The Ashes 25/26

[leicsmac]

I'm old enough to remember the England team of the 90s and early 00s getting humbled by the Aussies whenever they played. There was a lot of different "solutions" thought up by the ECB then, none of them appeared to work until 2005. 

[AKCJ]

7 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I'm old enough to remember the England team of the 90s and early 00s getting humbled by the Aussies whenever they played. There was a lot of different "solutions" thought up by the ECB then, none of them appeared to work until 2005. 

More down to a difference in ability as opposed to mindset though.

 

This England side is full of talented players. You can see that. But it's also full of arrogance thinking that everything will always go their way and they refuse to budge.

 

It's like if Ranieri decided that the 15/16 team was going to play out from the back and have Vardy drop into midfield as a false 9. We'd have got relegated.

 

Every great sports team plays to their strengths. This England side plays to an ideology and doesn't look at the reasons as to why their side or their opposition might not suit that style of play.

[leicsmac]

1 minute ago, AKCJ said:

More down to a difference in ability as opposed to mindset though.

 

This England side is full of talented players. You can see that. But it's also full of arrogance thinking that everything will always go their way and they refuse to budge.

 

It's like if Ranieri decided that the 15/16 team was going to play out from the back and have Vardy drop into midfield as a false 9. We'd have got relegated.

 

Every great sports team plays to their strengths. This England side plays to an ideology and doesn't look at the reasons as to why their side or their opposition might not suit that style of play.

Is there not a possibility that this side has hit its ceiling, barring a certain amount of luck?

 

One would hope not and the issue is, as you say, down to match management.

[Sir Steve Howard]

24 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I'm old enough to remember the England team of the 90s and early 00s getting humbled by the Aussies whenever they played. There was a lot of different "solutions" thought up by the ECB then, none of them appeared to work until 2005. 

Not sure they worked that much for 2005, was one of the ECB solutions McGrath stepping on a ball and crippling himself?

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, Sir Steve Howard said:

Not sure they worked that much for 2005, was one of the ECB solutions McGrath stepping on a ball and crippling himself?

Tbf England didn't lose any of the subsequent three Tests after the one he missed that he was involved in, so that might not have been the only factor there.

 

But yes, it was really around 2009ish(?) that the England team really became a force. 

[Lcfc-1992]

Think it’s safe to assume will be 3-0 down. Looking at the squad we’ve taken I’d be making as many changes as possible to give others a chance to stake a claim. Bring in Bethell, Potts, Fisher and even Bashir. 

[RowlattsFox]

Whilst the bowling hasn't been great at times, it's always them that get changed. They aren't getting support from the batters at all.

 

May aswell change the top 3 for the lions top 3 and see what happens. 

Pope will go back into country cricket this summer, and absolutely dominate I'm sure.

 

Looked back at the 10/11 series scorecards and how important that top 3 was, Cook, Strauss and Trott. If you had Brook coming in at 200 he would take the game away from a tiring bowling attack. 

[RonnieTodger]

I said at the start of the year that this series would be the end of Bazball.

 

All three tests have had enjoyable day ones with England in a decent position. Then it all goes to shit on day two.

 

I keep hearing that we have the talent, but do we? Archer aside, our bowling attack is garbage. Batters not much better.

 

It’s been a ****ing miserable series, compounding by TNT’s shit coverage and Snicko. Fly them home. 

[AKCJ]

2 hours ago, leicsmac said:

Is there not a possibility that this side has hit its ceiling, barring a certain amount of luck?

 

One would hope not and the issue is, as you say, down to match management.

I don't think so, no.

 

I think you can see from a lot of players England has that they're either not being picked because they don't have a particular style of play or character or they've clearly got talent but it's being pulled away from them because playing daft cricket is drilled into them.

 

Our best bowler and wicketkeeper are sat at home because they've been forced out and we've got two opening batsmen who have averaged 60+ this summer sat at home while they have to watch Zack Crawley throw his hands at everything.

[leicsmac]

12 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

I don't think so, no.

