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.

[Westham67]

Someone from TMS interviewed Trescothic. They asked him for his view on the day's play, and he said, "Top Day", drinking  Bazball Kool-Aid at the end of play, obviously  

Stokes at 3 makes sense; he can grind runs in a long innings when necessary. Unfortunately, this regime has got bogged down in its own rhetoric and is unwilling to change. There was not much difference in today's batting performance and in their second inning in Perth.

The 4th and 5th tests are going to be painful for a crestfallen team lacking confidence .

 

[Eerie Decent]

As much as I said they should've focused on Ahmed, given they didn't, why on earth they have constantly ignored Liam Dawson is another head scratcher.

Not on Lyon"s level as a bowler, but he's very canny with the ball, and can at least tie up an end. Also his batting over the last 5 years has been top notch, he'd contribute a lot more that the 2 bunnies at 1 & 3

Problem is he's a strong character, and my theory, for what it's worth, is that is why he hasn't been picked, ironically. For all his recent bravado about wanting some DOG in the team, he's surrounded himself with yes men, who WILL do exactly what he says, like swinging their bats with abandon, and they won't be dropped regardless. 

It was interesting in the one test they threw Dawson in against India, him & Stokes were clearly having quite a bit of disagreement. He's trying to tell a 35 year old seasoned spinner exactly what field to set, when he should be listening and be a bit more humble.

Imagine if he had tied an end up for most of this series, and contributed with the bat. Instead, we went with the youngster who averages 50 odd with the ball in the CC, and a part timer. But don't worry, they will shut up and do exactly what he asks of them.

[Massive Attack]

The way he manages to spin that nut, he makes the wicket seem like the grand canyon. 

[zebthecat]

The whole spin situation is ridiculous with England especially if you compare head to head.
Australia have Nathan Lyon bowling on his home pitch with his home pitch curator for whom he worked when young where he has take over 60 test wickets at about 20.
He turned it on day 2 and England are batting last. It is going to take more spin as the match progresses..

[Eerie Decent]

Am at home today so just watching a bit of Big Bash
Rehan Ahmed playing for Hobart at the MCG
Surely as a specialist spinner would have been a better Test pick
Attacking bowler & good batsman 

That said came in at 3 & out for 1 off 3 balls 



 

If you look back, I had Ahmed as one of my personal picks for this side, he averaged over 50 with the bat this summer in the CC, him and/or Jacks should have been the spinners they really concentrated on for this Ashes, given they have as much (if not more) talent with the ball than Bashir, but they can also both bat and field. I reckon Ahmed will get into the side on his batting alone before long.

The selection process, along with no one being in fear of their place in the side, and the RUN TOWARDS DANAGER mantra, has been an absolute disaster. Forget the BAZBALL approach (the theory behind what it should be is ok in principal) some of the players picked and that lack of jeopardy regardless of form has done for us.

None of this is revisionary, all said previously, the talented players who can also give it a whack are Duckett, Brook & Smith, if they are giving license (when the time is right) alongside Root and a couple of other proper batsmen instead of the appalling Crawley & Pope, it would have made a world of difference. We should also have been aware that Aussies pitches are no longer just crash bang wallop - at least 1 line & length bowler was needed. Ironically, Anderson would've been our best bowler had he been taken.

If your opening bat averages 30, and your number 3 has a false average because of the occasional massive score sandwiched in between numerous failures and never looks 'in', and you give them license to sling their bat about regardless of consequences, you are destined to failure when the pressure is really on. It would be a bit more palatable were it not so obvious before a ball was bowled.

I agree with that entirely, along with every commentator on TMS.

I said all this on here way before the series. To be honest though, anyone with a keen interest in Cricket could see it, so hardly revelatory. Just so annoying, we could really have had a go at them with the right team and mindset.

[Westham67]

Am at home today so just watching a bit of Big Bash
Rehan Ahmed playing for Hobart at the MCG
Surely as a specialist spinner would have been a better Test pick
Attacking bowler & good batsman 

That said came in at 3 & out for 1 off 3 balls 


 

If you look back, I had Ahmed as one of my personal picks for this side, he averaged over 50 with the bat this summer in the CC, him and/or Jacks should have been the spinners they really concentrated on for this Ashes, given they have as much (if not more) talent with the ball than Bashir, but they can also both bat and field. I reckon Ahmed will get into the side on his batting alone before long.

The selection process, along with no one being in fear of their place in the side, and the RUN TOWARDS DANAGER mantra, has been an absolute disaster. Forget the BAZBALL approach (the theory behind what it should be is ok in principal) some of the players picked and that lack of jeopardy regardless of form has done for us.

None of this is revisionary, all said previously, the talented players who can also give it a whack are Duckett, Brook & Smith, if they are giving license (when the time is right) alongside Root and a couple of other proper batsmen instead of the appalling Crawley & Pope, it would have made a world of difference. We should also have been aware that Aussies pitches are no longer just crash bang wallop - at least 1 line & length bowler was needed. Ironically, Anderson would've been our best bowler had he been taken.

If your opening bat averages 30, and your number 3 has a false average because of the occasional massive score sandwiched in between numerous failures and never looks 'in', and you give them license to sling their bat about regardless of consequences, you are destined to failure when the pressure is really on. It would be a bit more palatable were it not so obvious before a ball was bowled.

I agree with that entirely, along with every commentator on TMS.

