Ashes series thread 06-07.

[wccc]

bit early for this thread but here it is.

England in Australia 2006-07 
November
10 v Prime Minister's XI, Canberra

12-14 v New South Wales, Sydney

17-19 v South Australia, Adelaide

23-27 1st Test, Brisbane

December

1-5 2nd Test, Adelaide

9-10 v Western Australia, Perth

14-18 3rd Test, Perth

26-30 4th Test, Melbourne

January

2-6 5th Test, Sydney

9 Twenty20 International, Sydney

12 VB Series ODI v Australia, Melbourne

16 VB Series ODI v New Zealand, Hobart

19 VB Series ODI v Australia, Brisbane

23 VB Series ODI v New Zealand, Adelaide

26 VB Series ODI v Australia, Adelaide

30 VB Series ODI v New Zealand, Perth

February

2 VB Series ODI v Australia, Sydney

6 VB Series ODI v New Zealand, Brisbane

9 1st VB Series final, Melbourne

11 2nd VB Series final, Sydney

13 3rd VB Series final (if needed), Brisbane

[wccc]

As Badger put, the England squad is announced today.

[Ash]

Sure is!

I think Strauss should be skipper but it looks like freddie will get the nod.

Will be interesting, any suprises do we think?

[Ash]

Certainly was interesting.

I can't but help feel that we are a little light weight in the batting department, especially if Tresco has similar problems to last winter.

Ashley Giles selection was a suprise, and i expected to see Jamie Dalrymple to be named in the squad, which in turn would have added cover in the batting department if needed. Perhaps Monty is'nt an automatic choice then? Will the selectors prefer Giles better all round play?

I'm not too convinced about Mahmood being included either, but i guess (hope!) hes down the pecking order behind Harmison, Hoggard, Plunkett and Anderson. I would have preferred to see Broad selected in place of either him or Plunkett.

[Badger]

Not enough warm-up games - we've got the Champions Trophy to thank for that.

How can they decide on the best side for the first Test on the basis of two matches? England sides in Australia used to play every state team.

[wccc]

Ashes Test Series squad:
Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire, captain)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Ashley Giles (Warwickshire)
Stephen Harmison (Durham)
Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)
Geraint Jones (Kent)
Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire)
Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Chris Read (Nottinghamshire)
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex)
Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)

[wood_worm]

I would like to see a few more batsmen in there. I still think Yardy should play because we have a great extra batsmen and if the pitch is turning then we have another good spin bowler with Monty. wood_worm.

[Ash]

I agree we look a little light weight in the batting department, especially as Tresco has some problems at the moment. I would have liked to see Jamie Dalrymple in the squad, possibly ahead of Ashley Giles.