Ashes 2017

[Guest MattP]

5 hours ago, surrifox said:

Ask Baylis . He seems like a clueless clown 

Pig headed stubborn tosser, I hope he was just putting a brave face on yesterday when he was talking about no changes and how he would make the same decisions.

 

4 hours ago, EastAnglianFox said:

So what we thinking of the selection for the next test?

 

Wood for who? And surely Stokes if eligable?

 

Too little to late unfortunately, imagine going down 5 zip to this Australian team.

Four of our top 6 batsman on this tour don't even average 40 at county level (Vince, Malan, Stoneman, Ali) and we wonder why we aren't getting runs,

 

Vince should never have been recalled, he can go, Ballance can come in (probably won't work but he's out there), obviously Bairstow up the order, if Ali isn't going to bowl then bring in a proper spinner as you don't win in Australia without them. If he fancies dropping Malan you can bung Jonny further up and let Foakes take the gloves.

 

Perth and a nice bouncy wicket....

 

Cook

Stoneman

Ballance

Root

Malan

Bairstow

Stokes (Overton or Wood if not slotting in below Woakes)

Woakes

Broad

Crane

Anderson

 

Fully expect Bayliss to drag out the same eleven though.

 

[foxy boxing]

A series whitewash is a distinct possibility now! England need to show something for the rest of the series and try to get some confidence that they can win a game!

[surrifox]

26 minutes ago, MattP said:

Pig headed stubborn tosser, I hope he was just putting a brave face on yesterday when he was talking about no changes and how he would make the same decisions.

 

Four of our top 6 batsman on this tour don't even average 40 at county level (Vince, Malan, Stoneman, Ali) and we wonder why we aren't getting runs,

 

Vince should never have been recalled, he can go, Ballance can come in (probably won't work but he's out there), obviously Bairstow up the order, if Ali isn't going to bowl then bring in a proper spinner as you don't win in Australia without them. If he fancies dropping Malan you can bung Jonny further up and let Foakes take the gloves.

 

Perth and a nice bouncy wicket....

 

Cook

Stoneman

Ballance

Root

Malan

Bairstow

Stokes (Overton or Wood if not slotting in below Woakes)

Woakes

Broad

Crane

Anderson

 

Fully expect Bayliss to drag out the same eleven though.

 

Agree in nearly every particular . I never thought I would advocate the recall of Ballance but Vince is possibly the poorest no. 3 in world cricket and it would never work well without Cook reproducing his best form and batting for a day and a half to make big hundreds. 

 

There might be a case to include Ali as a batter only and change the order - he is a more destructive hitter than Malan who would be the one to make way presumably. That tail looks very vulnerable - Stokes' absence has unbalanced the side but we were pretty much on a loser from the start with poor selection and dumb decision making coupled with a failure to wrest control in the key sessions of play . 

Whoever is doing the bowling coaching these days ( although surely only the likes of Crane and Overton actually need to be coached in Aussie conditions ) needs to have a serious word about our approach to length and line in the first innings. We never win in Perth with its fast bouncy surface and the effect of the Fremantle doctor so it isn't a great place to start the renaissance but this Australian batting line up isn't great if put under pressure and as we have seen can be dismissed cheaply. 

A decent coach should see this as a challenge given the low expectation- there will Definitely be a result in the match so some smart thinking will be required to keep the series alive and stop my son's trip for the last couple being a feckin waste of time !

That should be Baylis ' job but he is looking more and more like a lucky competition winner to me 

[Guest MattP]

9 minutes ago, surrifox said:

Agree in nearly every particular . I never thought I would advocate the recall of Ballance but Vince is possibly the poorest no. 3 in world cricket and it would never work well without Cook reproducing his best form and batting for a day and a half to make big hundreds. 

 

There might be a case to include Ali as a batter only and change the order - he is a more destructive hitter than Malan who would be the one to make way presumably. That tail looks very vulnerable - Stokes' absence has unbalanced the side but we were pretty much on a loser from the start with poor selection and dumb decision making coupled with a failure to wrest control in the key sessions of play . 

Whoever is doing the bowling coaching these days ( although surely only the likes of Crane and Overton actually need to be coached in Aussie conditions ) needs to have a serious word about our approach to length and line in the first innings. We never win in Perth with its fast bouncy surface and the effect of the Fremantle doctor so it isn't a great place to start the renaissance but this Australian batting line up isn't great if put under pressure and as we have seen can be dismissed cheaply. 

A decent coach should see this as a challenge given the low expectation- there will Definitely be a result in the match so some smart thinking will be required to keep the series alive and stop my son's trip for the last couple being a feckin waste of time !

