TOPIC:

Now that we know that the ashes series is going ahead, the big question is how each team will perform given the circumstances prevailing at the moment. Pundits seem to have installed Australia as favourites which perplexes me somewhat as the Aussies will embark upon this series having not played a test match since January, there is minimal preparation in that the Sheffield Shield has been disrupted due to COVID and the test V Afghanistan has now been postponed. Whilst the bowling attack is proven, the batting is dependent on 2 players.

By contrast England have played a number of test matches through their summer which has given them an opportunity to trial players. Whilst England's batting line up still looks pretty shaky and over reliant on Joe Root, the opportunity is there for a few other batsmen to make a name for themselves as I think the Aussies are looking vulnerable this summer, particularly if Smith and Labausagne are less prolific than previous summers.  If Stokes and Archer were available I would be confident of an English victory. Without those guys I reckon its a 50-50 with a possible repeat of the 2-2 result of 2019.

Veterans Broad and Anderson will lead the English attack.Wokes will replace Stokes as the all-rounder.The Poms middle order batting looks a bit shallow.
The Aussies who opens with Warner, 3 Labashane, 4 Smith.Batting looks solid.Nathan Lyon really struggled last summer against the Indian batman. Hope our quicks will have an impact.

GTR our (Australia) batting outside of Smith & Labuschagne has been woeful in the last year or 3.
I cant see Warner getting any better at 35+yo, Green is promising but inexperienced at international level, Head looks like another South Aussie left hander in David Hookes- dominate at state level but short of Test cricket standard, Harris....please, Wade should have been retired by now, Burns had his day etc etc.
Even our well regarded bowling attack looked average at times last summer as a second string Indian team won easily out here including at the supposed fortress Gabba. Hazlewood & Cummins are our 2 best but Starc has been ordinary for a while in Test cricket & as for Lyon well Garry definitely bowled like a goat last summer.

I am fearing this could be another 1986/87 Ashes series all over again with an England squad tipped by many to be too old, too slow but proved far too good for us 3-1 under Mike Gatting!

BH: as you said, England should be able to compete

Habeeb
Rory
Pope
Root
Malan
Bairstow k
Woakes
Bees
Robinson
Wood
Anderson

Eng., may win the series if Woakes goes well with bat and ball.
It must play one of it spinners in every test match

BH thoes last two tests we lost V India.Terrible day 5 bowling performances.There was  nothing left for the quicks on thoes flat decks..There had to be something in thoes wickets for a spinner.I would take a leggy over an off- spinner anyday.
 

I often wonder why the selectors discarded Kurtis Patterson so quickly after a promising start to his test career albeit against a weak Sri Lankan attack. He did appear to be better technically than batsmen such as Wade and Head who have been given multiple chances. From what I have seen of Patterson in the shield, he is more than capable of playing long innings and maybe he could slot in at number 5.

Would take a Herculean effort for the Poms to win or draw this series with grandpas Broad and Anderson leading their attack on likely roads, can’t see it being a contest myself

Well, the inclusion of Stokes will certainly be a boost for the series. Keep in mind though that he hasn't played any cricket for 4 months so he might take a while to get going.

Rather be playing Stokes early on, especially after that M.H break....class player, but as mikeh says played no cricket of any form for 4 months....sneak a few early wins before he hits his straps by test 4/5.....if he does at all.

Aust batting wise is definitely a concern....Smith & Labuschagne obviously Aust go to batters...Green hopefully can continual to develop and score a test ton at 5 or 6.....Uzzie looks to n good touch at present, so surely he gets a look in at 5 or 6..... opening wise obviously Warner and Harris will hey first dibs regardless what form they in before the opening test.....lot of love for Abbott apparently.....though at the GABBA surely Neser gets first crack along with Hazelwood and Cummins....with of course Lyon as the spinner(regardless of his form coming into the opening test)....

Paine will captain, despite playing no cricket at all since his surgery....though Pierson, Inglis and Carey would be better options.....even Josh Philippe.....

BH, GTR, MIKEH, FR-- Where is the captain? Is he playing Shield?