Very disciplined/frustrating of you Tim to refrain, for the moment, from commenting on the biggest development - Jones over Read. So Jones might make us, say, twenty extra runs over Read. But how much will he cost us when he drops Ponting/Hayden/Langer/Gilchrist on 19? Also, any thoughts on the psychology of naming a team with the first test nearly two weeks away?

While I think the Anderson move was a good one, getting Jones back into the squad is taking two steps back. Jones is no doubt a decent wicket-keeper and a decent bat, however give Read a chance. He is literally being dropped for no particular failure. If memory serves correctly he performed well in the last test series. I think Fletcher is trying to keep everyone off balance and thus the Aussies will have no idea what to expect.
Oh BTW, why does Trescho come down with something every time he has to go to India? Just asking.

What a difference a day makes. Rumours of England's descent into hopeless crappiness have been handily dispelled, I hope. I'm not suggesting that problems don't persist and that the rention of the Ashes is a sure thing, but the massive over-reaction to the one-dayer a few days ago and the first day of the NSW game has been put in perspective by a very encouraging display on only their third day of competetive play.

It's no use pretending that Tresco's form isn't a major concern, though how he's supposed to find his form if he's dropped for the First Test, as Tim suggests, is beyond me. Doesn't he have to play in oreder to regain his touch? The argument that a player is being picked on past glories sounds logical, but the old adage that form is temporary but talent is permanent comes to mind. Marcus is supremely taslented and one must believe that his form will turn around. (cf Ricky Ponting's current slump. Just a few months ago, he was knocking centuries at will. That form will return.)

Anderson has earned his spot. I'm going to take a leap of faith and assume the management have learned from previous disasters and will have only picked him because they are convinced his injury will not be a factor.

As for Read/Jones: time will tell. Am I crazy in thinking that Duncan Fletcher's continuation as team manager pretty much depends on how his decision plays out? If they use Jones's reinstatement as a reason for opting for Monty over Giles, I might just take it.

Tim

I note you are saving your comments on Jones-Read till tomorrow. I recall you used to be a Jones fan after his 85 at Trent Bridge last year but ahve lately shifted to Read; the cynic in me wonders if you are waiting till tomorrow after Jones has had a chance to bat overnight?!?!

As a wise man once said. FORM IS TEMPORARY CLASS IS PERMANENT"
Anderson is gonna tear em to shreds and giles and panesar together is a must!

While i enjoy your ashes blog tim, i am starting to notice it is a little england orientated... I do acknowledge that NSW are not playin in the ashes but there are many players in the team who will be involved in the ashes and i would like to know your view on their performances as well of that of the english side.... Otherwise i enjoy reading your blogs

I'm an Indian cricket fan supporting England for the Ashes. And I agree with most of what you have to say.
England would really be better off dropping Tresco for the first test. Cook can open. He has opened under pressure in India and done well; he played very well yesterday too. Collingwood is probably a must-have. His ability to play under pressure with the team in (deep) trouble may prove to be mighty useful. I am most worried about Bell. He has to come good if England are to make a serious defence, and right now, he isn't inspiring much confidence.
About the bowling, the best lineup that England can field is Harmison (hope he bowls well), Hoggard, Anderson, Flintoff and Panesar. And I fail to understand why Fletcher continues to persist with Giles. If he places the same trust and confidence in Panesar, England will reap big rewards in the future.

Very good points Tim. There is no way Tresco should be picked - but will. There is no way Giles should be picked (picked at the moment on perceived past glories) - but will. I wonder what would be going through Harmison's brain if he had to work along side the above combination. The guy hardly needs more pressure placed on his shoulders by these selections

Yeah Tim, I agree with your comments about England choosing 3 players returning from serious injury. But the only way to get around this is to play all 3 in the next tour match against SA and see how they do. Despite all the doomsday senarios England are inproving quite steadily, which is exactly what you want, the question is can they peak for the 1st test -because they'll need to. The SCG is usually a pretty good batters pitch early in the Aussie season. I'd still be most worried about England's bowlers, they must -I repeat MUST!- be firing on all cylinders if they are to keep the ashes, Hoggard and Harmison don't yet inspire you with confidence.

You'd expect England to bat pretty well in NSW - it's got very little in it for the quicks, and NSW only have 2 young spinners. Some of Pietersen's shots through mid-wicket yesterday off good-length McGrath deliveries were exceptional. Strauss also looks in supreme touch - I'm seriously worried by his form, I think he could be the Vaughan of 2006. Tresc and Bell however must be a worry for England. And of course Harmison and Hoggard - Harmison because he's still spraying it everywhere, and Hoggard because he's a one trick pony, and his trick doesn't work over here.

I think the Aussies should play McGrath, Clark and Tait. Lee is near on useless when the ball gets old - even though he bowls a decent line and length these days, he has no variety what so ever. Tait is dangerous no matter what state the ball is in - he's a monster on aussie pitches. Clark looks in great touch...in fact i'd play him before McGrath and possibly slide Johnson in?

