The Ashes 2021/22

[ddrap14]

Breaking news: Buttler's finger is broken and he is out for Hobart. Bairstow and Stokes will both be assessed closer to the match. How Bairstow's thumb isn't broken is beyond me

 

[Pinch hitter]

Tension is real...

 

[Khan Sahab54]

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Just saw Cummo's ball to Wood

 

[Aislabie]

Scott Boland bowling average watch: 8.64

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Scott Boland bowling average watch: 8.64

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Just saw Cummo's ball to Wood

That was just an unplayable delivery. Boland dismissing Bairstow was a peach as well!

 

[Aislabie]

I guess things could always be worse for England. Bangladesh just picked an opening bat with a first-class career average of 16

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I guess things could always be worse for England. Bangladesh just picked an opening bat with a first-class career average of 16

Give Hameed a few more games and he'll be there.

 

[harishankar]

England may win the last test.

 

[Bevab]

Think I said this a long time ago, that England’s obsession with ‘pace is pace yaar’ like the subcontinent coaches for an Australian soil victory would never actually lead them to their dreams. That they needed a batting lineup (or more than two batsmen) capable of dealing with high quality pace bowling first as that is the bedrock of any side’s victory in away conditions these days given how friendly the current era tests are to pacers. Instead, all of the public focus has been on hunting for pace bowlers when the same effort could have been invested in their batting to actually reap some meaningful rewards.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Think I said this a long time ago, that England’s obsession with ‘pace is pace yaar’ like the subcontinent coaches for an Australian soil victory would never actually lead them to their dreams. That they needed a batting lineup (or more than two batsmen) capable of dealing with high quality pace bowling first as that is the bedrock of any side’s victory in away conditions these days given how friendly the current era tests are to pacers. Instead, all of the public focus has been on hunting for pace bowlers when the same effort could have been invested in their batting to actually reap some meaningful rewards.

So true this. The pitches and conditions have offered a little more to the bowlers but Australia's ability to bat in those conditions has been the big difference. Even England's glorious draw we couldn't score 300+

 

[Aislabie]

Think I said this a long time ago, that England’s obsession with ‘pace is pace yaar’ like the subcontinent coaches for an Australian soil victory would never actually lead them to their dreams. That they needed a batting lineup (or more than two batsmen) capable of dealing with high quality pace bowling first as that is the bedrock of any side’s victory in away conditions these days given how friendly the current era tests are to pacers. Instead, all of the public focus has been on hunting for pace bowlers when the same effort could have been invested in their batting to actually reap some meaningful rewards.

Most definitely.

As broken clock Stuart Broad has twice correctly said: "It doesn't matter how well we bowl if our batters are all out for 140"

Zak Crawley has had the absolute gold star treatment with all the best coaches and experience in all conditions because his dad is minted. I think he's borderline Test standard with the skills to capitalise if the conditions favour him.

I reckon there are about 20 players in the English game who could have been similarly or more successful with the same coaching and opportunities:

• Hassan Azad
• Josh Bohannon
• Rory Burns
• Joe Clarke (personal life notwithstanding)
• Ben Foakes (irrespective of keeping)
• Nick Gubbins
• Sam Hain
• James Hildreth
• Max Holden
• Dan Lawrence
• Alex Lees
• Liam Livingstone
• Dawid Malan
• Sam Northeast
• Ollie Pope
• Dom Sibley
• Mark Stoneman
• James Vince
• Luke Wells
• Chris Woakes (as a batter)

I don't think I'm going wild with that observation. I also don't think it would be too wild for the ECB to invest similarly in their young players to how Terry The Till did in young Zak.

Ah well. Ollie Stone bowls gas when his back is in one piece.

 

[ddrap14]

Joe Clarke (personal life notwithstanding)

I'd just like to quickly point out that, while Sam Billings has got all of the credits in the BBL, Clarke notched up his fourth fifty in a row for the Stars last night

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Most definitely.

As broken clock Stuart Broad has twice correctly said: "It doesn't matter how well we bowl if our batters are all out for 140"

Zak Crawley has had the absolute gold star treatment with all the best coaches and experience in all conditions because his dad is minted. I think he's borderline Test standard with the skills to capitalise if the conditions favour him.

I reckon there are about 20 players in the English game who could have been similarly or more successful with the same coaching and opportunities:

• Hassan Azad
• Josh Bohannon
• Rory Burns
• Joe Clarke (personal life notwithstanding)
• Ben Foakes (irrespective of keeping)
• Nick Gubbins
• Sam Hain
• James Hildreth
• Max Holden
• Dan Lawrence
• Alex Lees
• Liam Livingstone
• Dawid Malan
• Sam Northeast
• Ollie Pope
• Dom Sibley
• Mark Stoneman
• James Vince
• Luke Wells
• Chris Woakes (as a batter)

I don't think I'm going wild with that observation. I also don't think it would be too wild for the ECB to invest similarly in their young players to how Terry The Till did in young Zak.

Ah well. Ollie Stone bowls gas when his back is in one piece.

Glad you included Woakes. Said to a mate today, if he'd had as many chances as Jos Buttler has at 6 or 7 he'd have more centuries and probably a better average.

Crawley's best innings have been in matches where Buttler also got 150 and where Jonny Bairstow, who has been rubbish for years, looked world class and a guy who hasn't played for two months scored two centuries.