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Admiral Lard 2:30 Sun Nov 2
What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Only 20 months ago Australia destroyed England 5-0, each defeat was utterly crushing, not even close. In doing so the Australians held the Ashes for the first time in 8 years.

Since then England has regrouped, cut out the cancer that has so badly damaged morale and brought some fresh new talent.

Whilst not yet the finished article England has a decent cricket team once again.

The Australians, on the other hand, have seemingly fallen apart in their test series against Pakistan. What on earth has happened to them?

Is it the surreal atmosphere of the empty Emirates stadiums with no history of cricket whatever?

I would love to see England crush the Australians in a way they haven’t for many, many years. The history of Ashes results is very even, The Australians have a 32-31 series lead though overall 128 to 108 test win lead. B

In recent years England have had some notable wins but haven’t really put them to the sword as they did to us in the last series downunder, not since 1978.

What is the feeling in Australia about the current “Baggie Greens?”

It will be very interesting to see how the respective form of each team develops ahead of next summer’s battle. Could be the most enthralling Ashes series in many generations.

stewie griffin 8:17 Tue Nov 25
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Awful that. Hope he pulls through

Takashi Miike 7:12 Tue Nov 25
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

i hope he's ok

Sven Roeder 7:07 Tue Nov 25
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

The Pakistani batsman fractured his skull in the recent NZ Test. I suspect helmets are being built a bit too much for comfort rather than protection these days and need to be looked at.
Hang in there , Phil

Hammerhermit 7:00 Tue Nov 25
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Saw that hope very much he is ok.

Sven Roeder 6:56 Tue Nov 25
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Phil Hughes hit in the side of the head by a bouncer in the Sheffield Shield match between NSW & S Aust at SCG.
Staggered & then collapsed face down on the pitch. Has needed mouth to mouth & oxygen on the pitch and medivac helicopter and ambulances arrived.
Taken to hospital and play abandoned
Critical condition and being operated on

Sven Roeder 12:09 Mon Nov 24
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Squad named for First Test v India at Brisbane on Thursday week

Rogers Warner Watson Clarke Smith M Marsh Haddin Johnson Harris Siddle Lyon Hazlewood

Sven Roeder 1:00 Fri Nov 21
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Sri Lanka A 198/6 (43/43 ov)
England XI 145/2 (25/25 ov, target 90)

England XI won by 56 runs (D/L method)

M Ali 3/29 & 56 A Cook 54


New Zealand 403 & 250/9d
Pakistan 393 & 114/4 (44.0 ov)

Pakistan require another 147 runs with 6 wickets remaining in 28 overs


4th ODI at MCG
South Africa 267/8 (50.0 ov) DeVilliers 91
Australia 268/7 (49.0 ov) Steven Smith 104

Australia won by 3 wickets (with 6 balls remaining) & lead 3-1

Sven Roeder 8:52 Fri Nov 21
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

NZ 250/9 dec
Pakistan set 261 in about 72 overs

S Africa 267/8 50 overs in 4th ODI

Sri Lanka A 105/5 in warm up game v England
3 wickets for M Ali & 2 for Finn

Jonah Lomas 11:14 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

I'll take either Sven.

Sven Roeder 10:42 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Draw is the least likely I think.
Only if somehow NZ manage to bat past lunch or they lose early wickets and end up holding on.
Pakistan are due a collapse. Or a match fix

Jonah Lomas 10:32 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

3 test series though Sven, so a draw isn't the end of the world. Neither is a loss though really.

As I said though, they chased down 190 in a session and 300 in 50 overs or so to beat Sri Lanka, so they'll be happy to go for whatever total we set too.

I think there will be a result either way. I fancy us if Boult and Southee can nick a couple out and then let Sodhi loose. Goes for a few but takes wickets. Got a great wrong'un too.

Sven Roeder 10:12 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Well, as you are 1-0 down you have to go for the win as the draw is useless.

They may not get a chance but the ideal situation would be another 100 and have them in for 15 mins before lunch.
Making 250 or 270 to win on the 5th day is a different proposition to cruising along 400 ahead which has been their batting situation recently.

Jonah Lomas 9:35 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

I think one thing you can guarantee, is that BMac will go for the win for as long as he possibly can.

We do need another 100+ though really, given Pakistan knocked off 190 runs or so, in a session to beat Sri Lanka earlier this year.

Sven Roeder 2:49 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

NZ 167/6 and off for bad light
177 ahead and need to go for the win tomorrow to square the series.
Interesting last day

Sven Roeder 2:13 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Yes, some late runs for Pakistan to get close and the normal 3rd innings collapse that most (non subcontinent) teams get on these wickets.
They need another 100 runs at least to make it interesting.

Lovejoy 2:04 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Sven Roeder 1:51 Thu Nov 20

This morning thought this would be a draw easily. Getting interesting now.

Sven Roeder 1:51 Thu Nov 20
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

New Zealand 403 & 129/5 (34.6 ov)

Pakistan 393

New Zealand lead by 139 runs with 5 wickets remaining

NZ doing their best to get into a losing position with about 100 overs left in the Test

Sven Roeder 12:46 Wed Nov 19
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

NZ 403
Pakistan 193/3
Last session Day 3

3rd ODI at Canberra
Australia 329/5 (Finch 109 Smith 73no)
S Africa 256 (Amla 102 Starc 4/32)
Australia lead 2-1
Harris & Siddle bowl their Sheffield Shield teams to 4th day victories while Mitchell Johnson takes a rest.

Mr. Burns 2:39 Tue Nov 18
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Haddin is the biggest cunt in cricket.

Sven Roeder 2:36 Tue Nov 18
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

NZ 403
Pakistan 34/2
Stumps day 2
Another good day for the Kiwis

Sven Roeder 10:09 Tue Nov 18
Re: What has happened to the Australians ahead of the 2015 Ashes?

Haddin should be fit and in a way the absence of Clarke (almost certain for the First Test, maybe the whole series) will probably save him from any thoughts the selectors should be having from moving him on.
Smith is likely to be the next full time captain but they will want to get another year or two out of Clarke.
Australia need some batsmen to come through .... it might be Khawaja and Joe Burns during this India series.
India series should be interesting as I think Australia need to make some changes during it and at the moment you don't know whether the likes of Haddin, Rogers, Harris & (because of injury) Clarke and Watson will make it to England.
The most interesting thing about the resting of Johnson for these last three ODI's v S Africa is the selection of Cummins.

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