Cricket

[K-Hod]

Embarrassing again from us.

A whitewash is all they deserve.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

8 hours ago, K-Hod said:

Embarrassing again from us.

A whitewash is all they deserve.

I take it you weren’t “ entertained “ then ? Chaddy and Gav  will be along shortly to tell us how we don’t understand modern Test Match cricket !

[K-Hod]

13 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I take it you weren’t “ entertained “ then ? Chaddy and Gav  will be along shortly to tell us how we don’t understand modern Test Match cricket !

Getting beaten in that manner isn’t entertaining to me, nah!

For me though, there’s a middle ground to be had between a Geoff Boycott style innings and Bazball.

It’s the basics we don't do well that are the most costly in my view- in terms of dropping catches and getting out to shots we should be leaving well alone, anyway.

[onlyonejackwalker]

Why did it take until the shit was truly hitting the fan for us to start playing attritional cricket?

We lost 6 wickets in 32 overs.

Then Stoke and Jacks put on 96 in 37 overs. Stokes scored 50 from 150, Jacks 41 from 92. They survived 3 hours, left a lot alone, only drove at half volleys, played mostly on the floor. 

I don't agree this is a poor Australian team. We aren't seriously testing them and they've got gears to go up in my view.

This is the culmination of two or three years of sloppy, slapdash cricket. You can't suddenly refine your technique against the very best.

It was probably worth the gamble trying to transport one day cricket into the test arena. But enough is enough. Th8s series is over afyer 6 days of cricket.

Its been entertaining at times, but only because Root has dug in and rescued us time and time again.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

....

Well done to Crawley this test. He is obviously not an opener, but the test selectors know better than me. I don't dislike him as a batsmen, just hate him opening.

I'd love to see him at 5 or 6 against tired bowlers and an older ball. If his aversge still remained at 30, then bin him for good.

Robin Smith averaged nearly 50 in home tests and over 40 when jettisoned. Because he struggled against spin. Why not give him 30 extra tests to work it out?

What a bad decision that was, poor bloke. RIP big man.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

If I had to put my finger on one thing - they don’t know how to leave the ball. They have to play at everything. Nothing is more dispiriting for the bowler than to see the batsmen not play at something you’ve put a lot of effort into.

Edited 3 hours ago by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Gav]

16 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I take it you weren’t “ entertained “ then ? Chaddy and Gav  will be along shortly to tell us how we don’t understand modern Test Match cricket !

Been drinking at the bar of popular opinion Tyrone? That isn't like you I must say.

If memory serves me correctly, we'd won one test match in 17 before McCullum/Stokes and Key took charge. Now we've won something like 23 and lost around 11 (Don't quote me on those numbers, I'm guessing). But what a ride that has been, some of the best test match cricket in living memory, its been fantastic.

That doesn't mean they're above criticism though, as I very clearly posted on the last page. This is a team that dazzles and frustrates with little in between, and sometimes does both at the same time.

Its been amatuerish at best in this series, a series that matters above all else, but thats cricket....Lets hope we can salvage something during the rest of the series.

Edited 1 hour ago by Gav

[chaddyrovers]

16 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

I take it you weren’t “ entertained “ then ? Chaddy and Gav  will be along shortly to tell us how we don’t understand modern Test Match cricket !

I haven't watched 1 ball of the Ashes given its on TNT Sports which I dont access to. I do listen some of the commentary on the way from work in the morning on 5 live. 

So very difficult to comment on things I haven't watched. I have watched clips from forner England players like Botham, Vaughan, Hussain and Atherton. Its ain't been good. 

Don't agree with McCullum point they overtrain for the previous game. 

They didnt have enough proper match practice for me. No proper warm up games 

[RoverDom]

I'm a bit of a cricket novice, I like the ashes and watch the odd test now and then so this might be wide of the mark.... isn't the point of opening batsmen to score slow and steady but ultiamtely stay in? Tire the bowlers out and take the shine off the ball so 4, 5 and 6 can go knock them about and score for fun? Feels like Crawley and Duckett chase a quick 50 in the fewest overs and get out quickly leaving the rest of the top order facing relatively fresh bowlers? 

[jim mk2]

England played some decent cricket against India last summer, battled hard and got their heads down when they had to against a top team.

Then the final Test, a chance to beat India 3-1, England needed about 40 to win with 6 wickets in hand and loads of time to do it. So why did Smith dance down the pitch and try to smash the ball for 4 when England could have to the target easily nudging singles?

It’s brainless stupid unthinking cricket to me and I blame McCullum and Stokes for this muddle headed approach that has led to the present debacle