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Not disputing Jimmy isn't a great bowler BH....but he is older...much older than that 2010/11 tour....that is the whole basis of my point......esp since OZ conditions are tough with the heat.....as for Broad.....always troubles Aust batsmen....but that 8/15 was in the UK....not comparable to Aust conditions and road like drop in pitches.......though the Adelaide test will definitely give Jimmy and Brosf a sniff....just think if the heat on temp wise Eng rwo key older boys will be working hsrd to back up their intensity...hopefully Aust younger fast guns will have more in the tank to do so.....early wickets with rhe new ball when energy levels are high will be the key to an Eng win....Aust batsmen some how need to bat for in excess of 120 overs plus most first innings....thus perhaps the need to play Bancroft at 7 as a batsmen / keeper....

Bancroft playing as a keeper wont happen, he has kept 3 times in 1st class cricket, hardly an ideal prep to keep in an ashes test to Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood and Lyon.
Head is also no chance, technique is terrible..Lehmann is a dasher but has a lot of low scores
Cartwright or Maxwell seem the only options

I am mystified with Freeze's love affair with SACA boy Travis Head considering he only averages around 33-34 in 1st class cricket and plays the majority of the time on that batsmens paradise called Adelaide Oval!!

yeh, he seems a bit fond of him for some strange reason, obviously never seen him play.

I agree that it would be a massive risk to play Bancroft on the basis of only 3 first class games as keeper. Nevill for mine. I would stick with Renshaw and the number 6 spot is between Maxwell, Cartwright and Ferguson.

MarkOlsen wrote: yeh, he seems a bit fond of him for some strange reason, obviously never seen him play.

Yes BH obviously I am in love with Travis Head and no doubt with me living in NZ I know fark all and you two boys living in Oz are right on the money......no probs.....

Have totally acknowledged Head has a piss poor average..pretty sure before Head became captain of SA, at 21 years of age, his average was even worse in the early - mid twenties....but since he has taken over the ADDED responsibility of the captaincy, he has actually increased his average by 10 runs and helped guide a young SA team to consecutive shield finals, even scoring a 100 in last years final...to me that shows character and a temperament, which MAY mean Head could thrive at the elite level.....Steve Waugh always bangs about character traits and looking beyond the stats....actually pretty sure you two boys bang on about that all the farking time too when it comes to looking beyond the stats.....but hey happy to go for MO choice of Maxy or Cartwight for number 6...and BH ever WA insular and parochial choice of a 3 shield game keeper in Bancroft.....

Couldnt care less Freeze if Bancroft hadnt even kept in only 3 SS games he still couldnt be any worse than Wade at the moment!
As for Head well we did give Maddinson a few Tests and I have him below your beloved Travis!

Hopefully if Head does get a chance BH , he gets as many goes as those two beloved WA boys of yours got...reckon Maddinson must of been pissed he didn't get as many goes as those two got as well...you might as well include their dad in their as well....LOL....

Freezin wrote: Hopefully if Head does get a chance BH , he gets as many goes as those two beloved WA boys of yours got...reckon Maddinson must of been pissed he didn't get as many goes as those two got as well...you might as well include their dad in their as well....LOL....

If you are talking about the Marsh boys I think you will find I have always said Mitch is not a Test batsman certainly not in the top 6 and as for Shaun didnt he score a century in his 1st Test Innings vs SL in SL?
I reckon Maddinson would need about 40 Tests just to even reach SOS's 1st Test Innings in total judging on his piss poor output last summer!

How many tests did SR Waugh play before he made a century? He really stretched himself too batting at number six against that fearesome English attack in 1989.