Wrap - Ashes Countdown

1. Ashes First Test team. After much consternation I've named it with Warner shadowing an ailing (and yet to be dropped on his head from the team) Watson. Like this Chad Sayers who got another swag of wickets. The crock of numbnuts who we have injured at present (Starc, Pattinson, Hazelwood, Cummins, Bollinger et al) seem to lose the toughness when they make the national team.

Somehow when they are knocking on the door for selection, they are bowling every day and busting a gut. Once they make the team, they put the cue in the rack!

How does that work? Noticed they are having a bowling coaches conference this week...hope they do their homework.

Never thought I'd ever say it, but Cameron 'The Croc' White may well come into the team at No.6. Has been in blistering form, but there is much to like about a resilient and tough George Bailey. Hope he - like Clarke - has been working on the short pitched bowling. No room for Faulkner yet. Hughes no certainty for mine. I can't be confident with Johnson..in fact not sure why he will be picked, but he will...too loose and has no delivery that swings into the right handed batsman. Why not? I saw it once in South Africa I think.

1. Rogers
2. Watson
3. Hughes*
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Bailey/ White
7. Haddin
8. Johnson*
9. Siddle
10. Harris
11. Lyon
12. Warner
13. Sayers

I wonder if Ponting has sold enough books yet? Remind me why he is so unpopular with the general public again...

2. Wallabies. They like playing Italy...it's the other ten nations which trouble us. Folau needs to step up against some of the tough nations. McKenzie is flirting with danger swapping captains and making some crazy calls. Postocoglou will be similar. Lucas Neill has to go first up.

On the other hand, New Zealand must have won every single comp and trophy worldwide. When did they last lose? Unstoppable.

3. RWC. How good are the Cameron Smith's, Slaters and Cronks when it gets tough and cold?  It looked REAL cold v Ireland. They profit from living in Melbourne in those conditions. NZ will be hard to beat with their familiarity of the wet and cold conditions. We need a bit more creativity in attack. Fifita will be tough, but Thurston is critical to our success. The flat rocket pass is deadly in these parts.

Look for an Italy upset over Tonga tonight. Winner v NZ!

4. Golf. Adam Scott is a class act. Struggle to cope with his voice, but he can play. Good touch re the green jacket. Pitty the US brat didn't acknowledge it.

5. Tennis. Nadal will end the year as Number 1. He is an absolute machine. Injury riddled, but a competitor like no other. Federer is hanging tough at present. He is a legend and is still mixing it with the best, although his star is fading.

6. Liverpool's juggernaut keeps rolling on. 4-0. Suarez could just about bring them a trophy. ManU starting to hit their straps now....look out!