 

I think you can see from a lot of players England has that they're either not being picked because they don't have a particular style of play or character or they've clearly got talent but it's being pulled away from them because playing daft cricket is drilled into them.

 

Our best bowler and wicketkeeper are sat at home because they've been forced out and we've got two opening batsmen who have averaged 60+ this summer sat at home while they have to watch Zack Crawley throw his hands at everything.

You could well be onto something there tbh. 

 

Though I'm not going to judge Smith too harshly - Foakes (assume he is the reference here) is a better gloveman but Smith certainly hasn't done badly all round himself.

[izzymuzzet]

Think we can start writing the test obituaries for some of this squad. Crawley and Pope are surely done after this series. The jury is out on Smith, particularly with James Rew breathing down his back. Duckett has been disappointing but probably has enough credit in the bank. The Number 3 is a perennial problem position but Bethell will get a go now you'd think. Archer aside the pace bowling has been pretty poor and we need to get a proper spinner in who can preferably bat a bit.

 

I hope Stokes doesn't throw in the towel as captain - I'd love to see him regain the Ashes in 2027. 

 

For the first test against New Zealand in June I'd like to see something like: 

 

Hameed

Duckett

Bethell

Root

Brook

Stokes

J Rew

Rehan 

Atkinson

Potts

Archer

 

[leicsmac]

12 minutes ago, izzymuzzet said:

Think we can start writing the test obituaries for some of this squad. Crawley and Pope are surely done after this series. The jury is out on Smith, particularly with James Rew breathing down his back. Duckett has been disappointing but probably has enough credit in the bank. The Number 3 is a perennial problem position but Bethell will get a go now you'd think. Archer aside the pace bowling has been pretty poor and we need to get a proper spinner in who can preferably bat a bit.

 

I hope Stokes doesn't throw in the towel as captain - I'd love to see him regain the Ashes in 2027. 

 

For the first test against New Zealand in June I'd like to see something like: 

 

Hameed

Duckett

Bethell

Root

Brook

Stokes

J Rew

Rehan 

Atkinson

Potts

Archer

 

We've needed one of those for over 10 years. It may well be one of the key reasons this team isn't scaling the greatest heights.

 

Test quality English spin bowlers are as rare as unicorn shit.

[izzymuzzet]

11 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

We've needed one of those for over 10 years. It may well be one of the key reasons this team isn't scaling the greatest heights.

 

Test quality English spin bowlers are as rare as unicorn shit.

Yeah, it's too much to ask for another Graeme Swann, who was pretty much the perfect English spinner. But we do need someone who can get some turn, hold up an end and chip in with useful runs batting at 8 or 9. Rehan looks the best candidate for now (although perhaps his brother will surpass him in time). 

[RowlattsFox]

Hameed is young enough to have another go but he was one of the main reasons baz-ball was invented. Struggled to get off strike until he was out. 

His scores on the last Ashes tour 25, 27, 6, 0, 0, 7, 6, 9

 

I think it is difficult for batters on winter tours, even more so if you are solely a test player. Finish the English summer in September then nothing competitive until the next Test Match.

 

Our county system allowed Smith, Labuschagne maybe even others to play a couple of games. Our lot wouldn't be able to get a game in Sheffield Shield, if they were allowed too. 

[Corky]

5 hours ago, Sir Steve Howard said:

Not sure they worked that much for 2005, was one of the ECB solutions McGrath stepping on a ball and crippling himself?

The team that year was very aggressive and didn't let the Australian batsmen settle plus taking Gillespie, Lee and Tait almost out of the equation with the ball too. Yes, we had luck but mitigated with some excellent all round cricket.

 

This is the complete opposite. We look second best in all areas. It is embarrassing how we aren't even getting close over there.

[Lionator]

I know we’re bad but it has to be said, winning away in test match cricket is really really hard. In fact the last time a side actually won a series away from home in the ashes was England 2011, the Aussies haven’t won in England since 2001.
 

A loss is expected, the disappointment is the hubris I think and the cheapness of defeats. This Australian team, while still good, is a shadow of its former self. 

