Sellsy's Monday Supplement

Predictions for the upcoming Ashes series please?  

The first Ashes Test starts in under four weeks time so we have plenty of time to make predictions: series score, leading batsmen, bowlers, England’s line-up etc.  

So here are my predictions for the forthcoming Ashes series: 

1. England will retain the Ashes.

2. Australia will win at least one Test match – probably in Perth.

3. David Warner will attempt to make peace with Joe Root, but he can get stuffed as far as I’m concerned.

4. There will be no urinating on the SCG pitch after the 5^th Test.

5. Steve Finn will play in Perth and will knock over the stumps in his delivery stride.

6. Kevin Pietersen will be the leading run scorer – he is due a huge series.

7. DRS will be used poorly by both sides.

8. I will attempt to watch the first day of the first Ashes Test on my iPhone but will fall asleep by lunch time.

9. England will win the toss at Brisbane and will bat, so no more Steve Harmison / Nasser Hussain rubbish.

10. Nearly all the commentators will say that Adelaide is one of the most picturesque grounds in the world.

11. It will be raining in England while the sun beats down in Sydney, making me contemplate my plans for next winter. 

Ok, 11 to go on with, there will no doubt be more to come from various sources over the weeks leading up to the first Test. But the most important XI will be who will start for England in Brisbane. 

For me there are two places up for grabs, the number six position and the third seamer spot. The other nine places have somewhat picked themselves, just hope there is no complacency within the ranks. 

Alastair Cook will open with Root, Jonathan Trott at three followed by Pietersen and then Ian Bell. It will be either Jonny Bairstow or Gary Ballance at six, which will probably go to Bairstow, but it should be Ballance. Matt Prior at seven, followed by Stuart Broad (why?), Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson and then one other. 

Three players are in contention for the one other spot: Steve Finn, Chris Tremlett and Boyd Rankin. I would off thought that Finn will get the nod over the other two, but he did have a bad summer against the Aussies, so he is not really nailed on to start. 

England have three four day warm-up games before the first Test, starting on Thursday in Perth, which is about right, not too many and not too little so as to be undercooked. So no doubt the trio of seamers will be busting a gut to get the nod for Brisbane. Only, 23 more sleeps before the first Test, not that I’m counting, come on England! 

I also see that the Vatican City has launched its own cricket club and is looking to play a Church of England XI next year at Lord’s (how apt). I wonder if Adam GilCHRIST will play! –The best I could do, can you do better?  

Ok, enough of that, it’s 5.27ish, no skittles tonight, so no Thatchers at the Cottage. Will have to watch University Challenge instead!