[Fauxstralian]

Believe Pope averaged 11 in Australia which he has raised to 17
Cant continue surely 

Anderson averages 36 per wicket in Ashes Tests
England have enough talent in their fast bowling line up 
They have just not bowled with discipline or in combination 
 

[Fauxstralian]

There was a lot of talk about Ahmed towards the end of the season and as a leg spinner and a good batsman I was surprised he wasn’t in the squad
Jacks is a solid individual & decent white ball player but picking a part time spinner because you are worried about your number 8 batsman is negative 

Had to go out so didn’t see him bowl … 2 overs 0/18 … but Hobart didn’t make enough & Melbourne strolled home by 8 wickets
Wanted to see Campbell Kellaway (41no off 27) bat, 23yo & a likely Test player when Dads Army move on
 

[Eerie Decent]

Am at home today so just watching a bit of Big Bash
Rehan Ahmed playing for Hobart at the MCG
Surely as a specialist spinner would have been a better Test pick
Attacking bowler & good batsman 

That said came in at 3 & out for 1 off 3 balls 

 

If you look back, I had Ahmed as one of my personal picks for this side, he averaged over 50 with the bat this summer in the CC, him and/or Jacks should have been the spinners they really concentrated on for this Ashes, given they have as much (if not more) talent with the ball than Bashir, but they can also both bat and field. I reckon Ahmed will get into the side on his batting alone before long.

The selection process, along with no one being in fear of their place in the side, and the RUN TOWARDS DANAGER mantra, has been an absolute disaster. Forget the BAZBALL approach (the theory behind what it should be is ok in principal) some of the players picked and that lack of jeopardy regardless of form has done for us.

None of this is revisionary, all said previously, the talented players who can also give it a whack are Duckett, Brook & Smith, if they are giving license (when the time is right) alongside Root and a couple of other proper batsmen instead of the appalling Crawley & Pope, it would have made a world of difference. We should also have been aware that Aussies pitches are no longer just crash bang wallop - at least 1 line & length bowler was needed. Ironically, Anderson would've been our best bowler had he been taken.

If your opening bat averages 30, and your number 3 has a false average because of the occasional massive score sandwiched in between numerous failures and never looks 'in', and you give them license to sling their bat about regardless of consequences, you are destined to failure when the pressure is really on. It would be a bit more palatable were it not so obvious before a ball was bowled.

[zebthecat]

As an aside, it is good to see Archer step it up in this 3rd Test with both ball and bat and Stokes toughing it out as best he can with the bat.

Jofra Archer has been our best bowler by a country mile.
Given all his time out that is a some achievement.
I hope that the management don't break him yet again.

[Fauxstralian]

Am at home today so just watching a bit of Big Bash
Rehan Ahmed playing for Hobart at the MCG
Surely as a specialist spinner would have been a better Test pick
Attacking bowler & good batsman 

That said came in at 3 & out for 1 off 3 balls 
 

[fraser]

Don't worry we have West Ham to cheer us up Saturday..... 

[Beef&Tomato]

A real poor showing from us.

[southbankbornnbred]

Not a single England player with a 50, on that pitch, is criminal. Every one of them should hang their heads in shame. Some, like Root, will come back, sure. Others belong in the dustbin of Zimbabwean t20s.

Fair play to the Aussies. An average side, by their standards, has at least exposed Baaazbrand for what it is: utter drivel.

[southbankbornnbred]

Genuinely struggling to think of a worse England touring side anywhere, at any time. This might be the very worst of the lot since I watched England, at least in terms of preparation.

That pitch is a batter’s paradise for anybody who actually wants to play test cricket. The fact that Australia played poorly and still almost got 400 tells you everything.

It’s all over. And, thankfully, so are Baaazball and its lazy, arrogant, corner-cutting creators. Men of straw condemned to the arsehole of history.

[Massive Attack]

As an aside, it is good to see Archer step it up in this 3rd Test with both ball and bat and Stokes toughing it out as best he can with the bat.

[Massive Attack]

Doesn't matter now when they allow Carey to remain but not the same treatment for Smith. We have been dogshit but that unnecessary bollocks stinks and spoilt a finely poised 3rd test and series as a whole. Enjoy the win-at-all-cost urn, Champions.
*nods head in Carey stylee*

Like VAR, Snicko can get to absolute fuck with the persistent controveries.

[Fauxstralian]

Stokes playing for the red ink 
The other lemmings furious that he isn’t forced to play Bazball
Joe Root has just taken a shit in Stokes kit bag

[Sydney_Iron]

7 down limped to 168

edit, make that 8

[Sydney_Iron]

6 down, England trying to limp to stumps by sending Jacks out!

I don't reckon this will get through another day, this time tomorrow and it will be 3-0...

[Massive Attack]

No not having it, that only reaffirms my suspicion of bias with 1 rule for one and not for the other. Not a fucking chance!


If it means that much to them to keep cheating, the Aussies can have it.

[Sydney_Iron]

Another humiliation incoming 

[only1billybonds]

Brook gone. 127-5.

Apart from the score, we are giving our bowlers no chance with these 60 over innings. On this wicket,the bowlers had every right to expect not to be working again today. We really do need to still be battingcat stumps.

[Westham67]

Root gone 71 for 4

[Massive Attack]

Root and Brook have got to somehow battle and hold on longing this out, otherwise it's goodnight Vienna.