| Th'Ashes Down Under 12:32 - Nov 13 with 12659 views | D_Alien |
So, the single-game build up to the First Test starts, with an England XI taking on England Lions (shadow squad)
To give a flavour of where we're at (or where Stokes says we're at)...
https://www.espncricinfo.com/s [Post edited 13 Nov 12:33]
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 07:51 - Dec 8 with 1944 views | pioneer |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 09:09 - Dec 7 by isitme |
More time to play golf though. There are some good courses in Australia. |
They are up at Noosa, playboy territory, getting some undeserved R&R and preparing (too hard no doubt) for the next challenge…and getting paid for it. Hope they keep off the electric scooters.
They should pay them the tour fee based on the numbers of hours of cricket they play with additional payments for hours spent training on a cricket field. |  | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:41 - Dec 8 with 1822 views | TalkingSutty |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 07:51 - Dec 8 by pioneer |
They are up at Noosa, playboy territory, getting some undeserved R&R and preparing (too hard no doubt) for the next challenge…and getting paid for it. Hope they keep off the electric scooters.
They should pay them the tour fee based on the numbers of hours of cricket they play with additional payments for hours spent training on a cricket field. |
They should sack Keys, McMillan, replace Stokes as captain and stop awarding central contracts. Too many players in their comfort zone and being rewarded for failute. A massive shake up is needed and it needs to start at the top. |  | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:48 - Dec 8 with 1816 views | isitme |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:41 - Dec 8 by TalkingSutty |
They should sack Keys, McMillan, replace Stokes as captain and stop awarding central contracts. Too many players in their comfort zone and being rewarded for failute. A massive shake up is needed and it needs to start at the top. |
Mark Wood has a central contract for the year and I suspect will never play for England again after bowling 10 overs. Bairstow was also contracted last year and played no games. Good money if you can get it.
Bashir is without a county and got 0 for plenty in the Lions v Australia A game and also has a central contract. I wonder if Tom Moody would fancy the job?
I was discussing at work whether we should be looking to bloody Rehan Ahmed as the all rounder replacement for Stokes. He could bat at 7 and be a decent 'outside of the sub continent' spinner.
I would also look at playing Potts next test. He can perform the accurate donkey work role, that currently we do not have. Carse/Stokes and Atkinson have been too erratic with their line and length. |  | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 12:04 - Dec 8 with 1807 views | TalkingSutty |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:48 - Dec 8 by isitme |
Mark Wood has a central contract for the year and I suspect will never play for England again after bowling 10 overs. Bairstow was also contracted last year and played no games. Good money if you can get it.
Bashir is without a county and got 0 for plenty in the Lions v Australia A game and also has a central contract. I wonder if Tom Moody would fancy the job?
I was discussing at work whether we should be looking to bloody Rehan Ahmed as the all rounder replacement for Stokes. He could bat at 7 and be a decent 'outside of the sub continent' spinner.
I would also look at playing Potts next test. He can perform the accurate donkey work role, that currently we do not have. Carse/Stokes and Atkinson have been too erratic with their line and length. |
Good observations those. International bowlers who can't bowl consistent line and length, it's a joke really. We're crying out for a Jimmy Anderson, he'd probably still bowl better than this lot. Then we have Stokes captaincy, his field placings are laughable. Australia batsman spent all day accumulating runs behind the wicket and Stokes just didn't respond. His batting has been poor also. | | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 12:05 - Dec 8 with 1801 views | D_Alien |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:41 - Dec 8 by TalkingSutty |
They should sack Keys, McMillan, replace Stokes as captain and stop awarding central contracts. Too many players in their comfort zone and being rewarded for failute. A massive shake up is needed and it needs to start at the top. |
Stokes is absolutely the right man to be captain, but the Stokes /McCullum partnership has run its course, a glorious experiment while it lasted but now outrun its usefulness. It's McCullum who needs to go
There's no obvious replacement for Stokes, but he needs a manager who can tell him and other players the hard truths. The likes of Brook and Smith are in danger of having very promising careers ruined by not having more discerning management who'll rein them in
[Post edited 8 Dec 12:06]
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 13:06 - Dec 8 with 1717 views | TalkingSutty |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 12:05 - Dec 8 by D_Alien |
