I’m not what you’d call an avid cricket fan but I do like the Ashes series, this year’s encounters starts July 8th
TBH with you all, I haven’t the foggiest idea of who is in the English or Aussie teams so I’m asking you cricket afficionados to let me have some idea of who you fancy to win the series.
Never bet against the Australian cricket team - that coming from a South African…
Ashes yawn. We already won the T20 World Cup.
Thats coming from the chokers in the pack.
Why is the opening match at Cardiff in Wales? I wouldn’t think there would even be a cricket pitch in Cardiff. Has there ever been a Welsh cricket player?
I think this should be a tight series. Our (Australia) bowlers are underdone and our batsmen have been inconsistent at best. Ponting, particularly, has been out of sorts.
I know the Poms have a few injuries and are a young team in the main. I suspect that the series will go two-one to us.
You know it’s the England and Wales Cricket Board, right? Glamorgan are a full county side. A welshman was arguably our most potent bowling weapon in 2005. It’s as valid a place as any to hold a Test (and despite what Warne would have you believe, the opener is almost never at Lord’s).
Anyway. Yeah, it’ll be close, or at least, it’s very hard to call going in. Australia have had some terribly out of form players, and don’t have a spinner worthy of the name - indeed, the smart money’s on them playing completely without one on Wednesday. On the flip side, precisely those out of form players all did well against the Lions this week (Ponting aside), Lee in particular looking rather dangerous with reverse swing.
I think we’ve got the weapons in our bowling attack to take on the Aussie batting lineup; Jimmy’s proved he can swing it both ways, while Broad’s pace is pushing on up to the late eighties, and he’s winkled out some very good batsmen indeed this year. Swann seems to be kryptonite to left-handers, of which the Aussies have several, so the question is really a) who the fifth bowler is, and b) whether Freddie is really the force he was. The last bowler will be Sideshow or Onions, and as for Freddie, that’s anyone’s guess. Doubt he’ll make it through the series though.
Australia will win. When its comes down to it, they have the matchwinners, England don’t. Freddie is past it and while Broad is one for the future, I really think he is not ready yet, pressure seems to get to him as the Dutch showed.
And why has Harmison been left out?
Because he’s routinely fucking rubbish, that’s why.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a recall if the first couple of Tests go tits up, but it’ll be more wishful thinking than anything, even if he has bowled well enough for Durham this season. Guy needs a rocket up his arse to bowl half well, and has been given more second chances than any man warrants.
They play cricket in Wales?
What about the Scots, do they play it when not tossing tree trunks around?
Scotland were at the World T20 just a few weeks ago. In fact they gave New Zealand a mild scare in a rain-reduced match. They’re an associate nation with one day international status, like Ireland, the Netherlands, Kenya etc.
I really like the style of Broad (MCC). I should support Australia but we have a side that is moderate at best. Yet we drew (overall) with RSA. So, Australia has probably been playing tougher opposition but we meet England at home.
Bugger it- Australia will win. 3 Nil.
A few England captains have been Scots, Douglas Jardine, Mike Deness.
If someone told you Jardine was a paedaphile, you would hope it was true.
He is still Darth Jardine down there?
In my perverted mind, yes. 
Most people would not have heard of him.
You live in Lancashire and didn’t know that? I know an English geography graduate and cricket fan who didn’t know that Glamorgan was in Wales.
Scotland has its own one day international team, but ‘England’ is the test team for Scottish players who are good enough. Gavin Hamilton was the last Scot picked for England a few years ago. Scotland also play as a county in some England and Wales competitions - they’ve beaten Lancs a few times. Within Scotland there are several leagues and many clubs.
Acckk!! Gasp!! collapses
Fair comment… 
As I said in my OP I’m not an avid cricket fan, I do know that Glamorgan is in Wales but I’d not the faintest idea that they had a cricket team.
Incidentally, If the Ashes are contested between England and Oz how come England are allowed to field none English players?
It’s not as if the Aussies field players from NZ is it?
I think it’s an old use of “England” that really means “Britain”.
It’s a residency requirement - if you’re a UK citizen and have lived in England or Wales for four years, you’re qualified. But if you play for England, you can’t then go back and play for your original country for another four years. And because Ireland and Scotland aren’t Test nations, their best players tend to want to come play for England. It’s just a bit unfortunate when (a la Ed Joyce from Ireland) one decides to go for it, plays a couple of matches for England and then gets dropped.
Well, at least one. They fielded a South African too - Kepler Wessels. He lasted long enough as a player to represent SAf once they were allowed back into international sport. This is almost certainly not an exhaustive list.
This Welshman captained England - on his international debut, too (the last such man to do so).
ETA: It amazes me that diggers are still whining about Jardine seventy-six years after the fact. 