I agree there are far bigger problems than just removing Silverwood as coach/selector and root as captain, although I think both need to removed. The whole cricket pyramid is rotten to the core. From the ECB to coaches to the way groundsmen prepare pitches. But Silverwood and root cannot escape their failures over the past 12 months. Lost 9 test matches in the calendar year - worst ever. Extras is England’s third highest run scorer of 2021. The selections in this series along have been a shambles. Even going back to the day nighter in Ahmedabad where played 4 seamers and all wickets went to spin. Arguably the most damaging indictment of where they are is having our openers batting on one leg in the mcg nets. It’s just barmy. Ashley Giles decided in his infinite wisdom to get rid of head selectors, last of whom was Ed smith (who I didn’t personally like) putting it all on Silverwood/Root. That’s a big call and as it’s clearly failed he cannot survive either. No easy solutions. But personally I’d appoint Mike atherton in the Ashley Giles role. He has some good sounding ideas about more condensed cc played at appropriate times of year on proper pitches. Clearly an intelligent bloke who I think would be brilliant as an administrator. Without his paymasters at sky demanding an all out propaganda campaign of McCricket would he prioritise red ball cricket. I suspect he might. Coach - fairly easy should have been Gary Kirsten or as a more out there appointment Jason Gillespie but never Silverwood. Captain - is a tricky one currently only 2 players pretty much guaranteed to start Root and Stokes. That being the case it’s stokes who did well vs Pakistan but history isn’t on the side of all rounders doing well. Personally I think they could do worse than asking Morgan to do it in the Mike Brearley role. Even if he doesn’t get runs it’s not like he’ll be replacing someone who is but at least will have a proper captain. All in all English cricket is in a real mess, not because of this series, but a sustained level of failure. The worst thing is it’s mostly of our (ECBs) own making.

This guy is a fucking wanker. There are positives - we’ve just been done by an innings, and Australia only scored 267. This has to be some kind of record. No contrition, no acknowledgement that they have got it wrong, no taking responsibility for the performance as Coach and Selector

It’s painful and humiliating to watch but if a total embarrassment leads the ECB doing a 180 on their priorities it might be the best result for England. I won’t hold my breath. The last ashes series downunder was a disgrace and still ploughed on with the 16.4.

22/4. Shambles. The night watchman leaving a straight one. 👏 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

At least losing by an innings is unlikely now albeit not totally off the table. FFS. I take it back this shower of shite are more than capable of losing by an innings from an 82 deficit. Useless. -74/2 🙄

Bridge too far now for me.

For all these teams allegedly with covid I’d be inclined to say even if your entire first xi squad has it tough shit play the kids (same goes if rovers call one off down the track). To me this all stinks of over paid lazy footballers wanting an Xmas break.

A lot of dismissals they just didn’t need to play at. Root, Stokes, Malan, Bairstow. Crawley got himself so square. Couldn’t get his bat down - he was either going caught behind or LBW. Then Buttler. Jesus wept. Last over before tea and charges down the wicket and chipped on up. I really don’t get the point of Buttler. Last match 200 deliveries for 20. Just what is he trying to achieve. Lurches from hopeless to adequate behind the stumps and rarely delivers with the bat. So many players currently getting a game that don’t deserve to play test cricket.

Another bloody pathetic day.

I’m definitely still in the Mowbray out camp. I just don’t believe he’s capable of delivering any more than mid table mediocrity over the course of a season. With this season he’s most definitely earned the right to see his contract out but if or when we tumble back to our 10th-14th zone of terror. I’d be moving him on. I’ll be thrilled to be eating humble pie if he does any better but I just don’t think it’ll happen.

With the blackburn lass in the final of strictly dancing yesterday decided to watch it. She wasn’t even in it as injured unfortunately. That programme is simply unwatchable. Not even the dancing per se but the inappropriate overly sentimental fawning over one another. There are wedding vows that are less soppy than these people. Didn’t go 10 minutes without waterworks. All this from people who will likely never speak again after this series.

