With the announcement of the squad for The Ashes a couple of days ago, it brought the first tinge of excitement about our impending Ashes campaign - certainly for me anyway. We're now only a little under 2 months away from the big kick off in Brisbane, and I certainly can't wait for the moment the umpire calls play and that first ball is bowled in Brissie.
In my opinion there were little surprises in the squad, apart from the decision to bring Tremlett along. We already have a bowler with pace and bounce in Finny, but I suppose Tremlett has been drafted in as cover should anything happen to him. The omission of Shazad was also a little surprising. Also, forgive me if I am wrong but if Tim Bresnan is a Test class bowler, then I am a Test class wicketkeeper!! But that's one for another time.
What's that coming over the hill is it a 'Mont'ster, is it a 'Mont'ster?! From a personal viewpoint, the most pleasing selection in the squad was Monty Panesar. Yes his batting is pretty poor (although remember Cardiff 2009??!!) and his fielding not much better, but on his day he is a matchwinner. I have long maintained that Monty has unfinished business with the England team, and that at some point we will see the 2nd coming of Monty. Being in The Ashes squad is part of that process. We maye not see him play in Oz, but at some point in the future he will be back taking wickets for fun. And I for one can't wait to see him rampaging down the wicket, jumping up and down and missing numerous high fives along the way as he celebrates trapping another batsman. Oh Monty Monty, Monty Monty Monty Monty Panesar!
Finally, my starting 11 for Brisbane would be as follows:-
Strauss
Cooky
Trott
KP
Colly
Bell
Matty P
Broad
Swann
Jimmy
Finny
Not many surprises in there! Normally I would be tempted to drop a batsman and go with 5 bowlers, but I don't think we have the quality with the back up seamers in the squad, and there is no point in playing 2 spinners in Brissie.
Anyway, that's all for now. Roll on 24th November when we can all really get behind the boys at the start of a successful defence of the little urn.
Deano
Sunday, 26 September 2010
And so the countdown to The Ashes begins
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1 comments:
Agree with your comments about the ashes squad mate. I'd have taken Shazad for the 'Simon Jones' reverse swing factor that the Aussies hate. I would definitely go with 5 bowlers though as I think the heat in Brisbane will be too tough for just 4. Got to take 20 wickets somehow. I'd drop Cook and go with Trott opening. I don't like Bresnan much either but with Shazad not there I'd probably play him as another option who can also bat. Or Panesar to bowl in tandem with Graeme 'he drinks, he drives, he saves his kitten's lives' Swanny!
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