England Ashes squad

Cannot believe they are taking Will Jacks. It’s like taking Clubber Lang instead of Joe Louis. First they should have taken Rehan Ahmed  to get a better look at him and for the nets ( if the Lions Tour finishes earlier ) second Jordan Cox looks like a Test Cricket in the making. There is no way Jacks can take up the spinning duties. Fair enough Cox would not get a game. Pope is on his way out and Cox is the next cab. Bethell should get the Test nod over Pope.

Will Aus produce hard, fast pitches?

I really think we have the bullets this times. Aus do have the  3 top pacers and the best spinner. Our batting is good, theirs is not.

I do not think the Aussie 2nd string will be dangerous. 5 tests, the last 3 will be attritional

Can’t wait. Ribeye and Barossa Vallet at 5 in the morning. How civilised is that!

If Cummins is fit i think the Aussies have the edge. Don't think there will be many draws in the series unless there is bad weather about.

A Big Mac and Bishops Finger would be more Medway WD

I’m posh!

……. for Medway

It’s is a pretty formidable attack but the end of the lifespan..

Don’t get me wrong all great athlete with stamina but Hazelwood in particular has injury concerns. The other two seem as fit as butchers dogs but any injury will take time to heal.

The real test will start on Boxing Day. We will of course be vulnerable for the day nighter and if we are already 1-0 down it will be curtains.

I am looking forward to a no quarter explosive confrontation

stating the bleeding obvious but we must get out of the first 2 at no worse than 1-1 then we could take advantage of the ageing aussie side with the last 3 tests close together. you have to go back a long time to find england winning in australia after losing the first test. in fact we've only regained the ashes over there once since bodyline

The Aussie bowlers are not that much older than their English counterparts, only Tongue and Atkinson i believe are under 30 out of all of the pace attack on either side.

It's more a question of fitness and with Carse often having foot issues and Archer , Tongue and Wood's past travails well known, i'd be more concerned about our attack lasting for the duration.
Lyon is also a much better spinner than any we have.

On current form the Aussie batting is weaker than England's and so it should be a very close series.

I think England have the depth to keep the pressure on, Australia do not. England “ batters “ , sorry, will target if replacements come in. Their bowlers are fit as butchers dogs. We shall see but it makes for a great contest and spectacle.

Sorry scenes between India and Pakistan. There was a time when sport brought people together. At least at Twickenham this Saturday we saw the power of sport for good.

The first 3 Test's have something like a 9 day break between them meaning Archer and Wood should be able to play at least two if not all 3.

The problems begin not on 17th December and the 3rd test at Adelaide, ashley it finishes on 21st December so nobody should be over fatigued!

Boxing day 26th December to 30th December then 3 days rest before Sydney on 4th January.

I think England need to find their combinations. I would imagine Atkinson is central and maybe 4 test's from Archer. Is Wood going to be played along side Archer? I hope he is depending on the nature of the pitches. Stokes will be pivotal for balance so Carse or Tongue to maybe get one or two games between them for me. Atkinson can bat so that will help.

The attrition only starts on Boxing day and Cummins and Hazelwood will be vulnerable as will England against Starc under lights at Brisbane.

Boland is good but England will try and hit him off his length. If Hazelwood is injured too then Aus have huge problems. Aus 1.72 odd for series win looks like a remortgage the caravan type lay to me. Endland 2-1 for series but I don't think they will win the day night game. Safer to lay Aus

Will Pat Cummins be fit for the Ashes or not ?  The conflicting reports from Oz are getting a bit tiresome.

As he is the best bowler on either side it could be crucial if he is ruled out.  Two days ago the news from down under was that he was likely out for the whole series, then today the Aussie coach is quoted as saying he is optimistic about Cummins making the first test !

I wonder what the real truth is ?

i think england are in with a shout --lets hope so

Got a feeling Cummins will be fit and it was misinformation

It's been confirmed that Pat Cummins will miss the first test, they are still hopeful he will be fit for the second one.

Steve Smith takes over the captaincy in PC's absence.  Sandpaper at the ready

yes good news that. hopefully hell be out for a while.

im feeling confident we might do well over there

australia 5/7

england 2/1 current prices on here

England last won down under in 2010-11 and Ben Stokes' side will be looking to regain the urn for the first time since 2015.

The first Test is in Perth and the series ends in Sydney.

Here is the schedule:

    First Test: 21-25 November (02:30 GMT), Perth

    Second Test: 4-8 December (04:30 GMT), Brisbane

    Third Test: 17-21 December (00:00 GMT), Adelaide

    Fourth Test: 25-29 December (23:30 GMT), Melbourne

    Fifth Test: 3-7 January (23:30 GMT), Sydney

not long to go now --cant wait