THE ASHES

[blademan89]

A very good ball to get him out in all fairness.

Will we hold out till the 5th day?

As soon as one of these goes that's it ain't it going on the series so far. Even If we draw we won't change owt for Melbourne. Drop broad drop moeen drop woakes, they've not got some Devine right to be in the team and are clearly not performing. Plunkett,wood, a different spinner, just try something different for fucks sake. Drop cook as well for me, not sure who for like but anyone will do way he's playing. The bowling attack can't take 10 wickets, well they can but twice in 5 innings is a joke against let's be reyt other than Smith and warner (who hasn't performed) a batting attack that are quite shit. None of it will happen though its all too cosy for the so called top players, I mean a duckett got sent home for pouring a drink on jimmy, who really gives a fuck I'm sure it was all a bit of fun.

 

[Soup Ladle]

True. Felt a bit sorry for him. (fao Super Horns)

We'll be back on the 5th day but will be all over by lunch.

 

[blademan89]

This is going to be the 3rd time in a year we've scored 400 batting 1st and lost the game ffs. I bet we've not done it that many times in our history. 7 consecutive away test defeats and 0 wins in 9 reads grim grim reading

 

[Soup Ladle]

Would be only the 5th time in test history of a team scoring 400+ in the first dig and losing by an innings.

 

[blademan89]

Would be only the 5th time in test history of a team scoring 400+ in the first dig and losing by an innings.

We did it twice in India this will be the 3rd of the 5 then?

 

[The Southbank]

Cook and Broad, neither of whom have contributed anything remotely worthwhile, look like they'll get the chop after this series. The senior players haven't stepped up, Root has struggled jostling both the captaincy - which, granted, hasn't been helped with the fiasco around Stokes and Bairstow - and being our best batsman.

Credit where credit is due - Stoneman, Malan and Bairstow have batted well in difficult situations. Woakes and Overton bowled and batted well in stages, but the likes of Ali and Broad offered little with the ball. We also lack a change of pace and different line and lengths in our approach; far too predictable and soft to play against.

 

[Super_horns]

Wasn't it in the last Ashes series down under we suddenly made loads of changes for the final test and played an experimental type team - maybe that will happen again?

 

[Super_horns]

Maybe Stoneman is right ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42401187

Big difference is their key players along with a few back ups supporting have turned up and delivered their best whereas with the odd exception ours haven't...

 

[Tom_CUFC]

I suppose the only defence is that touring teams are generally struggling more than ever, players play in other territories regularly but in T20 format, which doesn't prepare you at all for test cricket even if the pitch is set up the same.

Doesn't stop you being successful away, but when you get stuck with an under-par team like we have now it just makes it worse. We were spoilt with an excellent team for 3-4 years, one of our best ever, which meant we were successful everywhere, but, it did coincide with a "changing of the guard" in Australia, India, South Africa, that we'd gone through earlier and are now doing so again, it's just a cyclical thing.

I still back Broad and Cook after this series, mostly because we have nothing else especially in the case of Cook, but they have enough credit in the bank to get through a bad series. Cook's is unexpected, Broad less so, but they still have more to give than the other options. Of course at some point, we have to blend in the future, with Cook that is easier as the batting line-up is young, with Broad you have Anderson who will go first, Broad has to be the mainstay.

As an aside, I'm in Melbourne and can't wait for Tuesday regardless of the series being over.

 

[Super_horns]

Enjoy - Starc is out so that might give us a sniff.

 

[blademan89]

Why is moeen actually still playing, perfect chance to play crane. May as well not take moeen on any tour at all he's fucking useless outside England.

 

[Luke_1884]

Yesterday was a long old day at the MCG.

The Curran no ball wicket sums up our whole series. Would have been a great moment, a chance to rub it in for once but no. Aussies having the last laugh, again.

Wicket. Least we kept Smith under triple figures.

 

[Skinner]

Well at least we made a fight of a bowling session. And Cook has scored above 20. We might win 2-3....

Not really posted as I've felt it's unnecessary, all wading in on terrible all round performances as a collective, whilst giving a pat on the back to upper order players that aren't going to do anything of note in test cricket for England. Vince & Malan aren't going to be more than stop gaps, period. Stoneman has the technique but has ALOT of ironing out to do, more so than some openers that have had far harder times in FC last year.

