The Ashes (Australia tour of England)

[Ed Smith]

Not what I'm saying. I'm saying that the World Cup has nothing to do with Test selection.

If you want to stay in the Test side, you've got to play well in the Test side.

If you want to break into the Test side, you've got to do well in first-class cricket.

If neither applies to you... well, tough.

Yeahhh I was agreeing with what you said. Our problem has always been a reluctance to separate the formats. We've managed to go from shoehorning test players into the ODI side, and being crap at OD cricket, to doing the same with the test side now.

My point was that an 8 week world cup (winners or not) was nowhere close to good prep for a test series, especially for the batters. There has to be a better balance.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

To be fair, the only reason it's being highlighted to this extent is because of the failures of the other batsmen around him. The consistency with which he keeps scoring these 50s is astounding. I agree that in Tests 50s don't help much (especially from a top order batsman) but perhaps if he had support from the other batsmen, England might have found themselves in much better positions on numerous occasions.

To some extent, I agree. But the likes of Smith, Kohli & Williamson have played several innings now where they have single handedly made tons and changed tests. And, I'm talking about these guys in away test matches, not home. Root is struggling in native conditions. It might be an unpopular opinion, but Joe Root is not in the same league as the other three and it's not as if he's vastly better in white ball cricket. If anything, his hitting pedigree is also lesser than the other three. His conversion issue is not a fitness or ability issue, it's a mental block now.[DOUBLEPOST=1568367037][/DOUBLEPOST]As far as the discussion on Buttler is concerned, Buttler has shown a willingness to learn and grind it out this series. I actually think he's been the best all rounder after Stokes. The bloke that needs to be dropped is Bairstow and he needs to be told categorically that he can return as a pure batsman or just stick to white ball stuff. Frankly, I don't think he's ever going to become a red ball cricketer again and I dearly hope I'm wrong because jeez Bairstow is good.

 

[Dutch]

One fears a long session in the field for England...[DOUBLEPOST=1568370608][/DOUBLEPOST]Dissapointing and England just cant seem to galvanize themselves.

 

[Dutch]

In perspective you have to say a good knock from Buttler but once again a batsman makes a really poor and strange shot choice given the circumstances.

 

[Dutch]

Ooh bit of a rough call for Warner but yeah its Warner so who gives a

 

[Chief]

On the minus side, that's a really harsh wicket to give considering nothing on video and the TINIEST of snicks on ultra edge more consistent with a passing ball than actual contact.
On the plus side, David Warner.

Swings and roundabouts innit?

 

[Jalen]

Regardless of who wins this match, this series has been the best series I've seen in a long long time. No one-sided matches, no roads that offer nothing for the bowlers, a lot of drama and most importantly good, hard, fight from both teams to win.Every game could've gone either way and that's what I love, you can be out of the game from the start but can fight your way back in it and win.The Ashes will always be the biggest rivalry in cricket and Test cricket is here to stay.

 

[Aislabie]

That's the thing - bad Test cricket (or at the very least, flawed Test cricket) can be incredibly fun to watch.

Also, I reckon Mitch Marsh could get a ton today

 

[Dutch]

Regardless of who wins this match, this series has been the best series I've seen in a long long time. No one-sided matches, no roads that offer nothing for the bowlers, a lot of drama and most importantly good, hard, fight from both teams to win.Every game could've gone either way and that's what I love, you can be out of the game from the start but can fight your way back in it and win.The Ashes will always be the biggest rivalry in cricket and Test cricket is here to stay.

I am already saving up to go back down to Oz for the next one like I did in 2017

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

I think Smith will definitely give a better chance to England in this match but England would've to take it from both hands. I have very often noticed Smith do that when any series is nearing an end. The things is that he performs incredibly well throughout the series that's where the tiredness starts to creep in and he commits human errors.

 

[Dutch]

What do you get if you chop and change a settled bowler? Chris Woakes.


To be fair he hasnt really fulfilled his potential this series at all.

 

[Aislabie]

"Flatline. Carry on to ball tracking."

 

[Dutch]

If only Curran had been available from the start of the series....oh wait.....

 

[Ed Smith]

Almost as if the left armer adds something...

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I think Smith will definitely give a better chance to England in this match but England would've to take it from both hands. I have very often noticed Smith do that when any series is nearing an end. The things is that he performs incredibly well throughout the series that's where the tiredness starts to creep in and he commits human errors.

Given he's got two centuries at The Oval in his previous two matches, I'd be more surprised if he doesn't get another one today.