Ok my sleep schedule is ****ed and the Ashes is <24 hours so i thought i'd post some crap.
The weather is set for showers (apparently) which should suit us well, getting into the series with a draw.
Although Australia have been on lol form of late, it hasn't been the true Aus playing. As much as i'd love to i just can't see us winning this series. Like Manchester United, Australia just have a winning mentality drilled into them, we on the other hand usually lose before we step off the plane.
Strauss will need to be our talisman with the bat, i'm confident in him as a captain and with his batting ability.
Swann cannot afford to get injured, has been our best bowler for a while now and carries a real burden on his shoulders.
Pieterson has been woeful recently and we will need him to step his game up 10 fold.
I expect Trott to be solid throughout the series, be as dull as Dravid if needs be, but we need someone who can stay at the wicket.
Broad will have to try and keep his cool, but undoubtedly he will throw his toys out the pram on several occasions.
I hope Monty is only out there to play water boy, i don't want to see him bowl one ball or face a single delivery.
Michael Clarke should pass fit to play.
Aus reserve keeper ruled out for six weeks due to broken finger
Johnson claims he's going to bombard Strauss with bouncers
England have warmed up with the "sprinkler"
Some predictions
Gatting- Aus
Warne - Eng
Botham- Eng
S Waugh- Aus 3-2
Tony Greig- 2-2
Benaud- Draw (well he hints towards Eng)
Vaughan-Eng 5-0 lol
McGrath- Shall i even bother?
Aus
So the experts have it 3-3 and two draws. Well that settled a lot
Some Twitter accounts
Graeme Swann
Michael Clarke
Kevin Pieterson
David Lloyd
Shane Warne
Michael Vaughan
Phil Tufnell
Cricinfo Wickets
Cricinfo News
Some Odds-
Current Odds (Betfair)
Favoured Series result
2-2 @
7.6. That would set up for a cracking series.
Aus
3-1 /
2-1 Virtually the same price @
9.4.
Eng
2-1 @
10.5
====
Series Winner
Aus @
2.0
Eng @
2.9
Draw @
5.6
====
First Test
Aus @
2.2
Eng @
3.2
Draw @
4.1
Test Match End
< Day 3 @
12
4 Morning @
12.5
4 Lunch @
8.2
4 Eve @
5.9
5 M @
6.4
5 L @
6.2
5 E @
3.2 (current forecast is wet)
Given our record in opening tests i'd snap a draw here, but wont be surprised if we go one down.
Aus guys you may see some value in here, or English guys with a decent memory.
Most Runs from Wicket
Brisbane @
5.2
Adelaide @
2.9
Perth @
3.7
Melbourne @
4.7
Sydney @
3.2
====
Top scoring bat
Aus
Ponting @
4.5
Watson @
5.1
Katich @
6.2
Hussey @
7.2 I've not seen him play for a while, but he's been a thorn in our side enough down the years to make that look good value
Eng/ SAF
Strauss @
4.7
Piet @
5.4
Trott @
5.9
Bell @
6.4
If i had enough money, i'd gladly lay K Pieterson, he hasn't been on form for a while, i know he can rise to the occasion but i cannot see him being our top scorer.
I'm happy to pile on Strauss and Trott here.
Overall leading scorer
Ponting @
6.4
Strauss @
7.8
Katich @
9.2
Hussey @
14
Surely there has to be value on Ponting here?
=====
Leading WKT
Aus
Johnson
@3.85
Hilf
@3.95
Boll
@6.8
Not a clue here, think i'd back Hilfenhaus.
Eng
Swann @
2.3
Broad @
4.5
Anderson @
5.1
Just goes to show how much weight is on Swann's shoulders.
No doubt Aus will plan to play very aggressively early to knock him off his game and attempt to dent his confidence.
Overall
Swann @
3.9
Johnson @
6.2
Broad @
7.6
Hilf @
8.2
GOGOGOGOGOGOGOOGOGO!