The Ashes (Australia tour of England)

[wasteyouryouth]

So Denly has a 50 opening to go win one at 3 and one at 4. I know switching his place in the order every three games is the tactic, but maybe he'd have done better had he the chance to nail down one position.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Think and feel Bairstow got a really poor decision!

 

[Croadyman]

Not really sure why you think a left arm quickie would solve this attack’s issues, India and South Africa have both got world class pace bowling attacks and yet do not have a single good left armer for test matches in their arsenal. The only ones I can think of who would fit your bill currently are

• Starc, who is an overrated test bowler with accuracy and consistency issues.
• Shaheen Afridi, an exciting talent but still very raw and has consistency issues himself.
• Boult, the best left arm pacer in the world at the moment but he is most definitely not ‘rapid’.
• The Fizz, who isn’t even trusted by his own management to play multiple tests without breaking down or to play on pitches and in conditions that have no help for pacers in addition to him not being ‘rapid’ either.
• EDIT: missed out on Neil Wagner, who is a really useful left armer. But then, he is just one of a kind. A very unique player.

The issues with the current English bowling lineup I can see are

• Their best bowler is injured and similar bowlers are either unfit (Woakes) or injured (Gregory) too. In addition, other bowlers who could have had a chance like Wood and Stone are also injured.
• For all his potential and the excitement around him, Archer is still playing in his first test series and it shows in the occasional poor delivery that he bowls.
• The lack of a good spinner. Leach to me is a serviceable spinner but he has only bowled for long (compared to his teammates) only on two occasions in the entire series while Lyon is consistently up there as the bowler with the most overs for his side by far. Not to mention Lyon’s much better control and economy rate. This in turn means the quicker bowlers have to bowl more leading to increased fatigue and errors creeping in.
• Finally, tactics as you have mentioned. Root has just resorted to the bouncer tactic whenever his Plan A hasn’t worked and has constantly overworked all of his quick bowlers, with Archer and Broad particularly feeling the brunt of it.

Forgot about Lewis Gregory,correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't he in the squad for that Ireland test or was it the first ashes one.

I thought Stone was fit for the first test but England decided to risk Jimmy which proved a costly mistake.

 

[Dutch]

Well we made it to tea! Could all be over in four balls....but......

 

[Aalay]

Obviously this game isn't over and England could still draw the series at The Oval. But like everyone says it would just mask the issues, as did the fortunate 4-1 win over India and a very good win in Sri Lanka, albeit against a weak side. They were exposed by the West Indies, by Ireland and once again here. South Africa and New Zealand bowlers will be licking their lips at this batting unit.

Think it might be time for a new chief selector and captain, as well as the new coach. Because unless Joe Root decides to drop his mates I feel there will be little change.

TBH, they did win against India and scoreline suggest quite comfortably with the margin of 4-1 but whoever watched that series will tell you it was much closer than that. If you take out Sam Curran from that team, India might have drawn the series or won it because his part in the series was that important. So it is surprising that he isn't getting a single game right now. I definitely agree with you when you said that it might be because of his poor performance overseas but I guess that was expected. Curran is at his best when the ball is moving but if there is no movement his pace alone is not good enough to trouble the batsmen. Even his IPL selection was based more on reputation because Tom Curran is clearly the better T20 bowler but he wasn't picked at all in the IPL. Anyways, the ball will always move around in England so I am surprised that a guy like Overton is getting a game before Sam Curran.

I don't see Joe Root continuing as a captain after this series simply because he is not a natural leader. Captaincy might also have affected his batting and Root the batsman is probably more important to this English team than Root the captain. Ben Stokes will overtake the captaincy IMO. Even though it is logical to change the chief selector, I am unsure if that will happen since they just won a WC before this series.

 

[Deleted member 193590]

I think we're going to get the draw here,and win the ashes at the oval.I can feel it in my testicles.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I think we're going to get the draw here,and win the ashes at the oval.I can feel it in my testicles.

Still?

 

[Deleted member 193590]

Still?

It's a tingle now.

 

[Dutch]

Not now! Needed buttler there for the new ball....archer will score 12 and hoik it to deep square leg.....

 

[Aislabie]

Today's daily repetitive post:

• Burns
• Sibley
• Denly, Crawley or something?
• Root
• Stokes
• Pope
• Foakes

 

[Dutch]

Would love to see Foakes back
In. Its the Root Fan Boys Club stopping players coming in.....[DOUBLEPOST=1567958377][/DOUBLEPOST]I cant think of another sport that has you dangling between hope and misery for hours on end!

 

[Willoughby63]

Not now! Needed buttler there for the new ball....archer will score 12 and hoik it to deep square leg.....

He tried to[DOUBLEPOST=1567958409][/DOUBLEPOST]Yes Leachy’s in

 

[Dutch]

Just seen a fat lady doing her warm up singing exercises!

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Today's daily repetitive post:

• Burns
• Sibley
• Denly, Crawley or something?
• Root
• Stokes
• Pope
• Foakes

That's pretty much the line up George Dobell was advocating on Cricinfo last night. Crawley instead of Denly. Crawley's record isn't exactly dazzling but can't argue with taking a punt on him instead of Denly.

Question now: what do you think the actual line up will be for the first test in New Zealand?

 

[Dutch]

Get ready for Roots inane bullshit....

We showed character......

We showed we could fight.....

We got so close....

All credit to the Aussies....(they are definitely world-beaters, they must be to get us out)

We have to pick ourselves up....

Take the positives....