The Ashes Down Under 2017/18

Wtf? Already? still playing bloody cricket in England and it’s almost farking October!

But of course in a few hours we will all need to go and hide behind a sofa as England name their Middle Order for the coming battle.

Obviously the 16 players will contain the stalwarts

Cook, Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Broad and Anderson. I would imagine Woakes is in as well.

Which leaves the supporting cast.

James Vince (Test Av 19, only 592 runs this summer) or Gary LBW Ballance at #3

Stoneman & Malan done enough or is it a case of there really is nobody else and they get on the plane? Duckett has gone backwards, Hales doesn’t seem to have really made a big impression in the Middle Order for Notts.

I just would not take Ballance - he’s said his game is OK and we have seen it isn’t.

Surely Root HAS to bat 3 Vince/Hales/Malan at 4 and 5?

Would you take Mason Crane or Adil Rashid (or Jack Leach?) as back up to Moeen?

Which other quicks? No TRJ so is Wood up to it? Does Plunkett get a last chance? Is Jake Ball the answer? Buttler or Foakes?

Anyway a few hours to debate and pick a squad before we can rest easy for a month or so and try and win a trip to watch on Social Media or something.

Cook, Stoneman, Root, Vince, Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes, Broad, Anderson

Then Hales, Buttler, Leach, Wood IF fit - if not Plunkett, Ball

I know Foakes is the better keeper and Jos has played very little Red Ball cricket but that England middle order just looks horrid.

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i reckon Jennings will go on the tour. They seem to keep him around the squad even when he’s not selected.

Meanwhile, what’s all this? Ben Stokes arrested…

Well that’s Hales and Stokes out of the tour then

Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be available for tomorrow’s One-Day International match against West Indies at The Oval.

Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, 25 September, following an incident in Bristol.

He was held overnight and released under investigation – without charge – late on Monday and will not join the team in London.

Hales, who was with Stokes on Sunday night, did not train this morning and has returned voluntarily to Bristol today to help Police with their enquiries.

You will understand that we cannot offer further detail at this stage but will provide any updates when we can.

Apparently Stokes has also injured his hand. I wonder if the two incidents could be related…

Arrested but released with no charge, but not good

This is the incident, apparently:

https://twitter.com/ASPolice/status/912652942645301249

https://twitter.com/Aggerscricket/status/912783941840588801

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I know that there isn’t much choice at the moment but FFS Vince should be dropped from the Hampshire team, not picked for England.

We need a new Barmy Army song - We’re 20 for 2…

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We will get that many?

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Wake up - we are 20-2 and it’s Cook & Root at the crease

Wake up - we are 20-2 and it’s Vince and Stoneman at the crease.

Yep that is not going to make the cornflakes taste good.

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Vince to celebrate his highly dubious recall (though no more dubious than others) by batting like a Captain and a trooper at Edgbaston later today and tomorrow.

maybe.

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I DID warn you all to stay off Lowenbrau

The selection of Ballance has raised a few eyebrows. He has been given chance after chance and been shown wanting every time. It is well known that he is Joe Root’s closest friend, say no more! And no place for Liam Plunkett, a genuinely quick bowler who can also bat. Jake Ball preferred. Vince has had a poor season, was OK in Div 2 but has been found out in Div 1. Mason Crane is a decent prospect, but the back up spinner in the Ashes? I don’t think so. The Aussies will be licking their lips.

The Aussies are still in termoil and will be lucky to field a cohesive team this is one series we should be looking at how not to lose not how we will win.

Interesting article from Vic Marks in the Guardian regarding the selections for the Ashes. Basically he reckons England have gone for a pick your mates policy. Five of the picks share the same agent as Root. I think Victor may be on to something.