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 December 8 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 December 8 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

 

[wilsdenrover]

England won 10 of Stokes’ first 12 games as captain (1 loss, 1 draw).

Since then they’ve won 12 out of 27 (14 losses 1 draw).

Other countries (as was inevitable) have worked out how to counter (or at least not be overwhelmed by) ‘Bazball’

Changes (not necessarily wholesale ones) are needed, hopefully Stokes and McCullum can see this.

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I see Mark Wood has had to return home. I always thought it was a risk given the amount of bowling he’d have to do on hard Aussie wickets. It was a risk worth taking though in my opinion.

[jim mk2]

England were basing their “feared” pace attack on a fit and firing Wood - which was always a gamble given his injury record. File his inevitable departure in the debacle file along with Stokes’s poor captaincy, McCullum’s unwarranted bravado, and the players’ inept batting, bowling and fielding. England could of course win 3-2 but I’ll eat my flat cap if they do 

[chaddyrovers]

Michael Vaughan on BBC was saying its time for Stokes batting 3 in the next test. With Will Jacks to bat 6/7. Pope should be drop. 

What do people think? 

Any regular county watchers who can say who are the up and coming opening batsman/number 3 in the county scene? 

[chaddyrovers]

Did England focus on pace and pace in the attack instead of taking 1 or 2 like Australia bowlers of Neser and Boland?

[onlyonejackwalker]

With a fully fit Aussie squad and a fully fit English squad, very few of our team make a combined eleven based on the stats.

Especially away from home.

Therefore it was imperative to focus on and do the basics extremely well. Which we have failed to do spectacularly.

Our fitness and concentration has been very poor across all disciplines. Our specialist batting has been pathetic, our fielding and catching atrocious and our bowling lacks consistency, guile, options and penetration. 

Only Stokes and Root have performed to any sort of par, but we needed much more from both in the abscence of any sort of contribution from the majority. 

I don't see how this improves for the remaining tests. My only hope is it doesn't totally disintegrate. The Aussies will get better and we will become more tired, demoralised and jaded.

From this point on Crawley, Duckett, Pope and Smith are playing for their future. Brook needs to stop believing his own hype. Root and Stokes as usual need to be world class.

I am cutting the bowlers some slack as only getting 35 overs rest between innings and trying to constantly defend 150 is depressing watching on tv, let alone trying to pull it off.

Yes we were crap before Bazball. Yes we are crap now. And......?

Scooping, switch hitting, charging the bowler, driving on the up, hooking, hitting across the line, hitting in the air should all be banned unless youve got 100 on the board, or match curcumstances dictate.

And instead of getting pissed on a beach, practice your fucking catching instead.

[chaddyrovers]

only 1 change FFS. 

Tongue for Atkinson. 

We have backed Bashir for 3 years and said he would be number 1 spinner in the ashes, now not playing. 

I would have drop Pope for Bashir and Potts for Carse 

[Mattyblue]

He can’t spin a ball though…

[oldjamfan1]

The Ashes will be gone by Thursday 

[chaddyrovers]

59 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

The Ashes will be gone by Thursday 

I hope not but it does feel like this team will need a revamp after the Ashes

Maybe a new opening batter to replace Crawley, maybe a new number 3 unless Stokes goes there, find a spinner that the Captain and Head coach, new pace bowlers. 

Plus the future of Stokes as Captain and McCullum as head coach. 

[K-Hod]

Crawley's had more than enough chances and he keeps messing it up.

To an extent, I understand he's playing to instruction, but like so much under McCullum & Stokes, it's become the definition of insanity at this point.

If this series ends up as a Whitewash, which unfortunately, I can see happening, then McCullum and Stokes and their positions are untenable, just like that of Rob Key IMO.

[oldjamfan1]

I think Stokes will finish as a test cricketer at the end of this series, whatever happens, tbh. I wouldn't blame him for grabbing as much money from franchise cricket as he can before he retires.

 

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, K-Hod said:

Crawley's had more than enough chances and he keeps messing it up.

You could say that for Crawley, Duckett and Pope, but who is knocking on the door in county cricket? who are the openers/top order batsmen challenging those 3? 

1 hour ago, K-Hod said:

To an extent, I understand he's playing to instruction, but like so much under McCullum & Stokes, it's become the definition of insanity at this point.

I think this bit is where people misunderstand what Stokes and McCullum actually want

1 hour ago, K-Hod said:

If this series ends up as a Whitewash, which unfortunately, I can see happening, then McCullum and Stokes and their positions are untenable, just like that of Rob Key IMO.

changing it all again isn't what we need but I think keeping Key and McCullum would be wise and sensible move, with maybe Brook becoming Test captain would be way forward

[K-Hod]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

You could say that for Crawley, Duckett and Pope, but who is knocking on the door in county cricket? who are the openers/top order batsmen challenging those 3? 

I think this bit is where people misunderstand what Stokes and McCullum actually want

changing it all again isn't what we need but I think keeping Key and McCullum would be wise and sensible move, with maybe Brook becoming Test captain would be way forward

There’s gotta be consequences for repeatedly doing your job poorly though, Chaddy. Crawley has consistently been terrible, but there’s never any punishment. Not a good position for anyone to be in (bar Crawley, I suspect he’s loving it).

[Mattyblue]

Will be Crawley’s 62nd cap, the ninth highest for a specialist opener in English history… with an average of 31 (31!), he’s one lucky fella to be part of this set up (and being a Kent lad helps).

Just think of the top players that never got near the number of chances he’s had

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, K-Hod said:

There’s gotta be consequences for repeatedly doing your job poorly though, Chaddy. Crawley has consistently been terrible, but there’s never any punishment. Not a good position for anyone to be in (bar Crawley, I suspect he’s loving it).

But are they players knocking the door down saying to McCullum and Stokes to play me? 

Who are the openers/number 3 put there saying pick me? Do you need any? 

Are Emillo Gay or Ben McKinney or Tom Haines ready to Replace Crawley? 

Is Bethall ready to bat 3 and replace Pope? Should Smith bat 3 and not keeper with someone like James Rew at 6 or 7 with Jacks replacing Stokes long time as all round? 

Pope should have been dropped for this test for me 

Edited 40 minutes ago by chaddyrovers