The Ashes 25/26

[Corky]

Glad Root has got that stuff out of the way, hopefully a couple more to come.

 

Brook needs to be advised to follow him, we can't afford this repeated let down.

[STEVIE B]

3 hours ago, Tommy G said:

Couple of quick wickets, as Bert said, in those conditions would of been worthwhile. 

Personally, in what will probably be a fairly low scoring game & our frailties against Starc, runs on the board would be paramount. 
England can then copy Australia’s ‘tactics’ & slow things down in the field for 2 sessions, then speed things up after tea/dinner/supper. 

Edited 4 December 2025 by STEVIE B

[Voll Blau]

7 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

Personally, in what will probably be a fairly low scoring game & our frailties against Starc, runs on the board would be paramount. 
England can then copy Australia’s ‘tactics’ & slow things down in the field for 2 sessions  then speed things up after tea/dinner/supper. 

Was really surprised how hard the TMS pundits, McGrath in particular, were going at them after play for *not* declaring early.

 

They really would have been damned if they do and damned if they don't in that scenario. A risk like that would have been absolutely panned if the Aussies had lost anything less than four or five wickets by close of play.

 

Trying to bat time and rack up a decent score was the right call. Why let Starc, who seems to be carrying that attack, put his feet up if you don't need to?

 

[StanSP]

1 hour ago, Corky said:

Glad Root has got that stuff out of the way, hopefully a couple more to come.

 

Brook needs to be advised to follow him, we can't afford this repeated let down.

Can't fill Root's shoes. 

 

That's like asking Patson Daka to fill Vardy's boots. 

[lanefox]

8 hours ago, goody2028 said:

74 overs in a day, christ. 

Should bowl the alloted overs everyday , should be no excuse or for every over not bowled should be 10 runs to the batting team

[purpleronnie]

1 minute ago, lanefox said:

Should bowl the alloted overs everyday , should be no excuse or for every over not bowled should be 10 runs to the batting team

If they're 16 overs short give the opposition 16x the average run rate in runs.  They'd soon stop wasting time.

[Voll Blau]

26 minutes ago, purpleronnie said:

If they're 16 overs short give the opposition 16x the average run rate in runs.  They'd soon stop wasting time.

Genuinely the best solution I've seen.

[leicsmac]

Sometimes not just the bowling team that slows down over rates. Any solution would need to include sanctions for the batting team wasting time, as well. 

[Aleksz]

What was all the more baffling this morning, is they’d clearly decided they were actually going to leave a few, yet wafted a couple at Starc  

[Tommy Fresh]

Seemed like at the end Australia were fine with not taking the final wicket. Also think the plan was to either declare or watch Archer swing and get out but as he did a decent job they decided against it.

[STEVIE B]

7 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Sometimes not just the bowling team that slows down over rates. Any solution would need to include sanctions for the batting team wasting time, as well. 

I still don't know why England's home Tests start at 11am. Surely 10.15 is manageable. If it's being dictated by Sky, or whoever that's ridiculous. 

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

I still don't know why England's home Tests start at 11am. Surely 10.15 is manageable. If it's being dictated by Sky, or whoever that's ridiculous. 

No disagreement there, an earlier start really should be possible.

 

That being said, getting around 90 overs of play into roughly six and a half hours really shouldn't be difficult. 

[STEVIE B]

5 hours ago, leicsmac said:

No disagreement there, an earlier start really should be possible.

 

That being said, getting around 90 overs of play into roughly six and a half hours really shouldn't be difficult. 

It shouldn’t be difficult, but 90 overs are almost never bowled in a day.

Batsmen changing gloves, helmets being changed (although that is a genuine reason if a batter has been hit), drinks being brought onto the field 10 mins after an official break, bowlers constantly asking for the ball to be changed. I’ve probably missed a few. It all takes time out of the game. 

The days play has to be lengthened. 74 overs today is ridiculous. 

Edited 5 December 2025 by STEVIE B

[The Year Of The Fox]

Great day yesterday. Small advantage to us 

[RonnieTodger]

Terrific day’s cricket. I’m just waiting for it to come tumbling down, but it’s a rollercoaster already.

 

Thats our first 300+ score in Australia since 2017.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Shared a lift with Alex Carey earlier. Asked him his hopes for the day

‘Wicket 1st ball and bat 400’ he said 😂

[Bert]

Into them now then. Great last wicket partnership that. 

[Staff]

Jamie Smith ffs

[lanefox]

1 minute ago, Staff said:

Jamie Smith ffs

Let's get the Ben Foakes debate going 😅

[STEVIE B]

Jeez, needed that. 

[Tommy Fresh]

This is grim so far

[Jon the Hat]

4 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

This is grim so far

Yes it is rather.  On for an old school 500+ innings here!

[CL Fox]

Why do I still have hope that we'll get a decent first innings lead? They bowled well for 25 mins until the drop.

 

 

[Super_horns]

Maybe this will provoke a collapse but seems the Aussies are battering us at our own game so far .

[CL Fox]

11 hours ago, StanSP said:

Can't fill Root's shoes. 

 

That's like asking Patson Daka to fill Vardy's boots. 

Its not.

 

Look at Brooks record after 31 tests and look at Roots. They're really similar - yes Brook plays daft shots and is incredibly frustrating but its because hes a ridiculous talent.