The Ashes: First Test 8-12 July 2015

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Does Harris get the nod for the first 11? If so who do we drop?

[Pies4shaw]

Believe it or not, Mitchell Johnson probably misses for him. Hazlewood and Starc are near-certainties, you'd think, so assuming that a spinner is required (so Lyon stays), that leaves the last spot between Harris and Johnson. Harris seems to be thought of as the leader of the attack, when he is available, so he's highly likely to get the nod.

[King Monkey]

Purely on bowling skill, I agree P4S.
But you can't discount the mental factor of facing a nemesis.
Johnson plays the first test for mine, Starc straight in if he misfires, but only if Starc can keep up the recent form of not following up an unplayable ball with 2 "4 balls" as he used to do.

The top 6 is the most interesting I reckon.
Where do you place Watson?, Clarke back to 5?, Voges or Marsh?

This is my side to start the Ashes:
1 Rogers
2 Warner
3 Smith
4 Watson
5 Clarke
6 Voges
7 Nevill
8 Johnson
9 Harris
10 Hazlewood
11 Lyon (as a defensive spinner on a flat wicket) / Fawad (on a raging turner)

A couple of points to clarify:
- Wade is who I'd like to pick as WK. Haddin would never have played for Australia if I was a selector, and I haven't seen enough of Nevill to rate him or otherwise. So that spot actually goes to Nevill by default, as he's in the touring party.
- S.Marsh opens when Rogers retires.
- Clarke has to bat a 5 for me. Doesn't seem like much of a difference batting 4 or 5, but there is. Clarke is naturally suited to batting in the middle order not the top order.

Can't wait!!!!

[Donny]

The first Test is 3 weeks away.

Much water to flow under the bridge before that. Also the Test warm-up matches.

If all the tourists are uninjured, there's no way MJ would be left out of the Test XI. He is their (Poms) biggest fear.

Watson at #4 ?? Hardly.

[watt price tully]

Starc has shown enough now that he's matured. His bad balls are few these days. A tall, fast accurate bowler with swing in his repertoire is a must. At the same time so is Johnston. Harris is a no brainer if fit & who knows if he will be be by the first test.

Rogers was concussed so we don't know how he is going to play & I'm not sure if he is a certainty - especially if they want to go for youth.

[King Monkey]

I never said my line-up was anywhere near where the selectors' heads are!
It's MY preferred line-up.

And yes I do agree Starc has probably gone passed Johnson, but he'll have to wait until after the Ashes or for a couple of sub-par performances to be named ahead of him.

[Donny]

They will both play.

The selectors will either go for Harris ahead of Hazelwood or (unlikely) play both and leave Lyon out.

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[King Monkey]

They will prepare dry wickets, Lyon or Fawad wil definitely play.

All 4 quicks can be used as attacking bowlers, but only 2 can be used to tie up an end as well. The conditions will require patience at times.
Harris and Hazlewood first 2 picked for this reason, Starc and Johnson will be used in short sharp spells to rattle the cage. Johnson has the "runs on the board" to deserve first crack at this role. (really poor cliche in the circumstances. )

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Warne reckons Harris for an unlucky Hazelwood:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/shane-warne-backs-ryan-harris-instead-of-josh-hazlewood-for-ashes-20150619-ghsurj.html

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According to the Cricket Australia Website there are two formal practice matches coming up:

2 x 4 day fixtures:

1. June 25 start v Kent

2. July 1 start v Essex

[Donny]

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Englands surprise packet:

Mark Footitt: Derbyshire bowler deserves England call - O'Brien

Mark Footitt is "head and shoulders" above his county cricket rivals and fully deserves his England pre-Ashes squad call-up, says BBC Radio Derby's ex-New Zealand bowler Iain O'Brien.
O'Brien, who played 22 Tests, has been commentating on Derbyshire since 2014.

And he believes paceman Footitt, 29, is long overdue international recognition.
"It has been a genuine pleasure to watch him. He's been head and shoulders above all other bowlers in domestic cricket," O'Brien told BBC Sport.

"But I am not influenced by following Derbyshire. He is just that good.
"If England want to win the Ashes, he should be involved given what he has done in the past couple of seasons. He has bowled fast and intelligently, he has got the ball to swing and moved it both ways. And he is very quick - one of the quickest out there.

Former England bowler Ryan Sidebottom:

"Footitt is a good addition. He bowls very quickly and has that variation that England have needed for a long time now. Batsmen do get used to your bowling, especially so in Test cricket. When I was at Nottingham he was a young left-armer with a lot of potential. He was always asking about bowling, always interested in how to win games. He's in good form, and I'm pleased for him. He deserves his chance."
"He bowls with pace but he can go up and down the ranges.
"He doesn't need to be bowling at more than 90 miles per hour all the time. When it's time to drag it back with a little bit more control he can."
Footitt has taken 32 wickets in Division Two of the County Championship this season and O'Brien has no doubts the left-armer can make the step up in quality.

"He should have been in the team to play against New Zealand, taking nothing away from Mark Wood, so that England could have a real good look at him," said O'Brien.
"There is a disparity between his age and how much cricket he has actually played and maybe there has been an element of his age counting against him with the selectors.
"Maybe they are concerned about what's left in the tank and they are going with younger players for the one-day team. But they need to pick a guy when he is playing well for the Tests."

From The Daily Mail (UK)