Trying to select a team so far ahead is a bit of a joke, but anyway.....

Strauss
Key/Joyce
Cook
Shah
KP
Bell
Foster
Broad
Trembler
Panesar
Onions/ other random quickie

Based on a few provisos- that Tresco is most unlikely to play again, and Vaughan, Jones and FLintoff will have succumbed to their respective injuries. HArmi will imho have retired by that stage.

Hoggard?

Might still be around I spose, but hes played alot of cricket since 2000. Forgot about him though, so yeah would be ahead of Trembler.

Love Onions.

Have you seen him play Lags? Don't know much about him although hes meant to have a bit of pace.

Can't land the ball anywhere on the square. Pretty much Harmison-and-Plunkett-like.

Harmis still taken 189 test wickets......

Skidyish bowler. Haven't seen him as yet but heard great reviews. I might be biased when it comes to onions.

Not berating anyone when they're good, I meant when they're all in a 'Brisbane mood'.

Cheers Lags.

Fair dos Danny- that said, Harmi is still a vital member of the team. No way I'd drop him.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob:
Trying to select a team so far ahead is a bit of a joke, but anyway.....

Strauss
Key/Joyce
Cook
Shah
KP
Bell
Foster
Broad
Trembler
Panesar
Onions/ other random quickie

Thanks Rob, things don't look so bad for us next time around.
Looking at that team, i reckon we can cope with the 4 retirements after all.

quote:

Originally posted by Adelaide Al:

quote:

Originally posted by Rob:
Trying to select a team so far ahead is a bit of a joke, but anyway.....

Strauss
Key/Joyce
Cook
Shah
KP
Bell
Foster
Broad
Trembler
Panesar
Onions/ other random quickie

Thanks Rob, things don't look so bad for us next time around.
Looking at that team, i reckon we can cope with the 4 retirements after all.

Another 2005 result then?

Once in 20+ years suggests not.

I'll back Tres to have made a triumphant 'Thorpe like' return to the England side by 2009.

Trescothick
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Strauss(c)
Davies+
Flintoff(He'll only be 31)
Tremlett/Rashid(Depending on conditions)
Broad
Anderson/S.Jones/Mahmood
Panesar

quote:

Originally posted by Adelaide Al:
Once in 20+ years suggests not.

Only a fool bases their predictions on history.

Those who do not learn from history are history themselves.

tell that to the ecb.

they came out today saying their two goals were improve in one day cricket(good) and win back the ashes in 09(idiotic thing to only focus on 3 years out)

England need to look back to 2003 where they wanted simply to be the best they could be with the ashes win a by product of that form rather than the only thing that mattered.

It's also a slap in the face to the many teams they will play between now and the 2009 ashes

I can see Flintoff falling away due to lack of fitness/media witch hunt in the next three years. And if Rashid turns out to be a good 'un, I'll take the wrist-spinner over Monty any day. Not to mention he can bat.

Broad should be there. I'd expect Strauss and Cook to open once more. I hope to see Shah occupying a top six spot too. Pietersen will definitely be there. Anderson and Mahmood should have improved enough to be in consideration. Then there'll be someone who we've never heard of.

quote:

they came out today saying their two goals were improve in one day cricket(good) and win back the ashes in 09(idiotic thing to only focus on 3 years out)

Fair call imo. To win the Ashes in 2009 they will have to build up a truckload of momentum like they did in 2005 by winning 5 series in a row. Hopefully they have learned that now.

England took their foot off the gas after the 2005 series because they thought they could just put their foot back down on it when this series came around. Sport doesnt work like that. Momentum and confidence is everything.

what should help is young blokes like cook and bell fighting for their spots, they won't be thinking about 3 years time like the ecb as they need to play well right now to even be a chance of playing in the next ashes.

Impossible to judge what any team will look like in 2009.

Odds on Panesar,Mahmood,Anderson,Cook & Collingwood playing in 2006/7 during the 2005 series?

Long...

agree 100%.

3 years is a lifetime in top level cricket.

And a series turning bowler/bat for 2009 could be just some unknown kid right now or a vet on a late career upswing.

after all look at australia our top run scorer(hussey and wicket taker(clark) were just 29 year old untried domestic players during the last ashes

Ashes 2009. For the first time on this forum I feel justified to use

I now firmly doubt whether England will ever produce a great team or be world champions with this attitude- assuming that the attitude is reflective of the powers that be over there.

Australia hunger for every test and ODI, for all that a few forummers fashionably call the latter JAMODIS. If they had to play a backyard 2 overs per side game with a back of the chair for a wicket and stuffed rags for a ball, the current Aussies players would still turn up fighting-mad and burning if it meant representing their country.

Awww c'mon we're still touring Australia - of course thoughts will turn to 2009 after such a spanking.

It's been well stated that the Aussies were planning for this series as soon as they had left England.

Rob, this thread is completely pointless you clown.