Biggest gripe for me is the berating of Curran (not you guys in here as you seem pretty switched on apart from when it comes to Leach who would struggle in Nagpur let alone Brisbane). We call up shite like Jake Ball and question the selectors with inclusions like that, and question why we persist with a 'broken' Mark Wood, yet when we call up arguably the best young fast bowler we have in Curran we start to question his inclusion and call upon yes men and wonder why the likes Olly Rayner (who, like Leach is a FC bowler at best) ain't getting a look in and want Wood back in. Cricket eh? Someone ain't doing the job so we automatically think *insert name* would have done a far stellar job. Curran is going to be a main stay, as is his brother in a few years and I fucking hate Surrey! We got nothing out there coming through because as like the rest of the world, T20 is the be all end all now.

Rather than looking at inclusions like Curran, we need to be looking at senior players more. Anderson has taken most of our wickets but how often have him and Broad pitched too short and wide and allowing the Aussies to start with no pressure at all? Woakes, same applies, too short and wide again. Cook, wank, Root, wank again. "Ali had a great two years with bat and ball", lol yeah, at home and against WI and Pakistan, different kettle going down under to the ashes though, hes a back up spinner, a batsman for fuck sake! What is Root's gripe with Adil? Consistently he's better than Ali, but no all of a sudden goes into the wilderness and we call up Crane (who I happen to rate VERY highly and have always said on here he's our next Swan if there EVER is one).

The whole tour was fucked as soon as Stokes knocked that prick out, it' easy to say but it's true. Not only would his ability have made a difference, but we're also talking the balance of order, vice captain, aggressive bowler etc. etc. etc. etc.

We need to look on and look on massively, because we've got our lead seamer retiring very soon, nothing coming in, an abomination of a batting order that's maybe 2 years away of losing the opener we're already struggling to find a partner for and our best player may never wear the shirt again, and all with a young captain that is still learning. Dark times ahead.

James Taylor the one that got away...

Let's be positive...

 

[Super_horns]

Good day but still expecting a collapse !

 

[Super_horns]

Well we had a collapse of sorts but a handy 9th wicket partnership gives us a strong lead.

 

[blademan89]

Well done cook, such a shame he wasn't in this form from the start but nothing he can do about that. Root is just doing what he does every series near enough without the 1 century so far, I can't believe people are only just noticing his conversion rate. I know they are already away a long time but I think they are gonna have to start going even earlier to get used to conditions or it has to be sorted out that warm up games are against good opposition which is out of the away sides hands.

 

[Ciderhead]

Class is permanent. It's too late but I don't think there was anyone going into this not anticipating a whitewash so great spirit shown. Cook, and Broad, aren't ready to go just yet.

Well done cook, such a shame he wasn't in this form from the start but nothing he can do about that. Root is just doing what he does every series near enough without the 1 century so far, I can't believe people are only just noticing his conversion rate. I know they are already away a long time but I think they are gonna have to start going even earlier to get used to conditions or it has to be sorted out that warm up games are against good opposition which is out of the away sides hands.

It would be better if we could sort it to play NZ first but the timetable doesn't really fit.

Root...he needs a proper kick up the arse at this point. People blame the captaincy but that's nonsense, it's been going on long before that. I hoped taking it on might lead to him showing greater responsibility with the bat but not to be so far. Smith carries Australia - Root's got the talent, more if anything, but nowhere near the mental strength.

 

[blademan89]

Class is permanent. It's too late but I don't think there was anyone going into this not anticipating a whitewash so great spirit shown. Cook, and Broad, aren't ready to go just yet.


It would be better if we could sort it to play NZ first but the timetable doesn't really fit.

Root...he needs a proper kick up the arse at this point. People blame the captaincy but that's nonsense, it's been going on long before that. I hoped taking it on might lead to him showing greater responsibility with the bat but not to be so far. Smith carries Australia - Root's got the talent, more if anything, but nowhere near the mental strength.

No need to worry about root he will get better and better and better mentally as well. He will be an England great alongside cook.

 

[lordofthepies]

it has to be sorted out that warm up games are against good opposition which is out of the away sides hands.

Not exactly - if australia had faced better opposition last time they were over here then they would have arranged better warm up matches for England this time.

 

[blademan89]

Not exactly - if australia had faced better opposition last time they were over here then they would have arranged better warm up matches for England this time.

