The Cricket Thread

[Ossie'sAardvark]

Well you are right on top. It really should not have been this way. Picking the best bowlers in a test is the only way. This rotation rubbish is a fail and chairman of selectors Hohns is at fault. We have the best team of three quicks in world cricket but they have played together ONCE on tour. Fucking disgrace.
As for dropping Head (who is our third highest scorer this series and vice captain) what does that do for a young player. What future does Wade have. Pissed off.
As for all our lefties being found out on this tour, we were found out in our last summer. India targeted our lefties round the wicket and Bumrah in particular ( who I rate very highly) had great success round the wicket to them. Seems England watched that series too.
Anyway, good luck chaps, rant over. Should be a win for you boys.

I'd go worse than that, you won the toss ffs, should've batted!!! Always bat to win a series.
TBF, It will be the right result if you do lose.
On a completely different note, what's the difference between shield cricket and county? We seem to have no faith in our county (English) stars whereas the Aussies always draw from the shield.

 

[Ossie'sAardvark]

So, according to reports, Gower and Botham are finished with Sky Sports at the end of this game. I can understand it a bit with Gower, his style has got a bit tedious with the way he couches everything with every possible consideration but Botham is always worth listening to. Shame.

They’ll be adding more women to the team and giving more responsibility to Ian Ward and Rob Key. For me, Ward is a bit boring but Rob Key is one of the better cricket pundits so that’s good news.

Sky are also expecting Broad to be an integral part of the commentary team once he retires.

How very dare you drop Lawd Gower! Taking the fucking piss!!!!!!

 

[Spurs_Bear]

People who need a rest for the tour to New Zealand;

Bairstow
Buttler
Woakes
Archer
@SargeantMeatCurtains

 

[Ossie'sAardvark]

People who need a rest for the tour to New Zealand;

Bairstow
Buttler
Woakes
Archer
@SargeantMeatCurtains

Love you dude, but couldn't disagree more on that. All need to play, and more.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Love you dude, but couldn't disagree more on that. All need to play, and more.

Normally I’m not a rester, but this NZ tour is meaningless, sort of the equivalent of international friendlies in football. Literally nothing riding on it, SA tour at Xmas/New Year is back in the test championship.

 

[Wsussexspur]

I know leech is bit of cult hero for his batting but he really doesn’t look like a test quality spinner.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Quite funny to think we’ve only technically failed to win this series because of the rain delays stopping us from winning the second test...

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

Normally I’m not a rester, but this NZ tour is meaningless, sort of the equivalent of international friendlies in football. Literally nothing riding on it, SA tour at Xmas/New Year is back in the test championship.

Im humbled by the fact you think I deserve a rest for a dead rubber winter before the real stuff starts. You’re too kind however I will be fully participating in the winter series xxx

 

[dondo]

Good series maybe not the best quality but entertaining and 2-2 probably a fair result

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Im humbled by the fact you think I deserve a rest for a dead rubber winter before the real stuff starts. You’re too kind however I will be fully participating in the winter series xxx

I’m only thinking of you.

 

[LeSoupeKitchen]

Haha - "Series Drawn" in big writing above the podium!

 

[dondo]

Haha - "Series Drawn" in big writing above the podium!

Celebrate your draw Australia ?

 

[dondo]

A few sour grapes from gower there on sky after his forced retirement , think beefy was too pissed to give a shit ?

 

[VegasII]

I have to say, I do like Isa Guha

 

[Gb160]

I have to say, I do like Isa Guha

Oh I would definitely.

 

[UncleBuck]

Incidentally can there have been two worse keepers on both sides (Paine and Bairstow) in an ashes series that in the past have given us the likes of Marsh, Knott, Gilchrist and Russell etc.

I’d throw in two worse skippers and opening partnerships to that as well.
Yes, some of the bowling has been good but boy take out the freak that is Smith then there are only two or three batsmen that came out of it with much credit.
I have to give Denly a special mention though for his knock whilst his Mrs was having their second, proper focus that and it was a shame he didn’t get to three figures.

 

[Buggsy61]

I’d throw in two worse skippers and opening partnerships to that as well.
Yes, some of the bowling has been good but boy take out the freak that is Smith then there are only two or three batsmen that came out of it with much credit.
I have to give Denly a special mention though for his knock whilst his Mrs was having their second, proper focus that and it was a shame he didn’t get to three figures.

Agreed I would have dropped him for this test as I doubt his temperament at this level but he showed a lot of application when all sorts must have been going through his head. His stroke play is excellent and in flashes he looks a class player but can he really add that consistent extra application and concentration at his age - I doubt it

 

[UncleBuck]

So, according to reports, Gower and Botham are finished with Sky Sports at the end of this game. I can understand it a bit with Gower, his style has got a bit tedious with the way he couches everything with every possible consideration but Botham is always worth listening to. Shame.

They’ll be adding more women to the team and giving more responsibility to Ian Ward and Rob Key. For me, Ward is a bit boring but Rob Key is one of the better cricket pundits so that’s good news.

Sky are also expecting Broad to be an integral part of the commentary team once he retires.

That’s a real shame, I’m a bit old school and grew up idolising Gower and Beef and love hearing the older guys banter, the twenty minutes after Denly got hit yesterday was real comedy gold, you just wouldn’t get that with anyone else!
I appreciate they probably want to freshen things up but they are so knowledgable about the game that it seems crazy to lose them.

 

[dimiSpur]

Overall a fair result in the series. Smith was a freak of nature in this series, but apart from him the sides are even. I'd date say this England team has overachieved in drawing the series. Compare the bowling units as a whole and Australia edge it IMO, so we've done ok to come away with a draw.

Some disappointments of course. Our middle order with Bairstow, Buttler and Roy hasn't set the world alight. I do think they'd have done better with a proper preparation for a test series. The World Cup mode they were in was never going to be easy to come out of.

Root disappointed me somewhat. Didn't bat as well as we know he can. This below par performance was accentuated by Smith's super human performances, which made his 50s look pale in comparison.

We come away from the series with a new opener in Burns who's up to the task, Denly who has shown grit, however his age is an issue in terms of building a side, Stokes' heroics which show why he's one of the best in the world and of course Archer who will be a star for years to come. Add to that Broad's return to his brilliant best and we have some good foundations to work on.

Congrats to Australia on retaining the Ashes. They deserved it.

 

[JimmyG2]

Giving County Cricket the exposure of the Tests on TV
might revive the red ball game and ensure players build their technique.

Wonderful Test series with so many plot twists and turns.