Stokes is absolutely the right man to be captain, but the Stokes /McCullum partnership has run its course, a glorious experiment while it lasted but now outrun its usefulness. It's McCullum who needs to go
There's no obvious replacement for Stokes, but he needs a manager who can tell him and other players the hard truths. The likes of Brook and Smith are in danger of having very promising careers ruined by not having more discerning management who'll rein them in
[Post edited 8 Dec 12:06]
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I think Stokes is a poor captain. I think he's a reactive captain and doesn't anticipate things, At times he doesn't even react, as we've seen with his field placings. He let's games drift when we are fielding and let's his emotions cloud his judgement, over bowling himself is one example. His reluctance to change our approach to Test cricket has brought us to where we are now...out batted, out bowled, out fielded, out thought against a under strength Australian team. Then you have the arrogance, he and his players like playing bazzball and they aren't accountable to anybody, not even cricketing greats. I'm not disputing Stokes a fantastic cricketer on his day but he's not impressing me as a captain. He's not the only all rounder to struggle when it comes to also being the captain, Flintoff was another. The problem now though is if Stokes is relieved of the captaincy he'll probably retire from Test cricket and we'll lose a great cricketer. I'd ask Root if he'd consider having another stint as captain. [Post edited 8 Dec 13:11]
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 14:09 - Dec 8 with 1656 views | D_Alien |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 13:06 - Dec 8 by TalkingSutty |
I think Stokes is a poor captain. I think he's a reactive captain and doesn't anticipate things, At times he doesn't even react, as we've seen with his field placings. He let's games drift when we are fielding and let's his emotions cloud his judgement, over bowling himself is one example. His reluctance to change our approach to Test cricket has brought us to where we are now...out batted, out bowled, out fielded, out thought against a under strength Australian team. Then you have the arrogance, he and his players like playing bazzball and they aren't accountable to anybody, not even cricketing greats. I'm not disputing Stokes a fantastic cricketer on his day but he's not impressing me as a captain. He's not the only all rounder to struggle when it comes to also being the captain, Flintoff was another. The problem now though is if Stokes is relieved of the captaincy he'll probably retire from Test cricket and we'll lose a great cricketer. I'd ask Root if he'd consider having another stint as captain. [Post edited 8 Dec 13:11]
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I disagree TS
The single most important attribute that Stokes brings is leadership, perhaps the most important attribute of any captain. What he then does is try to lead by example, which can result in either great innings or great bowling spells (his first test bowling was superb, you're too easily forgetting this)
The problem: no-one to tell him when he's over-bowling himself. That's where he needs a more objective manager, who's not a "mate". England were in a very dire state when McCullum took over. His initial psychological boosts worked wonders but they're past their sell-by date now
As for Stokes' fields... someone like Root should be providing input. Does Root step up with that advice? He himself wasn't a great captain. Brooks as vice-captain is withering on the vine, too much too soon. There's very few "perfect" captains, all have their strengths and weaknesses, and i repeat, there's absolutely no-one else to fill Stokes' boots right now. He's big enough to take this tour on board and stay for the return Ashes at home, which could be his swansong [Post edited 8 Dec 16:01]
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 15:15 - Dec 8 with 1591 views | watford_dale |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 14:09 - Dec 8 by D_Alien |
I disagree TS
The single most important attribute that Stokes brings is leadership, perhaps the most important attribute of any captain. What he then does is try to lead by example, which can result in either great innings or great bowling spells (his first test bowling was superb, you're too easily forgetting this)
The problem: no-one to tell him when he's over-bowling himself. That's where he needs a more objective manager, who's not a "mate". England were in a very dire state when McCullum took over. His initial psychological boosts worked wonders but they're past their sell-by date now
As for Stokes' fields... someone like Root should be providing input. Does Root step up with that advice? He himself wasn't a great captain. Brooks as vice-captain is withering on the vine, too much too soon. There's very few "perfect" captains, all have their strengths and weaknesses, and i repeat, there's absolutely no-one else to fill Stokes' boots right now. He's big enough to take this tour on board and stay for the return Ashes at home, which could be his swansong [Post edited 8 Dec 16:01]
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With the increasing shorter formats of the game, their popularity and money on offer are we capable of being able to play test cricket again? Evidence thus far would be no. | | | |
