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]

Westfield.

There's a time and a place to play aggressively, aka Bazball. But it isnt in the first over of an innings or when you're trying to occupy the crease.

[Westside]

Yep, i fully expect that they'll be told to pack it in and revert to casual,irresponsible batting. Can't have people playing properly, it'll harm the Bazball brand.

And batting properly worked so well before Bazball. We had the fantastic record of one win in 17 tests, before Stokes became captain.

[Fauxstralian]

Some wickets thrown away … old habits die hard … but more fight shown when most tried to play proper Test match cricket
There isn’t the gap that the scoreline implies 
England need to pick some players who want to bat like Test players 
Personally like many I don’t think Pope is good enough especially at 3 & next summer I’d ditch Duckett who is unable to leave a ball for a proper opener like Hameed
Harry ‘Forrest Gump’ Brook needs a kick up the arse & the selectors need to look at county players who value their wickets rather than selecting lemmings 
McCullum has to go … there MUST be an Englishman who can take over. Someone who cares about England winning Test matches rather than a Kiwi. 
Not the 2005 ball tamperer Mad Marcus Trescothick though 

[only1billybonds]

The dismissals of Duckett and Root came at absolutely crucial times which makes it more infuriating that both fell to shots that really didn't need to be played. Think we had a genuine chance while Root and Crawley were going well. 
Still, a draw or victory would have been papering over some huge cracks.

[Come On You Irons]

At least they managed to avoid the quickest Ashes capitulation since 1921.

Will be just the quickest since 2002 when it's all wrapped up tomorrow.

Root and Brook gave their wickets away yet again. Beyond tedious.

[fraser]

Well bowled by Lyon and that looks to be all over now, we've batted quite well this innings the damage was done in the first. 

[Fauxstralian]

Lyon going to work
Stokes & Crawley in consecutive overs

[fraser]

Brook has been threatening to throw his wicket away for a while and now succeeded 

[Fauxstralian]

Australia will look at Root Stokes & Brook as the 3 key wickets so 1 down & 2 to get
Imagine England regard Smith Head & (at the moment) Carey the same way
Smith will come back at Melbourne & in an uneven performance Labuschagne Green & Inglis have been disappointing 
Khawaja will go at the end of the series and they have to start looking at the likes of Renshaw, McSweeney & Kellaway
Green has run out of road for now & Webster will replace him
Getting close to Hazlewood, Boland, Starc & Lyon calling it a day also

[only1billybonds]

Root gone, massive wicket. 109-3.

[only1billybonds]

Yep, i fully expect that they'll be told to pack it in and revert to casual,irresponsible batting. Can't have people playing properly, it'll harm the Bazball brand.

[fraser]

Root and Crawley batting like they're in a test match. 

[Alfs]

Believe....

[Westham67]

Pope gone for 17 32-2

[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).