The Ashes - 2017/2018

[Lou Grant]

Men's Ashes starts 23rd November.

Women's Ashes, currently midway through 2nd ODI. England lost a close first game.

Key dates:

1st Test
23–27 November 2017

The Gabba, Brisbane

2nd Test
2–6 December 2017 (D/N)

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

3rd Test
14–18 December 2017

WACA Ground, Perth

4th Test
26–30 December 2017

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

5th Test
4–8 January 2018

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

[Zambo]

Thanks for the info Lou.

[Lou Grant]

Cook and Root fail - all the stiffs make runs.

You can tell Australia have rounded up a bunch of no hopers for this 'warm up' game.

[subsub]

Cook and Root fail - all the stiffs make runs.

You can tell Australia have rounded up a bunch of no hopers for this 'warm up' game.

I listened to a TMS podcast with Vaughan and a few others – they hooked up with Michael Slater during his Aussie radio show, too – and it made for ridiculous listening, frankly.

The way that Chappers and Vaughan kept going on about the Aussie attack, you'd think England were facing the mid-80s' Windies team. I think Aussies will be strong at home, but I would be amazed if it's 5-0. They have some good quicks and Lyon is a decent spinner, but was very odd how everyone on the podcast were saying it's pretty much a done deal that we'll be hammered.

[EddieCheddar]

The weather out here has been inclement to say the least and it promises to continue beyond the first two tests. Big rumblings the SCG pitch is a mess. I pass it every night on the way home. Floodlights on...

Aussie pundits/ recently retired attack from the recent home whitewash are talking it up but I don’t see anything to worry England outside of Warner, Smith and Lyon.

Their captain would be well advised to act like one because he’s been flip flopping between ‘we’re going to wallop England’ to ‘The pitches are poor’. Can’t give his players much confidence and the media already have the knives out.

Stokes in any capacity will shit them right up as they’re already worried about Root, Cook and Moeen. How is the media spin going about the ‘incident’?

[Lou Grant]

My Aussie mate thinks England are overpriced and has bet big on England to win the series. I wouldn't be doing that, but I'm pretty sure it will be reasonably close and certainly not 5-0.

To my mind there are so many uncertainties that it is hard to make any confident predictions - the fitness of the Australian quicks, the inexperience of both middle orders, the Stokes question etc.

[EddieCheddar]

Stokes is the big one.

He genuinely has the devil in him from a sporting perspective and will stand up to and walk all over Dave Warner.

[Lou Grant]

Finn to return home - injury means he will play no part in the winter tours. Moeen Ali will be fit to play by next week. No news yet on who will replace Finn.

[Holden Mcgroyne]

If Wood is fit and firing, he's the obvious choice, otherwise I'd go for Plunkett

[delboy1983]

Finn to return home - injury means he will play no part in the winter tours. Moeen Ali will be fit to play by next week. No news yet on who will replace Finn.

Ah the Daniel Sturridge of the cricket world.

[delboy1983]

Usually with these series the first one is crucial.
An easy victory for the Aussies on their own pitch could mean a landslide series win.
A win for England or even a draw makes for a closely fought one.

[AlcoholBrazil]

Have The Convicts named their final team yet ? GET ON WITH IT !!!

[Holden Mcgroyne]

Have The Convicts named their final team yet ? GET ON WITH IT !!!

They'll only need Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Warne and Smith to do the job. Anything anyone else contributes will be a bonus

[delboy1983]

Have The Convicts named their final team yet ? GET ON WITH IT !!!

They'll only need Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Warne and Smith to do the job. Anything anyone else contributes will be a bonus

Warnie is not back for this one

[Holden Mcgroyne]

Have The Convicts named their final team yet ? GET ON WITH IT !!!

They'll only need Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Warne and Smith to do the job. Anything anyone else contributes will be a bonus

Warnie is not back for this one

He'd still bamboozle Ballance and Vince

Meant Warner obv