The Ashes 21/22

[Guest Lako42]

1 minute ago, trabuch said:

I don't understand why we are playing at balls that are about 5ft over the stumps.

Think that last one took him by surprise 

 

Real straight, difficult not to play one of those at that speed. 

[BlueSi13]

I've said it until I'm blue in the face.  The ECB needs a major rethink.

 

In a way I wouldn't mind us getting a pasting out there as the backlash might finally make the ECB realise that the Ashes are the bread and butter of English cricket.  Doing well in white ball tournaments is a nice little bonus.  But the Ashes (and wider test cricket) will always be the main event.  

[trabuch]

I remember Headingly '81. Keep the the faith.

[Super_horns]

41 minutes ago, deejdeej said:

We're gonna be all out by the time BT have the feed back aren't we 

We seemed to be doing ok whilst the TV coverage packed in!

[trabuch]

****ed. Good night. Newcastle tomorrow - so nothing but unbrideld joy to come.

Edited 11 December 2021 by trabuch

[goody2028]

[trabuch]

Honestly we won't lose by an innings - I've watched Robinson bat a lot at the county ground at Hove. He can bat. I'm either drunk or absurdly optimistic - or both.

[coolhandfox]

6 minutes ago, trabuch said:

Honestly we won't lose by an innings - I've watched Robinson bat a lot at the county ground at Hove. He can bat. I'm either drunk or absurdly optimistic - or both.

Should just scrap enough to make them bat again!

[trabuch]

Just now, coolhandfox said:

Should just scrap enough to make them bat again!

Important that our bowlers look after their hands. Get out of this with no broken fingers and I'll be happy. Aussies are targetting.

[trabuch]

Get in! (you Australian openers - once we've finished batting)

Edited 11 December 2021 by trabuch

[ealingfox]

9 hours ago, ealingfox said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59606957

 

This is what winds me up about English sport. The way this is written you'd think Australia were 6 down needing another 180 to win batting last. The words 'stunning comeback' shouldn't be anywhere near the headline. We are still behind in the match and only a bad over or two from being under the cosh again. Why do we gas up achievements before they've happened in this country?

 

Like clockwork.

 

Fantastic work writing this muck.

[trabuch]

Steve Finn trying to tell a story lasting a Nathan Lyon over and a most of Starc's. We are very good at cricket coverage (from what little I've heard from Australia).

[EastAnglianFox]

They still need 20 odd so I'm all fingers crossed for a Jimmy and Broady magic spell.... 

[NuneatonFox1]

Pathetic yet inevitable 

[Tommy Fresh]

Away from this test/series has Silverwood actually been a good appointment? 

[Duquesne Whistle]

Most England fans thought they'd be 1-0 down after the first test, and here we are.

 

Positives.

 

We have an attack that looks like it can take 20 wickets, that hasn't always been the case in Oz. Robinson continues to look the business and Wood impressed at times.

 

Chasing 200 in the 4th innings, I wouldn't put much brass on Australia to do so, at any ground. Unfortunate we're as bad.

 

After his first innings, nice to see Root batting in his usual composed manner in the 2nd innings. He desperately needed to not start with two low scores and thankfully he hasn't.

 

Malan showed he can do it. If he can continue to be solid, an historically weak position may at least be covered at no 3 in the order.

 

Robinson continues to look a class act with the ball in hand.

 

The Aussie batting also looks fragile, most of us suspected that. We just dropped too many catches.

 

Smith dismissed for 12. 

 

Negatives

 

Plenty of criticism for Rodgers on here for failing to eradicate recurring problems, how long have these 30/4 scenarios been happening. It's the cricket equivalent of conceding 2 goals every game.

 

Burns, never has looked quite good enough and the weakest link in an already ropey top 4. With the start he's had, it's a reach to see him doing much in this series, and that would make it more difficult to get anything. 

 

I suspected this might be Labuschagne's Ashes and he's started well. He has the ability to be even more annoying than Smith. He grinds bowlers and fielders down on those big Aussie pitches and wears them out. It's vital we have a plan to get him early or he'll pile on the runs in this series.

 

Fielding...Always a massive part of the match and even more vital when toiling away in the heat. England had a period in the not too distant past when they barely shelled anything. Why has the catching been poor for what seems like an eternity now?

 

 

All in all, got a 9 wicket tanking and deservedly so.  Quote and ridicule me after the 5th test by all means, it could well be 5-0, but there are some reasons for hope, enough for me to boldly claim we'll win one test at least.

