the right balance of players may have made the series closer but the level of play from australia was simply too high for probably most teams in the history of the game.
England lost their best batsman and bowler, Harmison had awful preparation, Hoggard wasn't the same in Australian conditions, and their captaincy was way down. Australia replaced weak links Katich and Kasper/Dizzy/Tait with Hussey and Clark, and Pidge was fit for all 5 tests.
Awful preparation and selection hurt England badly, but they were starting behind the eight ball. Hayden is basically right.
----------------------- 'John and Kevin offered to settle their differences in the ring, but were forced to backflip after it became clear no-one wanted to see either of them in boxer shorts'
I think that, had England prepared properly / selected properly / retained Cooley / picked Strauss as skipper, then 2-0 to Australia would be a fair scoreline.
Originally posted by Mister Robby: I think that, had England prepared properly / selected properly / retained Cooley / picked Strauss as skipper, then 2-0 to Australia would be a fair scoreline.
Maybe you should write a letter to the ICC Robby and ask for the Ashes to be replayed because England wasn't ready?
If everything went right with injuries ect and they picked the right team i think probably 3-0.
Of couse that means nothing really, if evertything went right for the aussies in 05 england would have been chasing the ashes this series not trying to defend them.
Originally posted by Mister Robby: I think that, had England prepared properly / selected properly / retained Cooley / picked Strauss as skipper, then 2-0 to Australia would be a fair scoreline.
Maybe you should write a letter to the ICC Robby and ask for the Ashes to be replayed because England wasn't ready?
Ashes 05 were a fluke. Aus had a few injuries at crucial stages. And even the 2-1 was really hard fought, it could have gone either way.
But the future looks bright without the leggie and the robot.
If the best England can do is serve up the same players they have now for the next 2 or 3 years they are going nowhere. It's been open slather on England lately, even Sri Lanka managed to draw a Test series against England in England.
Originally posted by Dr.Bombay: The Ashes seemed lost when Trescothic went home....
Baloney.....Aside from Trescothick's illness the guy had been in poor form with the bat for quite some time anyhow. There are simply holes everywhere in the English team at the moment.
Originally posted by Dr.Bombay: The Ashes seemed lost when Trescothic went home....
Baloney.....Aside from Trescothick's illness the guy had been in poor form with the bat for quite some time anyhow. There are simply holes everywhere in the English team at the moment.
True, there are holes everywhere in the England team, but you underestimate the importance of Trescothick to England's chances.
Trescothick in the form he was in most of 2003-5 is a formidable proposition for any opposing attack.
----------------------- 'John and Kevin offered to settle their differences in the ring, but were forced to backflip after it became clear no-one wanted to see either of them in boxer shorts'
