Around the Wicket - Ashes Crystal Balling

OK – with the English home series against South Africa wrapping up, I thought I would look into the Official Around the Wicket Crystal Ball (not available from www.thefanatics.com/shop) and do my first preview of the Ashes 09.

Part 1 is dedicated to looking at the English, as they are currently playing, and therefore – the easiest to write about. And we’ll only be discussing test cricket.

First things first – they’ve been disappointing against South Africa this series – and have played mediocre cricket most of the way through the series. They have played some brilliant days and sessions of cricket – but as far as I’m concerned, the reason they have lost this series is because South Africa have simply played good cricket more consistently. That’s a problem for England – because you can’t win an Ashes series being inconsistent. Australia found that out the hard way in 2005. If you go missing for half an hour, or an hour – that’s enough to lose a test match. Steve Waugh always said that you’re only half an hour’s bad cricket away from losing a test match. Spot on, Tugga.

England 2008 (and probably 2009) is nowhere near as good as England 2005. Australia rebuilt after 2005. England continued on with their “dominators” – and is now at rebuilding stage. So many players have had a look in lately, that I find it hard to predict their batting order. I don’t even think the English know their batting order, such has been the change in personnel this series. They could take a couple of looks at it, depending on whether they go for 5 or 4 bowlers. Collingwood might play, he might not. Vaughan might play, he might not. Flintoff might bat at 6, he might bat at 7. The point is that the English side right now is very unsettled, and having just undergone a change of captaincy – there’s no immediate fix to the problem.

I would assume this would be their first XI: Cook, Strauss, Vaughan, Pietersen, Bell, Flintoff, Ambrose, Broad, Anderson, Sidebottom, and Panesar

I would also suggest that Collingwood, Harmison, and Simon Jones will be in contention as well, along with Tremlett.

So that’s England. If I’m trying to beat them – I’m targeting Panesar and Broad when we bat, and looking to break down the heart and soul of the team in Flintoff, and keep him out of the wickets. When we bowl – I’m confident we can knock over Vaughan, Bell, and Flintoff cheaply most times, and we’re going after Strauss and Pietersen with short balls early – to make them uncomfortable at the crease. Off stump line for Cook – he’s a serial nicker and it’s only a matter of time before he nicks one. The rest won’t do a lot. Short and hostile early on to them.

Next time: Crystal Balling Part 2 - Australia