That's what I mean, it's the same for both parties it needs to be sorted where away teams have much tougher warm up games as home sides are generally winning most series easily. The men at the top need to sort it

 

[Ciderhead]

No need to worry about root he will get better and better and better mentally as well. He will be an England great alongside cook.

I hope so, but it's been the same for a while now. He'll be an England great no doubt, probably already is, but he could be an all time great if he wants to be

 

[blademan89]

I hope so, but it's been the same for a while now. He'll be an England great no doubt, probably already is, but he could be an all time great if he wants to be

All comes down to concentration, his shot today was so stupid after he'd seen out 10 overs doing nothing, he will learn he has too.

 

[Skinner]

Its alright, we'll beat India at home, narrowly beat SA, NZ, see key players when we edge past WI.

We'e got good players, some great. Should have been our time to dominate imo. Didn't expect an ashes win but a performance in a dead rubber don't do i for me.

As I said, stokes is a massive loss but selections are shite. Our own coach doesnt watch FC. Neither do our selectors going by squads mind.

 

[Ciderhead]

I like Curran but I think that's just because he looks so much like Joe Bryan

 

[Super_horns]

Oh well - looks like rain has rather spoiled the game unless we can cause a quick Aussie collapse.

Or we do like in Perth all those years ago!​

 

[The Southbank]

The problem is that Trevor Bayliss doesn't watch enough first-class cricket. He's never really been suited to the role and I would rather give Jason Gillespie a chance; he did well at Yorkshire and is a talented young coach suited to both our conditions and those in Australia as well.

I think this series has proven that we have reached the end of the Bayliss era, at least in first class cricket anyway. His record has been good in limited overs and I wouldn't look past him continuing in that role alongside Eoin Morgan.

 

[blademan89]

Oh well - looks like rain has rather spoiled the game unless we can cause a quick Aussie collapse.

Or we do like in Perth all those years ago!​

Think they will bat long enough for a draw but it wouldn't surprise me if we were chasing 140 and end up about 80-7

 

[lordofthepies]

The problem is that Trevor Bayliss doesn't watch enough first-class cricket. He's never really been suited to the role and I would rather give Jason Gillespie a chance; he did well at Yorkshire and is a talented young coach suited to both our conditions and those in Australia as well.

I think this series has proven that we have reached the end of the Bayliss era, at least in first class cricket anyway. His record has been good in limited overs and I wouldn't look past him continuing in that role alongside Eoin Morgan.

The difficulty is that if you do have a coach in charge of all 3 formats, they juat don't get the chance to watch the county championship. Unless they come to the job with a lot of knowledge of the champo, they have to rely on the selectors to do the job of watching FC cricket. I think you have a point that it might be best to have separate coaches for tests and for one day stuff.

In defence of Bayliss, he's not a selector anyway so you'd argue it's not entirely his fault if the right players aren't getting picked.

 

[blademan89]

The difficulty is that if you do have a coach in charge of all 3 formats, they juat don't get the chance to watch the county championship. Unless they come to the job with a lot of knowledge of the champo, they have to rely on the selectors to do the job of watching FC cricket. I think you have a point that it might be best to have separate coaches for tests and for one day stuff.

In defence of Bayliss, he's not a selector anyway so you'd argue it's not entirely his fault if the right players aren't getting picked.

Our best all round player was ruled out, and our main opener was useless for 3 tests, our main batsmen not in his finest form, our main spinner in absolutely shambolic form and our 2nd main bowler horrific too. That's not down to coaching it just so happens all our main players didn't perform all at the same time. On the other hand it was quite clear pace was needed after the 1st test and the selectors did absolutely fuck all about it, also why the hell moeen is still in the team is a joke too, he's not right mentally or physically and hasn't been all series.

 

[Luke_1884]

Had a quality week in Melbourne last week, bumped into lads from every corner of our isles. Got to do it properly next time we're down under and take in 2 or 3 tests if not all of them. Unfortunately for us our only full day was day 1 which was probably the worst for England fans. Popped in for a few pints on both day 2 and 3, saw Broady get his 50 which was quality. Massive shame we weren't quite good enough on the whole again but at least there were a few decent highlights.

The Aussie's really wanted to 5 nil us so a small consolation with the draw, hopefully we can improve again and win the last one.