The Ashes.

[only1billybonds]

Just been announced that Josh Hazlewood will miss the first test due to start in Perth next Friday. This is a big blow to the Australians as they will already be without their captain and no.1 pace bowler Pat Cummins.

Englands preparations for the tour has been questioned by many as they have opted to play no warm up games aside from a one off against the English lions. 

Many are saying that its crucial that we get of to a good start in Perth which basically means we cant afford to lose seeing as the 2nd test in Brisbane is a day/night game ( fucking ridiculous) where the Aussies are strongly fancied.

Looking forward to this now but really unsure of how it will play out, I guess I'd still make them slight favourites due to home advantage. Going to be a few all nighters in the coming weeks for me, let's hope it'll be worth it.

[southbankbornnbred]

Basically the Liz Truss of test cricket.

[southbankbornnbred]

There’s so much wrong, most of all the delusional pretence that you can bat “Baaazball” in tests against decent attacks. But the lack of preparation and fitness is there for all to see.

Stokes and McCullum will no doubt wang on about how they’re a super-fit group etc. It’s their standard wang. But they have absolutely no stamina or staying power - physically or mentally. They’re designed to play smash-bang 30 over cricket. In five-day tests.

[southbankbornnbred]

England are having their asses handed to them here.

The most annoying thing is that this Australia side is not even that great by their high standards. Especially without Cummins and Hazlewood. They’re basically being steamrolled by Starc.

It’s like kids against men, because England are poorly prepared, playing a ludicrous style of test cricket and extremely arrogant with it.

Baaazball Ltd’s directors have talked a big game for years, wanging on about how this team has been cherry-picked and built for this tour etc.

Then they deliver this?!

Absolutely spineless, mindless and talentless cricket. Its surely the end of this nonsense.

[Westham67]

Six wickets after tea. Rain is due late tomorrow afternoon. Even if we draw this test, this regime has shown they won't change their batting ethos

[Come On You Irons]

Both McCullum and Stokes need to be sacked. I am sick of both of them and their arrogance.

I'd ask Root to take up the captaincy again. If he doesn't want it then it'll have to be Brook I suppose. No other realistic candidates.

[Takashi Miike]

just sack mccollum tonight, and save on the long flight home

[twoleftfeet]

You see I was right about Smith. Fucking bang average batsman and keeper. Ben Foakes is a far superior player. Fucking useless Bazball. 

[claypole]

Humiliating 
All for ego

[Westham67]

It's the cult of Bazball because no one believes in it other than the regime and the team

[Come On You Irons]

Three England batsmen have cheated now. Root, Brook and Smith.

Going down with no pride or sense of shame here. Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic.

[Eastside surge]

It’s an old fashioned saying but half this team when it comes down to pressure in the biggest of all series in world cricket they simply don’t have the “arsehole” for it !

[only1billybonds]

On the bright side there really is no point in me getting up at 4.14am again.

[Westham67]

If you want an insight into the cult of Bazball mindset, have a listen to the TMS second day, second test BBC Sport podcast, featuring Simon Mann, McGraph, Vaughan, Agnew, and Leach, who join on Teams or Zoom. And Roots interviews its alarming

[Come On You Irons]

Root clearly nicks one and doesn't walk. That leaves a sour taste. A great batsman for sure but exposed as a cheat.

[southbankbornnbred]

I do hope this is the end of Baaazball. It’s great against lesser quality sides. The sort we’d beat anyway. But as we’ve seen, the likes of Australia, India etc aren’t remotely stressed by it.

Its also been an excuse to leave out some good players and keep others in the side for too long. Foakes - as good as any keeper in world cricket - has basically missed a good chunk of a test career. Others, too.

Think there’s a chance Stokes retires from tests after this tour, though. Especially if Baz gets the elbow. It’s been a poorly planned disaster so far. Undercooked, over-confident in a gimmicky approach.

And the most embarrassing thing is they’ve spent years preparing or “building” for this tour.

[Westham67]

The pitch is cracking up, so we need to set the Aussies at least 170 for their second innings to give our bowlers something to bowl at. Then again, if our bowlers are bowling before lunch on the 4th day or by mid-afternoon, they are going to be running on empty, and Australia will have a day and a half to make the runs, so no need for them to go throw the bat

[onsideman]

They're all dense
English ineptitude is costing Cricket Australia millions of dollars in match revenue though, which is nice

[Takashi Miike]

none of these cunts, bar root, have the required attention span for test cricket

[only1billybonds]

Crawley ffs!!

No wonder Boycott says he can't take these cunts seriously.

[fraser]

You have to laugh right 

[only1billybonds]

Pope was begging to be out. Three times hevplayed at a ball that should have been left. Anyone with a brain would bank their luck and spend a little time focusing on survival. Once again, terrible shot selection.

[fraser]

I don't get it, I can understand a wafty brain fart first time, but when you've got away with one just before there really is no excuse not to knuckle down and not offer another chance. 

[Takashi Miike]

pope the dope, useless fucker

[fraser]

Awful from Pope ffs

[onsideman]

It's so frustrating. That ball wasn't threatening the stumps. Just fucking leave it