English cricket 2015 - NZ, The Ashes, Pak and SA

Xaviesta

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Harris has retired :(:(:(:(

Was a gun bowler but his body let him down.
They'll just pick the next New South Wales fast bowler who's ready to replace him. Great bowler who as you say let down by his body. Seemed like a good bloke too.
 

DOTA

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Harris has retired :(:(:(:(

Was a gun bowler but his body let him down.
That's a shame.

Has he packed it all in, or is he going to see if cutting back to just 20 over cricket is something his body can accept for a few years?

Cracking bowler when he was fit. Seemed remarkably good at performing close to his best, even after he'd not been able to play for a little while.
 

Xaviesta

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That's a shame.

Has he packed it all in, or is he going to see if cutting back to just 20 over cricket is something his body can accept for a few years?

Cracking bowler when he was fit. Seemed remarkably good at performing close to his best, even after he'd not been able to play for a little while.
Harris doesn't play white ball cricket, this is a retirement from all forms of the game. I think he'll become a bowling coach somewhere in the future.
 

The Man Himself

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Ryan Harris is truly among the best in modern era. Injuries meant his records, especially aggregates are not high and in future someone just looking at numbers won't understand how special he was as a bowler. Bowling average of under 24 and strike rate of 50 tell about his calibre. Economy rate of just 2.64 as well which is some achievement in modern era when teams are more positive towards scoring in tests. All points to a very skillful bowler who was very consistent to go with it. Will be missed.
 

Tommy

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I wish I could just go to sleep now and wake up at 10am. A peak at the weather forcast has heavy cloud for 10:00-12:00, so hopefully we win the toss & Jimmy manages to swing it like a good'n.

No rain forcast on the BBC site for the next 4 days :drool:
 

ArmchairCritic

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So excited, I can actually recall exactly where I was for each critical moment during the '05 Ashes, what a series that was.
 

ha_rooney

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Think Harris' retirement really hurts the Aussies chances. Extra pressure on Johnson & Starc to not only take wickets but also keep control of the runs. Smith & Warner will be key if Australia are to retain the urn.

Excited to see the 'new' England under Bayliss. I hope they go with Rashid as the spin option. Root will be the key batsman for England, Cook too will have to continue his decent form if they're to put up big scores.

The atmosphere will be great. Hopefully the weather stays clear. I'm predicting a 2-1 Aussie win.
 

zing

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Hazlewood's going to be key. Think he's the best bowler in their ranks. Starc I think is about as good as Ishant in test cricket. May be his game's rapidly changed, but he used to be shit. Just sprays it about everywhere.

I think Australia will win. I think their batting has some players who can make big runs that England don't quite have. Rogers, Warner, Smith, Clarke, Voges, Watson, Haddin's a great top 7. Haddin is the one I'm not sure about, but I think numbers 2 to 4 are players who can have a big series.

England are a touch under-rated though. Coming in on good form. Expecting a close series.
 

Sam

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So excited, I can actually recall exactly where I was for each critical moment during the '05 Ashes, what a series that was.
2005 series :drool:

I was only 13, but have such vivid memories of that series and the big moments.
 

Xaviesta

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Confident Australia will do enough to retain the Ashes. 2-1 or 2-2 would be my prediction. Having said that I predicted England would win 2-1 in Australia in 2013-14.
 

Xaviesta

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So, England batting first will be interesting. They'll have to start well. Australia would love nothing more than a three wickets in this first session.
 

diarm

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If anyone is despicable enough to be watching this on a high quality stream, I should very much like a tip in its direction so I can tut disapprovingly.
 

cesc's_mullet

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Ryan Harris is truly among the best in modern era. Injuries meant his records, especially aggregates are not high and in future someone just looking at numbers won't understand how special he was as a bowler. Bowling average of under 24 and strike rate of 50 tell about his calibre. Economy rate of just 2.64 as well which is some achievement in modern era when teams are more positive towards scoring in tests. All points to a very skillful bowler who was very consistent to go with it. Will be missed.
I agree, he was a tremendous bowler.
 

ArmchairCritic

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Yeah as long as England compete hard and develop I will be happy but I expect Australia to roll England over 3-1 too.
 

ArmchairCritic

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This pitch doesn't look too good, no carry. If it hasn't been rolled much and isn't hard I can't imagine how much the pitch might break down by day 4/5.
 

ArmchairCritic

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Nothing in this pitch at all, Clarke trying to rotate his bowlers as much as possible.
 

Xaviesta

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Been watching the State of Origin which is a big deal in Queensland, but England seem to have settled ok since the early wicket. Clarke would be advised to rotate his bowlers i feel.
 

ArmchairCritic

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England are gonna go all India vs. Moeen on us and lose a bunch of wickets to Lyon trying to slap him out of the park aren't they?
 

Kazi

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The feck was that from Bell.

Starc's going to get all his wickets with yorkers, isn't he.