Ashes 2015

[Skinner]

Well at least we survived until lunch without losing any wickets

 

[Bobbin']

Lyth is terrible

 

[Skinner]

ffs, Ballance will be exposed early again

 

[Saddlerrad]

As good as we were at Cardiff, the 'real' Aussies have shown up here and we look tired from playing 2 tests in a week at the intensity required to win this series. I expect a rain drawn test and the Aussies to seal it up 3-1 at the Oval.

 

[JJH]

Both openers gone cheaply.

I'll be surprised if we survive until the end of play.

 

[Bobbin']

Poor again.

I don't think the Aussie's are that brilliant, I just don't think this England side are as good as we thought*, there is just no excuses for the top order consistently giving their wickets up.

*Or maybe New Zealand aren't.

 

[Pilgrim Meister]

A lot of this was down to a combination of the pitch on day 1, convicts winning the toss and electing to bat first, and scoreboard pressure. Australian bowlers also prefer this pitch over the England bowlers

 

[SpireiteDan]

Wow, we're really getting shown up here.

Just gotta accept it and get our shit together for the next test. No knee-jerk reactions, but at the same time have a serious think about what changes could possibly be made to improve our top order. Bairstow would seem the next in line but he's top a top 4 bat, who else could come in?

 

[Dazza]

Poor again.

I don't think the Aussie's are that brilliant, I just don't think this England side are as good as we thought*, there is just no excuses for the top order consistently giving their wickets up.

*Or maybe New Zealand aren't.

I would say that New Zealand aren't as good as some people say.

 

[Saddlerrad]

No knee-jerk reactions but Ballance, Bell and Lyth have looked a walking wicket for more than just a game. Bell and Ballance have been off colour for almost a year, Ballance especially. Remember when Bairstow came in...did okay...had a massive technical fault that left him short against the short ball and being bowled not having a straight bat. Goes to the County scene, scores run after run this season and is now probably ready to come back in. May be time for Ballance to do the same. Average or not, imagine how good he could be if he sorts a few technical errors out.

Hales and Bairstow in for me.

 

[Bobbin']

Wow, we're really getting shown up here.

Just gotta accept it and get our shit together for the next test. No knee-jerk reactions, but at the same time have a serious think about what changes could possibly be made to improve our top order. Bairstow would seem the next in line but he's top a top 4 bat, who else could come in?

 

[Modernist]

Cardiff was a blip for the Aussies, they'll win the series easily.

 

[JJH]

40 odd for 3, now that's a familiar sight.

 

[Dazza]

Time to drop Ballance.7 innings in 2015 we have been 3 wickets downs for at least 50 odd runs.

 

[Skinner]

If Hales is to come in then it's got to be at #3, not opening.

I'm still undecided on Lyth, but it we're to replace him it would literally be a like for like. I'd drop Bell and keep Ballance, for now, but he could do with dropping down the order a bit

 

[Bobbin']

Cardiff was a blip for the Aussies, they'll win the series easily.

I fear you could be right.

Lots of hard work to be done between now and the third test.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Bell or Root will be caught cutting by the keeper here. Lyon always has a habbit of getting a wicket despite looking massively average most of the time.

 

[Dazza]

Brainless from Stokes there.Why did he not ground his bat?

 

[RavenBish]

I say this as someone who laughs when people over-react to individual test matches/series and suggest bringing in some bang average CC player like Hales/Vince etc... to sort things out - but at this point, what would England actually have to lose by flat out dropping Lyth, Ballance and Bell? They're walking wickets, complete ferrets, there's nothing really to risk there - even if you're handing 3 lads their debuts like Westley, Hales and Leaning or something.

Root HAS to bat 3 next Test, Ballance HAS to be dropped. Those two things are certain.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Pathetic.

 

[slaphead]

Lots of talk of dropping batsmen, but the bowlers only managed 10 wickets in 198 and only some of them because the Aussies were throwing the bat. What's up with Wood, averaged near 90mph last Test, now down to just over 80 here. Not fit enough to play back to back Tests? And we need a frontline spinner, none of this part time bollocks from Ali and Root. The obsession with batsmen who can bowl a bit has to stop.

The only player I would leave out is Ballance, his technique needs work and his confidence looks shot. Root to 3 and bring in Bairstow at 5. We need another genuine opener, but who is out there? This I can tell you, there ain't many showing good enough form.

 

[SamScfc]

Watched a bit of this and come to the conclusion that Cricket is by far and way, without any question the worst sport in the world. Infact, it's barely a sport.

Come on England.

 

[RavenBish]

Lots of talk of dropping batsmen, but the bowlers only managed 10 wickets in 198 and only some of them because the Aussies were throwing the bat. What's up with Wood, averaged near 90mph last Test, now down to just over 80 here. Not fit enough to play back to back Tests? And we need a frontline spinner, none of this part time bollocks from Ali and Root. The obsession with batsmen who can bowl a bit has to stop.

The only player I would leave out is Ballance, his technique needs work and his confidence looks shot. Root to 3 and bring in Bairstow at 5. We need another genuine opener, but who is out there? This I can tell you, there ain't many showing good enough form.

It's a completely lifeless batting wicket. By now the thing must be like a fucking road. Going into the Test it was pretty much expected that it would take a monumental effort by the bowlers to take 20 wickets on it. England didn't bowl well but all the Aussies have done is bowl with a bit more aggression and the England ferrets have flashed at stuff and given their wickets away. The failure has squarely been by the batsmen...it's been astoundingly pathetic.

 

[Mustard]

The fact that we've been absolutely demolished is bad enough, but the mental impact will be huge. No way we win any more tests this series.

I feel that everything positive to have come out of the NZ series has been shat on.

 

[Dazza]

Sod it.Should replace the entire team for the next test.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

I would drop all three of Ballance, Bell and Lyth.
Hales in for Ballance, Bairstow in for Bell and move Ali up to partner Cook with Rashid coming into the side.

 

[slaphead]

It's a completely lifeless batting wicket. By now the thing must be like a fucking road.

Yet Johnson is putting it past the batsman's nose at 87mph and Starc and Hazlewood are moving through the air and off the pitch. All Broad, Anderson and Wood did was trundle it down at 80 mph and feed the Aussie batsmen. The batters have been a shower of shite, but the bowlers haven't been much better.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Yet Johnson is putting it past the batsman's nose at 87mph and Starc and Hazlewood are moving through the air and off the pitch. All Broad, Anderson and Wood did was trundle it down at 80 mph and feed the Aussie batsmen. The batters have been a shower of shite, but the bowlers haven't been much better.

It's not just based on this test though is it.
We have been 30-3/40-3 in every test this year and relied on heroic innings from Root, time and time again.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Just come back from the tennis to see a carcrash of a scorecard! Our top order is a shambles. But their needs to be questions asked why a pitch like this has been produced? Its destroyed all our momentum from the first test.

 

[Mustard]

I'd drop Lyth and let Broad open.

Curse of the commentator