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.

[only1billybonds]

67.

Think we have to accept that some of this lot are incapable of change. The match situation was begging for that ball to be left but Duckett just HAD to have a swing.

[Westham67]

Duckett out 2nd ball. Playing a shot that he really didn't have to. Not sure what's left to say.

It was wide and was going over the stumps. I was trying to put a name to the stroke that was playing. It was a nothing stroke; he was just chasing the ball

[only1billybonds]

Duckett out 2nd ball. Playing a shot that he really didn't have to. Not sure what's left to say.

[Westham67]

Up for the RUN CHASE 5 for 1

[Fauxstralian]

Spin coach reckons Bashir is where he should be in terms of development 
Which is sitting and watching after being selected non stop for 2 years while part timers in Jacks & Root play at a ground known to take spin
He will go with McCullum you’d expect 

I was reading that Alex Hartley apologised on TMS for being grumpy
Explained she was on her period 
Things have changed since the days of Brian Johnston obviously 
The batsman’s Holding the bowlers Vagina
 

[Westham67]

I have a feeling Archer is going to sack test cricket after this series. He was batting six hours after he finished a day in the field.

England's spinning coach was sent out to speak with Agnew this morning LOL

[Fauxstralian]

After getting Italy to the t20 World Cup Joe Burns asked the board to improve their processes & lift the game
Italy responded by leaving him out of the squad and telling him that his standards were ‘above the level of Italian cricket’
ha ha ha 
Shuddup you face!

[only1billybonds]

I would be fully behind Langervtaking it on, maybe get Jason Gillespie involved as well if possible.

Was reading earlier that no one has faced more deliveries than Stokes in the series so far.  Thats quite a stat for a no. 6.

[goose]

What is it with England teams and mental fragility?

How's the wop cricket team?

mentally tough and all decked out in their new KAPPA gear.

[Mad Ferret]

What is it with England teams and mental fragility?

How's the wop cricket team?

[goose]

Winning the Ashes is still winning the Ashes and I did mention Cricket World Cup (amongst other Sports) wins as well. And yeah, any Nation that managed to win a World Cup does possess mental toughness, so I'll take it. Extremely proud of our history as little old England.

Little? 

As in how others perceive us..

I dont think any other cricket/rugby/football nation views England as little.

bringing back to cricket, to me there is a clear issue with mental toughness and resilience. this team are a great example but not far different of any ashes squad over the past 30 or 40 years (with the exception of 1).

[Takashi Miike]

[Massive Attack]

I was specifically talking cricket, but you can widen it out if you like. Winning a world cup 60 years ago is not a ringing endorsement of the mental toughness of the england footbal team.

specifically on cricket, the recent record down under is atrocious. it is not down to talent, enlgand teams seem to melt as soon as they get off the plane.

Winning the Ashes is still winning the Ashes and I did mention Cricket World Cup (amongst other Sports) wins as well. And yeah, any Nation that managed to win a World Cup does possess mental toughness, so I'll take it. Extremely proud of our history as little old England.

Little? 

As in how others perceive us..

[Far Cough UKunt]

2003 Rugby World cup won by England in erm, Australia.

[zebthecat]

"Bash is our No 1 guy and does a fantastic job"

This is what Jeetan patel said about Bashir in his post day 3 interview.
Quite apart from how WIll Jacks will feel about this Shoaib's tour figures of 2-266 at 5.4 r/o doesn't exactly scream fantastic to me neither does his test average of 39 nor his first class average of over 50.

[goose]

Not too bad considering we've won a fair few competitions down the years off the top of my head:

Football World Cup
Rugby World Cup
Cricket World Cup
T20 World Cup 
The Ashes

And that's just the Men's Teams.

I was specifically talking cricket, but you can widen it out if you like. Winning a world cup 60 years ago is not a ringing endorsement of the mental toughness of the england footbal team.

specifically on cricket, the recent record down under is atrocious. it is not down to talent, enlgand teams seem to melt as soon as they get off the plane.