That should be Baylis ' job but he is looking more and more like a lucky competition winner to me 

The worst thing we can try is to do nothing, that's fully what I expect Bayliss to do, everything has been shambolic under him recently. The bowling in the first innings was a shambles, aside from Warner I think you can bowl as full as you want to any of these batsmen, Handscomb, Bancroft and Paine aren't going to start smashing you down the ground.

 

I'd give Malan another go as I thought his effort was superb yesterday, he applied himself and showed a lot of courage in the face of some top class bowling, Ali being promoted is possible but when a man has got out 4 times to the same bowler in 4 innings I think it's time for a rest unless he's offering something special with the ball, which he isn't. Whether Crane will be any good none of us know but it's time to find out.

 

Ben Foakes batted at three for the Lions last week and made 68, maybe he's an option for Vince? Big call but on a bouncy pitch in Perth I don't think he could do any worse.

 

I hope we send out bowlers to take wickets, we are 2-0 down with three to play, we have no choice.

[fuchsntf]

6 hours ago, Captain... said:

That was very predictable, suchtame there was no fight this morning. Australia still had the upper had and were favourites, but we didn't even make them sweat after working so hard yesterday it is just such a shame.

It is this predictability that hurts. No aptitude, no attitude, no mental discipline or strength.

The Aussies, were for the taking, our lot just have gone for a payed holiday...

Again the myth that we have a tail that can wag, has again been shown just that it is a myth...!!!.

Every other test nation, always find a batsman and a bowler besides the captain that Stand up.

After so many years, of very fearfull cricket at Test level, it is evident, we got the talk, but no legs to stand

on, when trying the walk....

 

Its not the losses, but the whole lack of mental strength a n d character, even from our so called top class

Players..for years Anderson and Broad, show their downright stupidity, by displaying how long it takes them to

understand consistent line and length, before they then only partially accept what the pitch is shouting at them.

Root , our best batsman perhaps !!!  but at present across the world far from Wclass, just decent.

A better character than Smith, maybe he and we will see him develope as a cricketer like Smith himself did.

From 6 batsman, not one has yet really stood up to be counted, when it mattered..not once!!!

Bairstow, might take that next leap if we have him batting higher 3/4 or even 5th.

Presently I would now put Foakes in, with Bairstow, would balance not having Stokes,

both as Batsman and fielder.....Stoneman and Malan could still find a bit of grit...

Overton, looks better than any, for the spot behind Anderson  and  Broad.

Even the Aussie players who are not real quality, still know how to show aptitude and fighting spirit....We are ...well !!!  Like the Aussies like to Portray us..wuzzies.

Edited 6 December 2017 by fuchsntf

[Osavo]

Personally I'd switch it up big time for the next test. Don't think Stokes will be picked so I'll ignore him. 

 

Cook

Stoneman

Root

Bairstow

Malan

Ali

Foakes (wk)

Woakes

Broad

Wood

Anderson

 

Harsh on Overton but not sure he's got the pace to exploit the bouncy pitch at Perth. Might as well try something different, because what we'e got currently ain't working.

[Guest MattP]

6 hours ago, Osavo said:

Personally I'd switch it up big time for the next test. Don't think Stokes will be picked so I'll ignore him. 

 

Cook

Stoneman

Root

Bairstow

Malan

Ali

Foakes (wk)

Woakes

Broad

Wood

Anderson

 

Harsh on Overton but not sure he's got the pace to exploit the bouncy pitch at Perth. Might as well try something different, because what we'e got currently ain't working.

I don't mind that team either. Foakes got a score for the Lions last week.

 

Though Bayliss again said to the media it's the same XI - says a lot about the two teams if we stick at 2-0 down but the Aussies drop Handscomb despite being 2-0 up.

[Osavo]

50 minutes ago, MattP said:

I don't mind that team either. Foakes got a score for the Lions last week.

 

Though Bayliss again said to the media it's the same XI - says a lot about the two teams if we stick at 2-0 down but the Aussies drop Handscomb despite being 2-0 up.

Foakes is a top, top keeper, probably England's best, and a very accomplished batsman. Having him in the side would allow Bairstow, one of our best batsmen, to play up the order and actually have the opportunity to score runs. Makes sense to me to bring him in for Vince, who is a liability.

[Guest MattP]

Moeen captaining in the warm up match tonight - he can't bowl though

 

No idea what is going on with the decision making.

[Voll Blau]

Another one of these fvcking glorified two day nets too. What is the point in them?

 

Need our squad players to be feeling like they've come fresh out of competitive games if they're to have any impact at all.

[StanSP]

More controversy. Wonder what this is all about... 

 

[EastAnglianFox]

Absolute shambles, laughing stock again!

[adam]

Looks like they are  treating the tour as a lads holiday. There taking the piss out of the fans who have spent a fortune following then out there. Complete lack of professionalism. 

Edited 9 December 2017 by adam

[Mr Mister]

This will be another whitewash. 