I’d love to see some fight from this England side. Clearly the game/series has gone but I’d like to see us make it difficult for the Australians even take them into the final session tomorrow or make them work for every wicket. Leave this innings thinking got out to mostly good balls rather than tossing our wickets away.

No one can deny the incredible league position (for now) but the squad he’s built over 5 long years is still pretty ordinary considering he is allowed to operate a wage bill of 200% of turnover. The fact we’re 3rd can also be considered a feather in his cap given the squad but if lose Brereton, Leninhan, nyambe in January with the better loan players likely to return at the end of the season. The start of the summer could be a piss poor looking squad indeed. Hardly a glowing endorsement after 5 years especially if/when fall away to our usual 10th-15th. Ironically the squad is mostly bolstered from the academy Mowbray wanted shut off in favour of his much ballyhooed Brentford model. Although much like his insistence last season possession football was the only way to play he’s also gone quiet over the merits of not having an academy.

Due to the perilous financial situation of rovers resulting in question marks over whether even exist as a football club down the track for me it has to be rovers. Only due to the prem money and the chance for the Venkys to sell up. But I’d get more joy watching England win the World Cup.

I’d still be happy to see Mowbray out. Why. Because even in the lofty position of 3rd I still don’t think he’s capable of delivering more than mediocrity over the course a season. If we get play offs he’s clearly overachieved and will get all the plaudits coming his way and only then people can eat humble pie and admit they were wrong. I think you’re a little premature claiming the win. The biggest criticism people have had of Mowbray is him not playing the same players, in the same formation, playing in same positions (preferably their correct positions) or even the same style of football. I’ve no idea why he’s dropped the tombola act but I am enjoying it. Also with some of the things he’s come out with there’s no denying he’s a prat whether he is successful or not. However, it would be churlish not to give him credit now. In the same way when it all goes tits up like usual again he’ll deserve all the criticism coming his way. Maybe with the young lads unscarred by the usual death spirals and Mowbray not tinkering with personnel, tactics and style every bloody game it’ll be different but I won’t hold my breath.

Longer. In terms of 5 clean sheets

We appear to be in a strange parallel universe in which rovers are sweeping opponents aside. Could be top two if we win on boxing Day as Bournemouth don't play till after us.

Vey few of these batsmen should be allowed to play again this series or ever but that only leaves root and Malan. When you look at who’s waiting in the wings. Chunky Jonny B like a coiled spring!!! Wouldn’t be a tour without him getting bowled through the gate and then looking totally bewildered about how it has happened again. Or hooking out for 30 for no reason after a blatant trap. It’s very very slim pickins at the moment. It’s like the era of England playing a midfield including Carlton Palmer and Andy sinton. They may have been absolutely shit but anyone coming in was even worse

Jos Buttler is simply not a wicket keeper batsman in test match cricket. Foakes is the better keeper so on the basis none of them will score consistent runs might as well play the best keeper. They just won’t let go of this theory of what Buttler ‘might’ do against all the evidence of what actually happens.

If Silverwood isn’t sacked after getting smashed in India, then losing to NZ and India in the summer, and then this humiliation, he never will be

Part of me hopes this series ends in a total shambles. Not just a whitewash but multiple innings defeats the more embarrassing the more likely the ECB will have a total rethink of priorities. A 4-1 defeat does nothing they’ll cling on to the one win and the status quo will remain

This must be where the brief blip of average to decent cricket happens before the usual detritus.

It would be churlish not to give credit where it’s due now. In the same way when it all goes tits up with the traditional New Years Mowbray death spiral, hitting the usual levels of mediocrity, he’ll deserve criticism. Hopefully with the young lads unscarred by the usual meltdowns and Mowbray not tinkering with style, personnel and tactics every game it’ll be different but I won’t hold my breath.

I’d take £20 million all day long or even the less for their loanees. As unfathomably amazing as this season has been for Diaz I still fear Brereton is in there somewhere. Are these 6 months the real player or is the other 3.5 years. I’d sell now than risk him being back to falling over the ball, scuffing shots and ultimately valueless.