Winning the Ashes is still winning the Ashes and I did mention Cricket World Cup (amongst other Sports) wins as well. And yeah, any Nation that managed to win a World Cup does possess mental toughness, so I'll take it. Extremely proud of our history as little old England.

Little? the England football team and football clubs have the best of everything and the best facilities in world football. They have/had the players to win things but have failed.

the only world cup wins in cricket and football were on home soil. one ashes win in australia in something like 40 years? 

[Massive Attack]

What is it with England teams and mental fragility?

Not too bad considering we've won a fair few competitions down the years off the top of my head:

Football World Cup
Rugby World Cup
Cricket World Cup
T20 World Cup 
The Ashes

And that's just the Men's Teams.

I was specifically talking cricket, but you can widen it out if you like. Winning a world cup 60 years ago is not a ringing endorsement of the mental toughness of the england footbal team.

specifically on cricket, the recent record down under is atrocious. it is not down to talent, enlgand teams seem to melt as soon as they get off the plane.

Winning the Ashes is still winning the Ashes and I did mention Cricket World Cup (amongst other Sports) wins as well. And yeah, any Nation that managed to win a World Cup does possess mental toughness, so I'll take it. Extremely proud of our history as little old England.

[goose]

What is it with England teams and mental fragility?

Not too bad considering we've won a fair few competitions down the years off the top of my head:

Football World Cup
Rugby World Cup
Cricket World Cup
T20 World Cup 
The Ashes

And that's just the Men's Teams.

I was specifically talking cricket, but you can widen it out if you like. Winning a world cup 60 years ago is not a ringing endorsement of the mental toughness of the england footbal team.

specifically on cricket, the recent record down under is atrocious. it is not down to talent, enlgand teams seem to melt as soon as they get off the plane.

[Westham67]

Another stat from MgGraph 13 maidens in just over 92 overs for Australia's first innings and 3 maidens in 68 overs for Australia's second innings

One-dimensional cricket dowling short to tail enders "Taking the initiative"  and getting smashed 

[Westham67]

If England go 3 down tomorrow, it will be the fastest loss of the Ashes in 100 years, 10 days. That's TMS stats for you

[Massive Attack]

What is it with England teams and mental fragility?

Not too bad considering we've won a fair few competitions down the years off the top of my head:

Football World Cup
Rugby World Cup
Cricket World Cup
T20 World Cup 
The Ashes

And that's just the Men's Teams.

[Far Cough UKunt]

I know he's getting on a bit but someone with oversize bollocks like Lord Ian Botham?

[Come On You Irons]

Is anyone really surprised? I expected a series defeat for this England team before a ball was bowled and it'll likely be a 5-0 whitewash down under yet again.

I watched the first session of day two live and all Steven Finn and especially Graeme Swann could bang on about was how flat the wicket was and how England will make hay on it and get a massive first innings total and first innings lead. It was delusional stuff and lo and behold England ended up the day on 200 odd for 8.

Crawley and Pope should never play for England again after this series. They might as well drop them after this test.

[Eerie Decent]

SB

If Mcullum and Key are booted when they come home, who do you think are the front runners to replace them?

As for the actual cricket, its almost laughable that this tour has been three years in the planning. Ok, this Aussie attack has been exceptional in this game but a proper batting team would have made 400 minimum on that track. For me, the main difference between the two sides is game awareness and mental strength, we are lacking on both counts in spades. Guessing they'll get about 500 in front, declare then have a day and a half to bowl us out for possibly less than 250.
As SB said, get the thing over, get them home then make whatever changes are necessary.

Sadly, there are no Englishmen about capable of doing the job that's needed imo. Sadly, I think it's going to have to be an Aussie, as the older lot are proper men still, ideally Punter but he won't take it, I'd go for Langer personally. I know he fell out with a few of the woke lot in the team, but we need a root and branch change in attitude, and he's the sort of character that would do it.

Or Darren Lehmann. Outside of those two, fuck knows.

[goose]

What is it with England teams and mental fragility?