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]

Trapped him with a yorker, Greene 291-4

Could our batting line-up grind out a draw in the second innings?

[twoleftfeet]

I feel sorry for the barmy army watching this shit. The worst Australian team for nearly 15 years but still too good for Baz and his brainless morons. Oh for a Cook, Broad, Trott and Anderson.

[twoleftfeet]

I did say Smith was shit. He’s not even the best keeper at his County. Baz fucked up big time. 

He averages 47 with the bat, mostly batting with the tail. Foakes on the other hand averages 29 in Tests. Weird you're constantly digging him out, the focus of any anger within the team should be on Crawley, Pope & Stokes, their batting over the last couple of years overall has been a disgrace. The most sensible tweak for now would be to move Smith up to 3 to concentrate solely on his batting, and give Pope the gloves, when he bats at 7 he looks a different player.

Every keeper drops the odd ball, and he along with Duckett were the only 2 out to genuinely good balls in the first innings. You're a plank focusing on him, he's the least of our worries.

He is living off past success. His highest score in the last 7 matches is 33, he looks lethargic which is due to the fact he doesn’t keep wicket enough. Foakes can stick around plus his glovework is far superior. You can’t argue with facts. I’d rather have Bairstow than Smith. 

[Westham67]

Desperation time going with short piched balls, 16 runs and a  wide off of one over

[Eerie Decent]

I did say Smith was shit. He’s not even the best keeper at his County. Baz fucked up big time. 

He averages 47 with the bat, mostly batting with the tail. Foakes on the other hand averages 29 in Tests. Weird you're constantly digging him out, the focus of any anger within the team should be on Crawley, Pope & Stokes, their batting over the last couple of years overall has been a disgrace. The most sensible tweak for now would be to move Smith up to 3 to concentrate solely on his batting, and give Pope the gloves, when he bats at 7 he looks a different player.

Every keeper drops the odd ball, and he along with Duckett were the only 2 out to genuinely good balls in the first innings. You're a plank focusing on him, he's the least of our worries.

[Westham67]

In the podcast I posted before, Stephan Shemilt, chief cricket writer for BBC Sport, said that all of England's problems are of their own making. That was after Perth, and they all said that for the first time, Stokes looked like he didn't know what to do when Head was taking the game away from England
 

[twoleftfeet]

I did say Smith was shit. He’s not even the best keeper at his County. Baz fucked up big time. 

[zebthecat]

I love the crowd cheering every time Jamie Smith takes the ball without dropping it.
It is what a home crowd do.

[only1billybonds]

Biggest difference between the two set ups is the Australians play the fucking game properly!

[Westham67]

Potentially the beginning of the end of the death of the cult of Bazball

[Eastside surge]

Think we’re slowly but surely losing the ashes over the next couple of sessions, ball doing nothing batsmen look set and attacking without playing brain dead shots like our lot!

[Takashi Miike]

really need to get rid of the fucking sandpaper crybaby, asap

[southbankbornnbred]

Smith has potential, of course. I like him. But there’s little doubt that Foakes would score more runs and take more catches with both on their test form.
 

[southbankbornnbred]

England’s bowlers are on the wrong length for this pitch. Too short too often. It’s a decent batting pitch, and England should have scored more.

On that note, Smith needs to up his game. He’s batting poorly and dropping catches. Baaaazball Ltd’s directors have stuck their neck out to pick him ahead of Foakes - who is a far superior keeper. So he needs to return some runs or catches, or there’s little point having him out there.

Its harsh, because Smith is young. But when you’re blocking a very good keeper from the side you need to be able to show why.

 

[Westham67]

130-1 We need some wickets

[only1billybonds]

77-1.

Head. C Atkinson b Carse.

[only1billybonds]

Smith drops Head off Archers bowling.
Could turn out to be a key moment!


 

[only1billybonds]

Excellent test match bowling from Archer and Atkinson. Building pressure, first 3 overs, three maidens.

England 334 all out.

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

 Historically ..England managing 300 +  and batting out the day in Australia is as good as it gets..
Pathetic...but reality.

Rooooooot
 

[Massive Attack]

Well that well earned draw has put me in a right good mood ready for the boys to spoil down under now.

Come on lads, go again for another solid day's play..

[Westham67]

Pope, Brooks and Jacks all took unnecessary shots, getting themselves out

Add Carse to the list, plus the Stokes run out.  Arguably if you look at what Smith does, he pushes at it too (then reverts to the shot it should have been).

This bunch of simpletons are almost unsupportable playing like this.  They're not being beaten by a better team, they're beating themselves over and over.  Totally moronic.

Australia must be absolutely pissing themselves laughing at the cunts.

I find it painful like the 22/23 tour of NZ second test, England 1 -0 up with a 200+ run lead after the first innings. Instead of batting NZ out of the game for a draw and winning the series, they asked NZ to follow on and lost the test by one run and drew the series. They have not learned since then, and that is the annoying thing, Moronic as you say, incomprehensible 

[Massive Attack]

We might actually get 3 days out of them this time.

[Far Cough UKunt]

Just fuck of with your lame excuses, you fake Aussie cսnt.

[Fauxstralian]

I don’t think I’ve heard any Australian player or fan ever say they thought bowling underarm against NZ was a great idea
Or anyone at the time or since vilify professional egghead Mike Brearley who used the tactic several times
Maybe you can be the first?

[twoleftfeet]

Anyone who thinks Jamie Smith is a better option than Foakes knows nothing about cricket. Smith is a bang average batsman and keeper. I’m losing patience with the England coach.

How dare you slate one of our own. Smith is a good West Ham lad and a great cricketer. You're talking out of your arse as per.

Your knowledge of cricket is as shit as your knowledge of football.