It all seems to be about extending the batting. Jones at 7 surely makes Monty a definite, as 3 of the pitches will be turners (Brisbane - bounce, Perth and Sydney). Giles can only be a backwards step. As for the quicks - surely we already have one safe medium pacer - Brisbane will favour pace, Mahmood is way quicker than Anderson and is far more likely to trouble the batsmen, who don't usually face 3 bowlers over 140 kmh...also, he can bat a bit.

From a young aussies point of view, and without trying to sound smart about it, all the points don't matter if Ponting and Gilchrist find form with the bat. Those two guys underpin the Australian batting performance. When Gilchrist is in form, and I tip him to club his way back into it late on day one of Brisbane, he instills frieghtening amounts of confidence in the top order, that could destroy the English. I hope the english are in top nick in Brisbane as you say. Im my opinion it was the control of Glchrist that helped england last year. Also, little has been said, but Watson for Australia may play a pivotal role with the ball at 140km/hr, and batting solidly at six. Tait could be, and possibly Johnson, real problems for the Englishman. England is a very different place to Australia! Reverse swing will be nowhere near as important, and this time the Aussies have the home advantage! Hayden at the GABBA, Lee at the SCG, Gilchrist at the WACA and Tait at the Adelaide oval ...

As an Australian my concerns of the NSW England match were more along the lines of the Australian bowling attack than the England one. I thought that once some batsmen of class got settled our quicks/medium pacers looked a little inefficient. Without a fair bit of help from the wicket the Aussie bowlers are looking vulnerable. I believe the Aussie batsmen will stand up well enough, there are too many class players to not score some big runs through the series, but I don't see the bowlers as a group consistently taking 20 wickets a match.

I think England should not think they have the urn in the bag but I also think they could easily leave our shores with the prize. Either way it should be a hel of a series.

Fletcher is shooting for a 0-0 or 1-1 series result. Selecting Giles and Jones is very negative. Monty is great and should play -- but he needs a keeper who can concentate all day long and catch every ball and make every stumping. Read. A wicket is worth at least 20 runs and Monty can take three to five wickets in either innings. Giles will struggle to get 10 wickets from 5 tests.

Looks like Tresco's early return will force England's hand in playing all 3 young test batsmen (Cookie, Bell & Colly). Who of these should open? My money is on Cook, and I think he will do well. Bell is far too fragile (Lee will make mincemeat out of him) and surely Collingwood can't come from outside bet for selection to Ashes opener... although with Fletch seemingly on another planet over the keeping decision, who knows!

Well the Trescothick problem has gone away - rather like the man himself!

One of the great features of Pay TV is that it has allowed me to watch almost every England match for the last 5 years, and with this much cricket in my mind I agree with much of what Tim has said.

I'll start with the one he wont say anything about yet - Jones v. Read. If Chris Read were to retire tomorrow, I wouldnt blame him, as the last 2 times he has gone on tour Duncan Fletcher has dropped him for no reason. In the West Indies Jones at least vindicated himself with a good debut, but his performances in the 2006 home season were ordinary. Read came in and performed brilliantly in the 2 matches he played. He is being given some very rough treatment and deserves better. He should be starting at the Gabba.

As for Monty v. Giles, I again agree that Monty should get the nod. When I watched him thru 2006, I felt that he was more likely to get wickets than Giles ever would. For me, Giles gets a lot of wickets from batsmen getting bored. Monty attacks - he took it to the batsmen. He might go for a few runs, but he will get 5 wickets in the process. Whilst his batting and fielding may not be great, he must surely present a better option than a man who still seems to be feeling the effects of a dodgy hip.

I am happy to see Anderson get a run at the Gabba - when he is on he has the potential to be one of the best bowlers in the world. I will never forget his night at Durban against Pakistan. I do agree with Tim in that Liam Plunkett seems to be very much forgotten.

From the outside it seems that old habits are coming back into English selection. People dont seem to be given an extended run, which was one of the problems that lead to England being ranked last. Once the fixed it they began their climb and seemed to reach their goal and vindication last year.

Tres - too fragile. Forget him, Cook is more than adequate as an opener - he got a century on debut whilst opening for god sake!! In India at that!! That also allows them to play both Collingwood and Bell, a much stronger line up.

As for the Aussies, I would love to see Mick Clarke in, but I am a huge fan, so I am biased. I would imagine Watson will get the nod, although Symonds should not be forgotten.

Here are the line ups I would like to see:

England:
Strauss, Cook, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, Read, Hoggard, Harmison, Anderson, Panesar.

Australia:
Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey, Clarke, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee, Tait, McGrath.

I don't think I have read one positive comment about the inclusion of Jones ahead of Read! If the poor man was not down on confidence before, he certainly will be now, if he reads the press! For goodness sake, let's remember the positives of last year and give the fellow a break!

I am happy Jones is back, to say Reads batting is poor is generous.(did you guys championing him not see the champions trophy)??

Also there were three or four occations in the test series verses Pakistan where he just stood and watched the ball go by between him and first slip. (each time the ball being closer to him than first slip)!!

Watch this space Jones to hit a big score first test!!

i think jimmy anderson mught be surprise hero. he can swing ball away at a sharpish pacwe and opnting is one who is susceptible early on in his innings. if eng can get ponting down and out (by way he si not in any form now) eng can retain ashes.