The first ashes test

Was going to say an innings defeat, I nearly got it right

 

Good for you. Do you feel proud?

 

He missed a couple of tests. Deemed worthy to be in an ashes side so that really is finding excuses surely?



What hurts me is I was classed as too steady because I didn't chase the bowling attacks. I'd give everything to face any attack for England.

I digress. My point is these overpaid pricks shape the mood of our lives. Maybe we ought to give opportunities to people who care.

People who think Barrington Smyth is a posh pillock.

Didn't go well then last night I take it. I'm sure any cricketer wants to take home the ashes, if they didn't care they wouldn't be away from family and friends over Christmas.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59574620

Root saying England can get on top, I'm not so sure. It's easy when the pressure is off, however, when it's on, England are mostly found wanting.

 

A good captains interview imo. Let's see how we dare next test with Broad and Anderson back in the side.

 

It's the batting that's a huge concern Helen. I expect us to roll over again under the lights in Adelaide.

 

Not really.

He missed a couple of tests. I would suggest the fact that he's never batted on anything like as bouncy a wicket as this is probably his major issue. When he's facing something at 90 clicks, he probably isn't thinking "oh god, I can't believe I tweeted that"

Root getting hammered about the Anderson and Broad selections. With those two in the side we probably would have got 140 in the first innings - the batting is and always has been the problem since Cook retired.

 

I think we can we merge this thread with the "No Credible Opposition" thread

 

Fair enough.

 

You're as likely to find a backbone on a Octopus as you are with most of this team. Got back in the game with no pressure as they were expected to lose heavily. When the pressure returned from having an outside chance they went back to their usual pathetic standard. We make Nathan Lyon look like Shane Warne when he's not. To lose so many wickets in the last ten overs with the old ball was useless. James Vince is wasted playing for Sydney Sixers.

 

I stayed up for the start, as ever hope overriding good sense. I knew it was going to be hard but the way Root and Malan set off just set the tone. A single here, a single there, no thought of putting the pressure on THEM. No, let's invite it on us. The inevitable happened with a feeble shot from Malan getting snaffled at silly point. You could tell by the Aussie celebration that they knew that was the game. Had these two stayed around for the morning session things might have been different, but instead those that followed went into panic mode with the inevitable, shameful collapse. I remember when we used to have decent openers and a good engine room in the middle order. Any runs from 9, 10 Jack were a bonus, not a necessity.

They'll come good again. Just like football it's very good, then it's very bad. It won't come good on this tour though, I fear.

 

Glad I didn’t stop up to watch any of that. Entirely predictable with this batting line up. Add the woeful fielding to that and you wonder where a win can come from in this tour

 

Just a reminder that Nathan Lyon has over 400 test wickets now, putting him at 17th on the all time list - and the 7th best spinner.

He's a very, very good bowler.

 

He's done very well but struggled a lot against the Indians earlier this year as they attacked him and smashed him out of the attack. Had no impact on that series.
Let's be honest though, the English batman (Root aside) would make the Bangladeshi medium pacers look like world beaters. Its so frustrating to see how poorly we perform, is it lack of match practice, poor discipline/organisation or just a general care free attitude? Pope and Burns should be nowhere near the 1st 11 but problem is who have we got to come in?
Until there is a major overhaul with the county game then nothing will change. Darren Stevens will still be taking 50 wickets a season at 65 years young

 

Replace Cook with Strauss.

 

Nope

 

You've hit the nail on the head I think.

When Dom Sibley plays County Cricket he looks like Don Bradman. The whole English season is geared towards white ball cricket - the county championship matches are played in April/May and September/October. How does a young spinner get a gig when it's played under conditions that like you say suit Darren Stevens (nowt against him like).

So then the flip side of this is that when our batters are facing genuine world class bowling, they're all at sea because they're used to facing medium paced filth all season. Ben Sanderson is one of the best bowlers in the county game. 6 years ago he was playing league cricket for Rotherham Town.

It needs ripping up and starting again.