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 16:05 - Dec 8 with 1578 views | D_Alien |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 15:15 - Dec 8 by watford_dale |
With the increasing shorter formats of the game, their popularity and money on offer are we capable of being able to play test cricket again? Evidence thus far would be no. |
It's a fair question. The problem with central contracts (and some of them have already been highlighted by others) is that players, especially England players, are entering the test arenas the opposite of "battle hardened"
Take Jamie Smith. He's immensely talented with the bat and a good enough keeper, but he's just not done the hard yards behind the stumps that's required to build up concentration levels. Result? He's faltered, both behind the stumps and with the bat. Putting him into the Ashes cauldron with so little match practice behind him is madness, and the same might apply to others [Post edited 8 Dec 16:07]
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 07:14 - Dec 9 with 1399 views | isitme |
And there it is confirmation that Wood is ruled out for the rest of the tour. Matt Fisher has been called up. | | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 08:04 - Dec 9 with 1385 views | TalkingSutty |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 07:14 - Dec 9 by isitme |
And there it is confirmation that Wood is ruled out for the rest of the tour. Matt Fisher has been called up. |
We also have Archer and Stokes who need 'managing'. The cynic in me wonders if the central contract is in fact viewed as a financial comfort blanket by our cricketers. Poor performances, loss of form, break a finger nail and they still get paid. There is no incentive to rush back. As Bob Willis once said..' if i had waited to be 100% fit and pain free i would never have played'. | | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 12:05 - Dec 9 with 1263 views | watford_dale |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 07:14 - Dec 9 by isitme |
And there it is confirmation that Wood is ruled out for the rest of the tour. Matt Fisher has been called up. |
The most inevitable thing to happen on an ashes tour has happened. Absolute bonkers that he was picked in the first place with his injury record. This is supposed to be elite professional sport and the most useful skill is being able to play. | | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 17:18 - Dec 17 with 838 views | EllDale |
Carey batted well today but was Snicko at fault when he was in the 70s? | | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 18:08 - Dec 17 with 774 views | D_Alien |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 17:18 - Dec 17 by EllDale |
Carey batted well today but was Snicko at fault when he was in the 70s? |
It's already been demonstrated to be at fault. There's no precedent for having a "snick" recorded prior to contact with bat or pad, therefore the sound and visual tech were misaligned. Carey admits he thought there was contact with his bat
Overall, England aren't in a bad position despite that error and of course the Brook drop of Khawaja on 5 (out 77 runs later)
I said before the 2nd test that Brook owes the team, and himself. He absolutely does now and to be fair he's made comments about reining himself in
On the positive side, some great catches in the covers and the spirit seems high. Last chance saloon might just concentrate a few minds | |
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 18:16 - Dec 17 with 759 views | isitme |
The company who runs it have admitted that the fault was they used the stump mike at the bowlers' end rather than the batsman's end, which is why it did not line up. | | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 22:46 - Dec 17 with 622 views | dingdangblue |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 18:16 - Dec 17 by isitme |
The company who runs it have admitted that the fault was they used the stump mike at the bowlers' end rather than the batsman's end, which is why it did not line up. |
I dont get that explanation though? Surely if they've used the sound from the wrong stumps it would be further away - it would show the snick later not earlier? I just think they haven't calibrated the sound to the pictures correctly before the game has started - it happened to our Smith in the first test where his snick came after the ball had passed the bat but that was given out! |  |
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 01:21 - Dec 18 with 573 views | Sandyman |
Convicts 371 all out
England 42-3. Two superb pieces of bowling, one gift. Almost 4. Root survives by DRS, but we're owed one.
Bat all day and get 500 1st innings on a placid wicket?
Hope progress towards that is what I wake up to, but this isn't good so far.
G'night. |  | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 02:12 - Dec 18 with 563 views | TalkingSutty |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 01:21 - Dec 18 by Sandyman |
Convicts 371 all out
England 42-3. Two superb pieces of bowling, one gift. Almost 4. Root survives by DRS, but we're owed one.
Bat all day and get 500 1st innings on a placid wicket?
Hope progress towards that is what I wake up to, but this isn't good so far.