[Super_horns]

41 minutes ago, Mr Mister said:

This will be another whitewash. 

The series or the new allegation that will probably be brushed under the carpet?

 

The Aussies might be getting all abusive on the pitch but we are giving them lots of ammunition! 

 

 

[StanSP]

Bayliss says a senior player had drink poured over his head in an incident after midnight. I want to know what part Duckett played in it and what else happened!

[StanSP]

oh, it was Duckett pouring a drink over another England (senior) player  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42291541

[Corky]

The public are watching you with accusations that you don't behave properly and aren't taking things too seriously and then this happens?

 

If you are winning games you get away with it. Lose and you don't. Is it fair? Probably not but that's the reality.

[EastAnglianFox]

Could have been a lot worse as I'm surprised Jimmy didn't turn around and smack him, Brits abroad mentality again.

 

Why are they even out drinking? Professional sport stars and athletes are able to go months/years without drinking when competing so why should they be any different.

[surrifox]

6 hours ago, StanSP said:

oh, it was Duckett pouring a drink over another England (senior) player  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42291541

How about working to silence the people who don't think you should be within 100 miles of an international call up before acting like a c**t?

[Mr Mister]

On 09/12/2017 at 10:35, Super_horns said:

The series or the new allegation that will probably be brushed under the carpet?

 

The Aussies might be getting all abusive on the pitch but we are giving them lots of ammunition! 

 

 

The series of course. England cannot buy a victory even if their life depends on it.

Edited 10 December 2017 by Mr Mister

[Voll Blau]

On 12/9/2017 at 11:26, EastAnglianFox said:

Could have been a lot worse as I'm surprised Jimmy didn't turn around and smack him, Brits abroad mentality again.

 

Why are they even out drinking? Professional sport stars and athletes are able to go months/years without drinking when competing so why should they be any different.

To be fair, having the occasional beer when you've not got a match for a while is probably necessary for team bonding/alleviating boredom. It's all part of going on a cricket tour, whether you're playing for a village side or in The Ashes.

 

Young men are what young men are, and if they're shit at drinking, going too far and trying to impress with daft antics, that's what they'll do. It's a bigger problem in cricket than it is in football these days because pro cricketers are under so much less media scrutiny until there's a big series like this - and you're away from home a lot with little else to do for days on end even if you're just an average county trundler. You've only to look at the kind of culture Leicestershire have had problems with in recent years to see that - but no one was interested apart from a few eagle-eyed fans. And the Aussies are just as bad for it when they come here as ours are over there.

 

As has been said, it's never a problem when you're winning though. This is a cricket problem, not an England problem.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

An Aussies perspective.

 

With all due respect to Moeen Ali not selecting a spinner so far has been a mistake for you guys.

 

Apart from Anderson with the new pill under lights in the 2nd Innings in Adelaide, not being able to swing the ball of great note has been an issue for all your bowlers. It just means you end up having 4 blokes that all bowl pretty similar and a batter who bowls some spin who isn't spinning it. When the ball isn't swinging which for the most part it hasn't been neither of the 5 pace bowlers who you've picked so far are going to trouble you with pace. Think they have also been bowling a foot shorter than required.

 

A few of you have also stated and I agree completely that Bairstow is batting too low. "He Bat's Well with the tail" may be true but if his on 100no he is going to bat even better with the tail surely.

 

It really is 2 average Cricket sides but we have the added advantage of playing at home and in test cricket the home advantage is extremely significant. Our Bowling attack at home at least is quality but our batting is heavily reliant on Smith to make runs or Warner, the rest of them aren't that great but do show glimpses.

 

3rd Test, WACA ground hasn't been the WACA of years gone by and hasn't really for a few years with runs being made in Shield Games there this year. There is still some life in the pitch but not as volatile as it used to be. Spinners do end up doing well on the pitch as there turn and bounce. Again Broad and Anderson pick themselves as they have the credits in the bank, I think you should pick a spinner and if there is any English player out there that have pace or ideally pace and left armer for some variety.

 

Also how many more chances does Cook have? Don't get me wrong great player and frustrated us more than enough times but hasn't looked the player he once was.

[Guest MattP]

Don't disagree with anything there Michael, spot on. Our lack of a decent spinner has killed us.

 

We have to stick with Cook though as he can win a match on his own.

 

Same team tonight with Bairstow up the order, just win it please. At least have a good first day as I can't be arsed to be annoyed the morning after City have won.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

1 hour ago, MattP said:

Don't disagree with anything there Michael, spot on. Our lack of a decent spinner has killed us.

 

We have to stick with Cook though as he can win a match on his own.

 

Same team tonight with Bairstow up the order, just win it please. At least have a good first day as I can't be arsed to be annoyed the morning after City have won.

Does Cook have an expiration date though? Is it just reassess after this tour.