Ashes 2017/18 Preview - Australia has enough firepower to wrest back the urn

[giri26]

The Australian selectors bowled a googly to fans when they announced the squad for the first two Ashes Tests.

The call-up that raised most eyebrows was that of Tim Paine, who played his last Test for Australia in 2010 and was never in contention for a spot before the Shield season began.

Alex Carey and Peter Nevill were the prime wicketkeeping candidates and would feel hard done by.

Meanwhile, Shaun Marsh beat both Glen Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright to the number six spot, while Cameroon Bancroft got a deserved call-up at the expense of Matt Renshaw.

Renshaw has had a brilliant start to his career and is one of the best young players in the world.

Regardless of the questions over some of these choices, Australia remains a strong team at home and look primed to wrest back the Ashes from England.

The batting, led by Steven Smith, remains extremely strong and the form of Usman Khawaja and Bancroft at the top bodes well. David Warner too got some much-needed runs in recent games, while Marsh’s addition brings experience to the middle order – it will be interesting to see where he bats.

The biggest positive for the hosts though is the form of their bowling attack. Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Patt Cummins and Nathan Lyon will all be a huge threat.

There has been banter between the two parties, with former players calling the opposition line-ups the weakest they have seen, however it’s the English with the obvious holes.

Their batting looks weak, with lots of inexperience. Alastair Cook, who is their most experienced batsman, does not have a great Ashes record and Joe Root hasn’t done much in Australia with the bat.

The bowling attack, without Ben Stokes, is likewise threadbare – James Anderson has struggled in Australia in the past and Stuart Broad hasn’t been in great form recently.

Australia have always been a tough team to beat at home and even with the shortcomings in their squad have enough firepower to get past this English side.

Article by [MENTION=25545]giri26[/MENTION]

 

[giri26]

Davvid Warner confident but Glenn Maxwell called into squad as cover

Australia have called in Glenn Maxwell as a replacement batsman into their Ashes squad as cover for vice-captain David Warner, but they're confident the star opener will be fit to play the first Test against England.

Warner showed some discomfort during a 30-minute net session on Wednesday morning and while he's optimistic he'll be fit enough to play, selectors have called upon Maxwell in case the vice-captain's sore neck, suffered at training on Tuesday, rules him out of the match.

As captain Steve Smith faced the media in Brisbane on Wednesday, selectors were discussing who - if anyone - would be added to the squad in case Warner doesn’t come up.

"They're thinking about it (bringing in a replacement player) at the moment, but Davey is confident he'll be OK," Smith said.

"There's a good chance someone will be in as cover, but I'm not sure who at this stage.

"Davey is going well. He had a hit just before and he's very confident. He said he'll be right to go."

As it turns out, the National Selection Panel landed on Maxwell.

Warner faced just two deliveries in the nets on Tuesday after he twinged his neck during a fielding drill on The Gabba outfield. The opener later said "I don’t think a stiff neck is going to keep me out" and Smith said he had no doubt his vice-captain would be cleared to play.

In the seemingly unlikely case of Warner missing the match, No.6 Shaun Marsh could be elevated to open alongside his state teammate Cameron Bancroft and Maxwell brought into the middle order.

Smith confirmed reserve quicks Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers would miss out regardless, meaning Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will lead the pace attack together for the first time in Test cricket.

A helmet-less Warner had a 30-minute net session at The Gabba, facing some throwdowns from assistant coach John Davison.

The left-hander looked slightly uncomfortable at stages early in the session and grimaced in discomfort when playing some shots. But he finished with a couple of booming pull shots and some fluid straight drives before speaking with team doctor Richard Saw and heading to the rooms.

The left-hander reported some stiffness whenever he moved his head backwards, but his light-hearted suggestion that he could even adopt the unusual front-on batting stance of West Indian great Shivnarine Chanderpaul suggests he's unconcerned heading into his first Ashes campaign as vice-captain.

"He said he'll even bat like Shivnarine Chanderpaul if he has to and face the other way, so I think he'll be alright," Smith said.

"It's improved a fair bit over the last 24 hours. Hopefully he can keep improving and he'll be 100 per cent come 10 o'clock in the morning."


http://www.cricket.com.au/news/aust...te-ashes-first-test-gabba-brisbane/2017-11-22

 

[giri26]

Interesting turn of events but again I am sure David Warner will play tomorrow's game.

 

[Bubby]

Bowling yes aussie are quick, but Anderson and broad are more skilled and have more experience, for Australia both Starc and Cummins needs to remain fit during whole test series, on batting front aussie look more dependent on Warner and Smith, while poms look more settled despite the absence of stokes.