The Ashes

[Holmes_and_Watson]

435 to win!

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Oh for...

1st wicket down for 4 runs

[austsaint]

On 06/12/2025 at 06:27, Gloucester Saint said:

Duck-ett by name, Duckett by nature.

One thing we’ve probably learned in these first three matches - neither Duckett or Pope have test match techniques against high class pace bowling.

[badgerx16]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/19/waste-of-will-jacks-talent-speaks-volumes-england-bodged-ashes-planning-cricket

[Gloucester Saint]

4 hours ago, austsaint said:

One thing we’ve probably learned in these first three matches - neither Duckett or Pope have test match techniques against high class pace bowling.

Duckett only leaves 1% of deliveries. This was touted as new and revolutionary but in Australia where you need to be able to leave the new ball on steep bounce from back of a length on 4th/5th stump, I feared it would be a weakness and it was. Pope doesn’t have it inbetween the ears but tbf to him, he was no #3 and shame on Stokes and Brendon for that cock up. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Got closer to that total than I thought they would. But the outcome's the same. 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

4 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Got closer to that total than I thought they would. But the outcome's the same. 

Yep, woke up at about 3pm for a wee and had a quick check of the score, pleasantly surprised that they were still going. Obviously woke up a few hours later and not even remotely surprised we lost, fairy comfortably.

[badgerx16]

Meanwhile in New Zealand, both NZ openers score centuries, for the second time in the match, and all 3 completed first wicket partnerships have passed 100.

[Gloucester Saint]

5 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Got closer to that total than I thought they would. But the outcome's the same. 

Simply not fit enough for the physical and mental intensity of the Ashes. Playing golf is a good rest day activity but not the main preparation. I don’t think it will be 5-0 this time as the Bazball bottlejobs will turn up for one of the last two Tests but the bullshit has been well and truly seen through.

[Lord Duckhunter]

It’s been a shit show from start to finish. Arrogance personified. They need a clear out starting with Key & Brendon McCullum. Stokes is clearly too talented to be ditched, and there’s nobody else capable of the captaincy, but the whole thing needs re thinking. We should start preparation and planning for the next series in Australia now, that should be our focus, red ball cricket. We’ll be competitive at home, but that pointless if we shit the bed down under. 

[badgerx16]

2 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Simply not fit enough for the physical and mental intensity of the Ashes. Playing golf is a good rest day activity but not the main preparation. I don’t think it will be 5-0 this time as the Bazball bottlejobs will turn up for one of the last two Tests but the bullshit has been well and truly seen through.

I do. The Aussies will be looking to totally humiliate us. 

Crawley and Pope have both had their one reasonably good score of the series, Duckett is a busted flush on these pitches, Brook and Smith will continue doing what they do and failing to build an innings, Archer needs to be nursed through a game, and Carse etc just leak too many runs whilst showing they are unable to adapt their line and length. Root and Stokes will continue to carry the team, though even Joe is struggling for consistency. Goodness only knows why Bashir is there.

Edit: apologies to Crawley who has somehow made 2 half decent scores.

 

Edited Sunday at 12:40 by badgerx16

[badgerx16]

Looks like Lyon is out of the last 2 tests and Cummins is likely to miss the 4th. Which "unknown" replacements will the Aussies bring in to demolish England ? Plus, of course, Smith returns.

Edited Sunday at 12:51 by badgerx16

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, badgerx16 said:

Looks like Lyon is out of the last 2 tests and Cummins is likely to miss the 4th. Which "unknown" replacements will the Aussies bring in to demolish England ? Plus, of course, Smith returns.

As the Australians took some stick for the age of their team, watch the return of McGrath and Lillee easily win the next two. 🙂

[Gloucester Saint]

Been on Barmy Army Tours and mixed with the lads on night out. All OK when you’re competing well, but don’t remember meeting a senior England player in this state 

 

Edited Tuesday at 13:44 by Gloucester Saint

[badgerx16]

Archer out for the last 2 tests.

[egg]

The poor players need a bit of empathy. Jeez. 

Many of the comments are on point. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/ckgzwq58zkqo#comments

 

[Picard]

Hope some stayed up to watch England have a good morning. After that time to get some sleep whilst England batters do what England batters do.

Nice to see Hampshire's Neser top scoring.

Edited 8 hours ago by Picard
Additional text

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Bloody hell, it's be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.

[Lighthouse]

TBF to the England batters, your beer will start to get warm if you leave it for more than ten minutes.

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

TBF to the England batters, your beer will start to get warm if you leave it for more than ten minutes.

You knew when Duckett was in by the empties at his end.

Bowling much better lengths but the bowlers don’t have a chance when the batting has all the fibre of wet toilet tissue. Yes it’s a green seamer but techniques are terrible. England need a new top 3 and Bethell is more Root’s longer term replacement. Unfair to expect him to turn up and perform - needs a full season of red ball for Warwick’s and some 100s and time in the middle under those sort of surfaces under his belt.

Jordan Cox, McKinnie, and Haines probably replacing the hapless Duckett, Crawley and Pope in the summer. I don’t believe those top three are consistently Test quality against the best quicks, NZ and Pakistan attacks are high quality next summer as well. Jamie Smith competing against Cox and Rew for his place. Up to Duckett, Crawley and Pope to score 1500-2000 runs for their counties next summer and prove me wrong. 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

I know Root got a century earlier in the series, and seems more professional than most of the others, but for me he has been one of the biggest disappointments of the Ashes so far.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 hours ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

I know Root got a century earlier in the series, and seems more professional than most of the others, but for me he has been one of the biggest disappointments of the Ashes so far.

Controversial view, but IMHO Root is only world class in England and Asia eg India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In Australia, he’s always looked vulnerable to bounce on 5th stump to steepling deliveries best left alone and has never entirely convinced me in SA either. Similar to David Warner who was also world class in certain conditions favouring him but struggled in others.