 

 

 

 

[Brainy]

Nothing short of pathetic which in this format has been said for way too long now 

[snoopy87]

While the ECB mess about trying to add shorter and shorter forms of the game, and continues ploughing money into those games at the expense of the red ball, we will continue to have sh!t shows like what we have had not just this first test, but over the last 4-5 years. This isn't even a new thing, we see it coming time and again.

 

Problem is, while you have people complaining about the poor batting performances, these same idiots are going down spending money on crap like the hundred, further strengthening the ECB's nobhead ideas 

Edited 11 December 2021 by snoopy87

[Duquesne Whistle]

There'll be even less people willing to put aside 5 days for a sporting event in 20 years time. That's the reality in 2021.

Test cricket is dying on it's arse. Other nations recognised this long before England and got on board. We've come late to the party and finally got together a pretty good set of limited overs players. Unfortunately, it's been to the detriment of the test side, but they knew that was likely when they put so much into the T20 and one day teams.

I enjoy one day games, but nothing compares to Test matches for me. I think I'm part of an ever decreasing minority though.

If there's test cricket for another 25 years, that'll probably see me out. After that, I'm not sure I give a toss what happens.

 

[Tommy Fresh]

59 minutes ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

Most England fans thought they'd be 1-0 down after the first test, and here we are.

 

Positives.

 

We have an attack that looks like it can take 20 wickets, that hasn't always been the case in Oz. Robinson continues to look the business and Wood impressed at times.

 

Chasing 200 in the 4th innings, I wouldn't put much brass on Australia to do so, at any ground. Unfortunate we're as bad.

 

After his first innings, nice to see Root batting in his usual composed manner in the 2nd innings. He desperately needed to not start with two low scores and thankfully he hasn't.

 

Malan showed he can do it. If he can continue to be solid, an historically weak position may at least be covered at no 3 in the order.

 

Robinson continues to look a class act with the ball in hand.

 

The Aussie batting also looks fragile, most of us suspected that. We just dropped too many catches.

 

Smith dismissed for 12. 

 

Negatives

 

Plenty of criticism for Rodgers on here for failing to eradicate recurring problems, how long have these 30/4 scenarios been happening. It's the cricket equivalent of conceding 2 goals every game.

 

Burns, never has looked quite good enough and the weakest link in an already ropey top 4. With the start he's had, it's a reach to see him doing much in this series, and that would make it more difficult to get anything. 

 

I suspected this might be Labuschagne's Ashes and he's started well. He has the ability to be even more annoying than Smith. He grinds bowlers and fielders down on those big Aussie pitches and wears them out. It's vital we have a plan to get him early or he'll pile on the runs in this series.

 

Fielding...Always a massive part of the match and even more vital when toiling away in the heat. England had a period in the not too distant past when they barely shelled anything. Why has the catching been poor for what seems like an eternity now?

 

 

All in all, got a 9 wicket tanking and deservedly so.  Quote and ridicule me after the 5th test by all means, it could well be 5-0, but there are some reasons for hope, enough for me to boldly claim we'll win one test at least.

 

 

 

 

Issue with Malan is his age, would be typical England for Malan to find some form and then need a replacement in the near future.

Edited 11 December 2021 by Tommy Fresh

[purpleronnie]

20 hours ago, purpleronnie said:

Dreading the inevitable collapse after we've been given a little bit of hope.

Inevitable i guess, but still disappointed.

[Guest Lako42]

5 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

Inevitable i guess, but still disappointed.

Don't be too upset mate

 

At least you can just copy and paste this straight into the post match thread tomorrow without having to type. 

[Izzy]

15 hours ago, Izzy said:

It's pretty obvious what will happen tomorrow really...

 

Root and Malan will both miss out on a ton before lunch and then the Aussies will rip through our middle order with the new ball.

 

We might end up with a lead of about 80 but they'll easily chase it down without losing a wicket.

 

So boringly predictable.

There or thereabouts I suppose.

 

Fear not though, Broad and Anderson to the rescue in the next test! 

[RonnieTodger]

Christ we are actually allergic to scoring 300 aren’t we?

[Super_horns]

To only just not lose by an innings from the position we were in over night is very poor really.

 

Cannot even blame the new ball as we lost 3 wickets before that.

 

Wonder if we just lost focus and concentration v Lyon waiting for that new to come ?