G'night. |
I suspect any chance of winning the ashes will be extinguished by stumps today. Sadly it was never going to be any different with this shower. I'll endure it until the tea break, Australia could be batting again by then. [Post edited 18 Dec 2:22]
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 08:09 - Dec 18 with 510 views | Nigeriamark |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 02:12 - Dec 18 by TalkingSutty |
I suspect any chance of winning the ashes will be extinguished by stumps today. Sadly it was never going to be any different with this shower. I'll endure it until the tea break, Australia could be batting again by then. [Post edited 18 Dec 2:22]
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No the boldest prediction ever made !!! Absolute garbage today on a good batting pitch. What Pope was doing heaven knows, and Smith didn't get the memo about not thrashing out either. Archer played as well as most of our top order otherwise they would have been in today. Well on for being the fastest any team has lost the ashes |  | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 08:44 - Dec 18 with 482 views | TalkingSutty |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 08:09 - Dec 18 by Nigeriamark |
No the boldest prediction ever made !!! Absolute garbage today on a good batting pitch. What Pope was doing heaven knows, and Smith didn't get the memo about not thrashing out either. Archer played as well as most of our top order otherwise they would have been in today. Well on for being the fastest any team has lost the ashes |
Men against boys, compare the body language of both fielding teams. I actually think individuals in this England team feel intimidated by the Aussies. They had the stump microphone on during a passage of play today and the Aussies were bang up for the contest and in the faces of our batsman, they just wilted at the crease. | | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:32 - Dec 18 with 387 views | D_Alien |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 08:44 - Dec 18 by TalkingSutty |
Men against boys, compare the body language of both fielding teams. I actually think individuals in this England team feel intimidated by the Aussies. They had the stump microphone on during a passage of play today and the Aussies were bang up for the contest and in the faces of our batsman, they just wilted at the crease. |
You make a good point there, about the psychology of at least some in our batting lineup
Since the start of the Bazball era, they've been indulged, encouraged to go out and express themselves unencumbered by fear of failure. For quite a while, it worked and helped drag the team up from a low ebb. There's no lack of talent but the day to day grind of combat has been removed from their locker, leaving it... if not empty then deficient in the hard-headedness and sheer bloody determination required in a series such as the Ashes
They were offered "clarity" at the crease which is fine (essential even) except when something different other than "take the game to the opposition" is needed. Now, they're batting like they've been duped, sold a fairytale, and bereft of the psychological strength to do much about it in the face of the usual Aussie attitude. i.e. win at all costs | |
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:38 - Dec 18 with 372 views | TalkingSutty |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:32 - Dec 18 by D_Alien |
You make a good point there, about the psychology of at least some in our batting lineup
Since the start of the Bazball era, they've been indulged, encouraged to go out and express themselves unencumbered by fear of failure. For quite a while, it worked and helped drag the team up from a low ebb. There's no lack of talent but the day to day grind of combat has been removed from their locker, leaving it... if not empty then deficient in the hard-headedness and sheer bloody determination required in a series such as the Ashes
They were offered "clarity" at the crease which is fine (essential even) except when something different other than "take the game to the opposition" is needed. Now, they're batting like they've been duped, sold a fairytale, and bereft of the psychological strength to do much about it in the face of the usual Aussie attitude. i.e. win at all costs |
Great post, perfectly put. Hard headedness is something this England team is devoid of. | | | |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 12:27 - Dec 18 with 348 views | dingdangblue |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 11:32 - Dec 18 by D_Alien |
You make a good point there, about the psychology of at least some in our batting lineup
Since the start of the Bazball era, they've been indulged, encouraged to go out and express themselves unencumbered by fear of failure. For quite a while, it worked and helped drag the team up from a low ebb. There's no lack of talent but the day to day grind of combat has been removed from their locker, leaving it... if not empty then deficient in the hard-headedness and sheer bloody determination required in a series such as the Ashes
They were offered "clarity" at the crease which is fine (essential even) except when something different other than "take the game to the opposition" is needed. Now, they're batting like they've been duped, sold a fairytale, and bereft of the psychological strength to do much about it in the face of the usual Aussie attitude. i.e. win at all costs |
We saw that earlier this year v India. If I remember correctly in one of the tests they set us a massive target so basically we could only draw the game at the most - but we had 2 days and plenty of time. Think we were all out in a few hours of the days play not interested in saving the game. | |
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| Th'Ashes Down Under on 20:07 - Dec 18 with 224 views | downunder |
| Th'Ashes Down Under on 18:16 - Dec 17 by isitme |
The company who runs it have admitted that the fault was they used the stump mike at the bowlers' end rather than the batsman's end, which is why it did not line up. |
Same old Aussies, always cheating? |  | | |
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