1. J Langer (i wouldnt choose jacques purely because hoggard would give him a terrible time cause he can bowl better at left handers). 2. M Hayden 3. R Ponting 4. M Hussey 5. M Clarke 6. A Gilchrist 7. B Lee 8. S Warne 9. S MacGill 10. J Gillespie 11. G Mcgrath
Englands First Team. Providing no more injuries
1. M Trescothick 2. A Strauss 3. A Cook/ I Bell 4. K Peiterson 5. P Collingwood 6. A Flintoff 7. G Jones 8. L Plunkett/S Jones/A Giles (Panser over Gilo anyday for me) 9. M Hoggard 10.S Harmison 11.M Panesar
A Little Hard Work never killed anyone....but why take the chance?
All in all i think that if the Australian batting stays solid, Australia should win the Ashes. I'll be very surprised if there arent atleast 2 drawn Tests this time around though.
The English batting would worry me if i was an English fan. Bell, Collingwood, Shah to support the big three - Strauss, Trescothick, Pietersen.
Whos is the 7th and 8th specialist batsman for the tour? Englands second string from last year have suddenly become first choice.
David Gravy is talking about S. Jones, Fred and Gilo playing domestic cricket in SA or Aus prior to the Ashes. Aggers' take on it is here.
Realistically, I can't see them playing Shield cricket - only the English counties have ever been that accomodating to players from the opposition of an upcoming series. Aggers seems to think differently. So what do the Aussies here think?
Can't see them playing State cricket as there isn't much history of overseas players at this level. Am I right in saying since Imran and Botham in the 80's there's been almost no overseas players?
However Australian club cricket is of a very high standard, e.g. many established English county players struggle to have a major impact. This could well suit Flintoff, and S Jones get fit and rehabilitated and should suit the clubs as well as they will draw crowds and publicity. I think there would be plenty of clubs that will want them.
When does the domestic club season start? Are the games in October and November to fit their rehabilitation? If they come through this unscathed then England tour matches can test their 3 day fitness.
Realistically, I can't see them playing Shield cricket - only the English counties have ever been that accomodating to players from the opposition of an upcoming series. Aggers seems to think differently. So what do the Aussies here think?
Anytime in the late 90s early 21stC and perhaps the state teams would have been accommodating.
After 2005 - forget it. Aus cricket will go out of its way to make it as hard as it can for Eng this winter without a doubt.
I think one of the reasons Australian state sides aren't as keen to accommodate foreign players as their English counterparts is the much lower number of games per FC season ... state sides have only 10 games per season to develop their future players.
For instance - Thorpe was available for NSW all last year, yet he was not chosen. Obviously this decision was not taken on current cricketing ability alone, but because NSW wanted to develop players like Thornely.
Al State 
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