[Tommy Fresh]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

I know we’re bad but it has to be said, winning away in test match cricket is really really hard. In fact the last time a side actually won a series away from home in the ashes was England 2011, the Aussies haven’t won in England since 2001.
 

A loss is expected, the disappointment is the hubris I think and the cheapness of defeats. This Australian team, while still good, is a shadow of its former self. 

Australia have though drawn the last two series in England, winning 4 tests 

[Tommy Fresh]

3 hours ago, izzymuzzet said:

Think we can start writing the test obituaries for some of this squad. Crawley and Pope are surely done after this series. The jury is out on Smith, particularly with James Rew breathing down his back. Duckett has been disappointing but probably has enough credit in the bank. The Number 3 is a perennial problem position but Bethell will get a go now you'd think. Archer aside the pace bowling has been pretty poor and we need to get a proper spinner in who can preferably bat a bit.

 

I hope Stokes doesn't throw in the towel as captain - I'd love to see him regain the Ashes in 2027. 

 

For the first test against New Zealand in June I'd like to see something like: 

 

Hameed

Duckett

Bethell

Root

Brook

Stokes

J Rew

Rehan 

Atkinson

Potts

Archer

 

I wouldn't pick Bethell yet, but they will

[leicsmac]

13 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

Australia have though drawn the last two series in England, winning 4 tests 

Drawing isn't winning though, and you can bet that means something to the Aussies. 

[Lionator]

57 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

Australia have though drawn the last two series in England, winning 4 tests 

If we drew this series, we wouldn’t have the ashes. Winning is tough. 

[Tommy Fresh]

54 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Drawing isn't winning though, and you can bet that means something to the Aussies. 

 

10 minutes ago, Lionator said:

If we drew this series, we wouldn’t have the ashes. Winning is tough. 

Didn't say they had won the series did I? I've said they've won test matches in England and actually competed and bearing in mind the past two times they toured they held The Ashes so they didn't have to.

For some further context the past 3 series in England have seen Australia win 6 matches, England win 7. In Australia England haven't won a test match since 2010......

 

A crap West Indies side have won more matches in Australia since 2010 then us 

 

If we didn't have Rob Key stinking out from the top with his obsession of pace we'd of gave ourselves a better chance.

Edited 18 December 2025 by Tommy Fresh

[leicsmac]

15 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

 

Didn't say they had won the series did I? I've said they've won test matches in England and actually competed and bearing in mind the past two times they toured they held The Ashes so they didn't have to.

For some further context the past 3 series in England have seen Australia win 6 matches, England win 7. In Australia England haven't won a test match since 2010......

 

A crap West Indies side have won more matches in Australia since 2010 then us 

 

If we didn't have Rob Key stinking out from the top with his obsession of pace we'd of gave ourselves a better chance.

If the point being made here is that Aus have been more competitive when touring despite not actually winning a series and England tend to fold like a cheap suit whenever they tour either Aus or India, then yes, of course both of those things are true. 

Edited 18 December 2025 by leicsmac

[Tommy Fresh]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

If the point being made here is that Aus have been more competitive when touring despite not actually winning a series and England tend to fold like a cheap suit whenever they tour either Aus or India, then yes, of course both of those things are true. 

I do actually think we'll win a test in this series but probably after it's already decided

[RonnieTodger]

4 hours ago, Lionator said:

I know we’re bad but it has to be said, winning away in test match cricket is really really hard. In fact the last time a side actually won a series away from home in the ashes was England 2011, the Aussies haven’t won in England since 2001.
 

A loss is expected, the disappointment is the hubris I think and the cheapness of defeats. This Australian team, while still good, is a shadow of its former self. 

I just want us to win a match. We haven’t won a match there since 2011. Have we had a competitive game?
 

We’ve scored 300+ once since 2017 and that was only because Archer started teeing off in Brisbane. 
 

We managed a draw in 2021 but had Jimmy clinging on against Smith and Labuschagne  

 

I don’t expect us to win a series down there for a long while, but please at least give us a match to enjoy.

[goody2028]

Graeme Swann turning into Alan Partridge in the pitch review there.