The Ashes
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@MN5 Correct. Set NZ cricket fans up nicely for the tour of England later that year - which we lost 3-0. Modern fans moan about inconsistent Black Caps. I remember when we were all too consistent. Lose to everyone Home and away which is why those two victories in the 70's sit large in my memory. Plus got of geography to listen to the cricket in 74 and sat in front of TV with a few beers for the England victory
@Kiwipie I'm a traditionalist - restricted myself to Test cricket
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Beefy makes the team based on one incredible ashes. How did he go in others?
( again, I can't access that info on a smartphone )
He was always a bit hit and miss with the bat - but with the ball there were 2 phases to his career. A superb, fast medium swing bowler until his back went and then a chubby trundler afterwards who could still bowl the odd jaffa (and had the mentality that he was still a hostile quick)
After that 1981 series he had 87 wickets against Australia at 22.67. From then on it was 61 wickets at 34.77.
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Beefy makes the team based on one incredible ashes. How did he go in others?
( again, I can't access that info on a smartphone )
He was always a bit hit and miss with the bat - but with the ball there were 2 phases to his career. A superb, fast medium swing bowler until his back went and then a chubby trundler afterwards who could still bowl
the odd jaffabatsmen out with his stock ball; a long hop outside off, that surprised them into a false shot because they couldn't believe how crap he was (and had the mentality that he was still a hostile quick)After that 1981 series he had 87 wickets against Australia at 22.67. From then on it was 61 wickets at 34.77.
Amended to better reflect my memories of Beefy post 81
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Beefy makes the team based on one incredible ashes. How did he go in others?
This is the eternal question for these 'best XI' though. Is it a flash of brilliance, or consistency that gets rewarded. Are you picking someone for a career, or at their best for a single game? And what about partnerships - we know Warne and McGrath were great together -- like Langer and Hayden. Do you pick an opening partnership, or two great openers.
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Beefy makes the team based on one incredible ashes. How did he go in others?
This is the eternal question for these 'best XI' though. Is it a flash of brilliance, or consistency that gets rewarded. Are you picking someone for a career, or at their best for a single game? And what about partnerships - we know Warne and McGrath were great together -- like Langer and Hayden. Do you pick an opening partnership, or two great openers.
Beefys overall stats are remarkably similar to Chris Cairns but he is obviously regarded far higher than our boy who didn't even make the prestigious all time fern XI...
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For ease of reference:
Highest Ashes batting averages:
Lowest Ashes bowling averages:
Tugga and Border make it for longevity as much as anything as quite a few blokes can make cases for inclusion. Hutton, Barrington and Sutcliffe to name a few.
No Jimmy Anderson on the list.
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For the time before the 2 test matches start - this XI was voted for on the BBC Sport website based on performances in Ashes tests. In my best Murray Deaker voice "Yours please"
Hobbs
Boycott
Bradman
Border
S. Waugh
Botham
Gilchrist
Warne
Lillee
McGrath
AndersonI can't believe they didn't se the team I picked and close off the poll with a satisfied "that's that done then"
FWIW from memory I had Hutton for Boycott (might have gone Hayden), Hammond for Border, Miller for Botham and Barnes for Anderson
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For the time before the 2 test matches start - this XI was voted for on the BBC Sport website based on performances in Ashes tests. In my best Murray Deaker voice "Yours please"
Hobbs
Boycott
Bradman
Border
S. Waugh
Botham
Gilchrist
Warne
Lillee
McGrath
AndersonI can't believe they didn't se the team I picked and close off the poll with a satisfied "that's that done then"
FWIW from memory I had Hutton for Boycott (might have gone Hayden), Hammond for Border, Miller for Botham and Barnes for Anderson
Bradman only averaged 89 in the Ashes. He's lucky to scrape in to be honest.
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@mn5 Well below par for Bradman and I'm sure the Aussie management told him to lift his game against England.
A bit like Hammond really.
Just going to adjust your own earlier post as it seems relevant.Definitely but judging by that he obviously boosted the overall test average to 99.94 by flogging shit teams like everyone else.
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Take out Bodyline and I bet Bradmans Ashes average would be closer to his test average. I think he "only" averaged 50 in that series.
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For the time before the 2 test matches start - this XI was voted for on the BBC Sport website based on performances in Ashes tests. In my best Murray Deaker voice "Yours please"
Hobbs
Boycott
Bradman
Border
S. Waugh
Botham
Gilchrist
Warne
Lillee
McGrath
AndersonI can't believe they didn't se the team I picked and close off the poll with a satisfied "that's that done then"
FWIW from memory I had Hutton for Boycott (might have gone Hayden), Hammond for Border, Miller for Botham and Barnes for Anderson
For just a moment I thought you were referring to Geoff Miller or Colin "Funky" Miller ... but I pretty much agree with you, the openers are hardest to pick.
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@rancid-schnitzel said in The Ashes:
Take out Bodyline and I bet Bradmans Ashes average would be closer to his test average. I think he "only" averaged 50 in that series.
He really was quite shit then. That Indian above is correct. Why did they keep picking him?
Honestly, if you can't maintain an average of 99 when people are hurling a cricket ball at your body with fuck all protection...hardly an Aussie battler.
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@rancid-schnitzel said in The Ashes:
Take out Bodyline and I bet Bradmans Ashes average would be closer to his test average. I think he "only" averaged 50 in that series.
He really was quite shit then. That Indian above is correct. Why did they keep picking him?
Honestly, if you can't maintain an average of 99 when people are hurling a cricket ball at your body with fuck all protection...hardly an Aussie battler.
The funny thing is that the Indians genuinely believe some of their guys are better.
Not only that their nation has never produced a single world class fast bowler
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@MN5 434 test wickets at under 30 when you've had to play 119 tests at home isn't World Class? averaging 24.5 in Oz
You have a tough definition of world class?
Kapil wasn't up there with the absolute best in my opinion
Maybe not but was world class. Especially considering he probably had to do most of that in India
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Especially considering he probably had to do most of that in India
I think that is what @dogmeat is referring to with the 119 tests at home comment.
I'm going with "India have produced a single world class fast bowler". Struggling to think of others that are right up there.