NFR The Ashes start on Friday

[Hatch007]

If you read the OPs post properly you would know that he said he was more excited for the Ashes than the Sunderland game which is why some of us chose to post as we have. No need to lecture anyone.

Wow. You thought that was a lecture? We obviously went to very different universities!

[Hatch007]

Cricket , as exciting as watching paint dry , just giving my opinion!

You're making this too easy for us 

[Dr Know]

Good , education is a wonderful thing !

[JimmyConway]

We need our batting to come good to have a decent chance. One of the openers at least has to have a good series to allow the likes of Root & Brook to flourish.
First time for a while we can categorically state we have more quickies than them if they can stay fit !

[C Block]

Can't wait for Friday although a 2.00 am start is a bit of a challenge. Never done an Ashes tour but have made the Caribbean and SA for tests. Wonderful experience. They reckon some 40,000 tour packages have been sold in total for the tour so should be a great atmosphere at the grounds

2.00am starts are perfect though if you're a night shift worker 😉

[Lester Burnham]

The highlight of any sporting calendar, for me, is The Ashes and B&I Lions tours.
7:30PM start here in Denver, Thursday evening, excellent timing.
To echo HV71's post about 'Somerset Fulham', I too noticed his absence. Usually, he'd be all over a topic such as the Ashes. Hope he's ok.

[Carborundum]

Good fun to get us through the dark winter months.  Our lads are in with a shout, it'll be tough.

The Aussie media begin gunning for the English players from the moment they arrive. Withstand that, get a win on the board and the media can be relied upon to start turning on their own.

So, when waking in the middle of the night, knowing a full nights sleep is what's required, I'll be back to the familiar demon whispering to me "Ashes are on downstairs".  What's a grown man to do?

[Somerset Fulham]

Hey chaps, and thanks for the concern, I am very much ok.

I have taken a back step from here recently because I was finding myself more and more frustrated with the way the board was moving and not wanting to get myself into trouble with the mods or for that matter wasting my time arguing with people, I have taken the decision to stay away. Hopefully things will change in the coming weeks or months and I will be tempted to post again.

I do miss loads of you and of course I miss chatting rubbish about our favourite football team, but it is what it is.

I was there for this, and it remains the greatest sporting ten minutes of my life.

Come on England!

[Lester Burnham]

Hey chaps, and thanks for the concern, I am very much ok.

I have taken a back step from here recently because I was finding myself more and more frustrated with the way the board was moving and not wanting to get myself into trouble with the mods or for that matter wasting my time arguing with people, I have taken the decision to stay away. Hopefully things will change in the coming weeks or months and I will be tempted to post again.

I do miss loads of you and of course I miss chatting rubbish about our favourite football team, but it is what it is.

I was there for this, and it remains the greatest sporting ten minutes of my life.

Come on England!

[Plodder]

My man concerns are how brittle Wood, Stokes and Archer are, our lack of any decent spinners and how stubborn Stokes can be as a captain.

I fear that just to be contrarian, Stokes will choose to field if he wins the toss, as he is wedded to the notion of chasing in the fourth innings given the choice. Every Test at the Opta Stadium in Perth has been won by the team batting first.  It doesn't mean you can't win batting fourth, but the evidence suggests you should bat first if you win the toss.

Atkinson, Tongue, Carse and Potts have gone under the radar, but I have a funny feeling they are crucial to the outcome of the series. I can't see Wood and Archer playing all the Tests, even id=f they don't break down, and Stokes often overbowls himself and breaks down as a result.  Atkinson and Carse can bowl decent spells and be a consistent threat, while Tongue can make their top order uncomfortable, and is excellent at cleaning up the tail.

With such a brittle pace attack, I can see England electing to play four seamers plus Stokes at Perth.  Bashir and Jacks can't offer enough control, nor enough wicket taking threat, in my opinion. I think one of them may play at Adelaide and Sydney, maybe Melbourne too, although the Brisbane day-night game with the pink ball is likely to see an all seam attack selected by England.

Looking forward to it, but because the Australians are an experienced bunch who know how to win at home, I have them as favourites.

I don't want to mess up my sleep schedule too much before mid December, so I shall have to miss the first couple of sessions from Perth, and other commitments will prevent me watching too much of Brisbane live, but once we reach Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, I foresee a few all nighters for me if the series and the individual matches are close.

[Plodder]

I have taken a back step from here recently because I was finding myself more and more frustrated with the way the board was moving and not wanting to get myself into trouble with the mods or for that matter wasting my time arguing with people, I have taken the decision to stay away. Hopefully things will change in the coming weeks or months and I will be tempted to post again.

I recognise that feeling, it is why I don't visit or post as frequently as I used to

[HV71]

So glad you are okay Somerset Fulham - we know how much you love FFC and cricket . Come back soon we miss you ( and your common sense ) !

[Coastwalker]

I'd love to do an Ashes tour one day. I think we'll make a good effort but hard to see us winning the series. Their bowling unit is a level above ours.

Their bowlers are injured.
Cummins might miss whole series.
Unless they playing mind games.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Gutted as I was going up until about 9 months ago. Was looking at hotels, flights etc. Three of my Fulham pals going out for Melbourne and Sydney. Sounds like there's going to be a huge number of England fans travelling. Been lucky enough to do four Ashes tours from 90/91 - 2002/3. Fantastic experience

Absolutely agree

[Woolly Mammoth]

Can't wait for Friday although a 2.00 am start is a bit of a challenge. Never done an Ashes tour but have made the Caribbean and SA for tests. Wonderful experience. They reckon some 40,000 tour packages have been sold in total for the tour so should be a great atmosphere at the grounds

2.00am starts are perfect though if you're a night shift worker 😉

That suits me, I have already put it in my Diary.

[Woolly Mammoth]

England squad for first Ashes test on Friday.

Ben Stokes (c)
Jofra Archer
Gus Atkinson
Shoaib Bashir
Harry Brook
Brydon Carse
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Jamie Smith (wk)
Mark Wood

[Hatch007]

Ten players pick themselves so it's between Bash and Carse for the final spot.

"In the short history of this venue - five previous Tests have been staged here - Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker with 29".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cdjr1vk1d34o

[Somerset Fulham]

So glad you are okay Somerset Fulham - we know how much you love FFC and cricket . Come back soon we miss you ( and your common sense ) !

Thanks pal, and to everyone else. It means a lot.

[C Block]

"If" we win the toss what would you do?
I'm really hoping we win it and bat first, and if we do let's hope we play "proper " international cricket, its not necessary to try and score 400 on the first day, India during the summer showed the value of keeping the opposition in the field, let's do the same to the Aussies and at the same time giving our bowlers as much rest as possible.

[Thailand Mick]

"If" we win the toss what would you do?
I'm really hoping we win it and bat first, and if we do let's hope we play "proper " international cricket, its not necessary to try and score 400 on the first day, India during the summer showed the value of keeping the opposition in the field, let's do the same to the Aussies and at the same time giving our bowlers as much rest as possible.

There best batsman is Steve Smith who has a fantastic average in the first innings of a match of 80+ outside the first innings it's 42.He has only scored 2 centuries in 8 years outside the first innings. Win the Toss and bat no brainer but this is England and they love to chase.