is sure to reveal much about these two traditional rivals. Endurance may well be the key to victory or misery.
For England and their bowling line-up, they lack a fast bowling attacking spearhead that has brought them success in recent past series such as Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison. They have also often struggled on Australia’s drier and faster pitches at bat.
For Australia, they too seem to lack that fearsome fast bowling of the recent past such as Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee – England’s batsmen should hold no fear this series. Mike Hussey (35) and Marcus North (31) are ageing batsmen with no ready replacements and are at the centre of selection controversy.
Warm-up
While countless questions remain, a tiny piece of the puzzle was turned over yesterday (Wednesday Nov 17) when Australia A and England began a “warm-up” 5-day match at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval in Tasmania. Where it fits, hindsight will tell.
England’s bowling troubled Australia’s likely top order batsmen for next week, despite sending most of their first-string bowlers to Brisbane to acclimatise for the first Test at the Gabba.
However, while they mayn’t be the bowlers that are used in The Ashes, England’s bowling attack may have already set the tone needed for the coming series. Bowling short and aggressively, they appeared to make the Australians look second-rate.
It was Australia’s middle-order batsmen who fought back to be all-out for 230 after things looked grim at 5/66. Steve Smith’s 59 and Stephen O’Keefe’s 66 batting at 7 and 8 respectively were outstanding. All-rounder, Smith in particular has done his case for Ashes selection no harm.
Meanwhile England appears more relaxed and confident. Of note, England’s bowler Christopher Tremlett took four wickets while conceding 54 runs. Ajmal Shahzad (3 for 57) may be called to join the squad after also impressing with the ball in Hobart.
The wicket, however, was still a little green and far more suitable for bowlers than batters. If the pitch dries out and cracks begin to widen as expected, it will suit batsmen far better.
Testament to that, England’s captain Andrew Strauss was an early loss for the visiting side scoring just 10 runs. At stumps England were 1/22 with play to resume today.
