The Ashes 2025/26

[Cooperman]

Imagine losing in 21/22 in 12 days, ripping up the playbook, then spending 4 years doing everything to prepare for the next tour including:

- Selecting players regardless of how bad form they are in.
- Holding onto a spinner who gets no game time outside the England team because he'll come good in Aus (but refusing to play him)
- Creating a culture where failures aren't challenged.
- Having more days off than on when on tour.

Then losing in 11 days in 25/26.

The omission of Bashir is a little baffling. Picked as the specialist spinner and then sidelined by the call up of Will Jacks, this is probably a case of the batting frailties influencing the bowling line up.

 

[monmouth]

Imagine losing in 21/22 in 12 days, ripping up the playbook, then spending 4 years doing everything to prepare for the next tour including:

- Selecting players regardless of how bad form they are in.
- Holding onto a spinner who gets no game time outside the England team because he'll come good in Aus (but refusing to play him)
- Creating a culture where failures aren't challenged.
- Having more days off than on when on tour.

Then losing in 11 days in 25/26.

You forgot

- “Reinventing” (guffaw) cricket to keep up the pretence of English exceptionalism.

Who’s the twat that says ‘I never leave a ball?’. Might be ok against your poor/average bowlers, but that would be music to my ears as a proper quality test bowler.

There’s a place for whanging everything (not least I.T. Botham, 1981). But it’s not in Australia against Mitchell Stark with a new ball or Nathan Lyon with an old one.

 

[Niigata Jack]

Been reading the BBC report on the Ashes tour and their 6 day pissup.

"This is how England gave themselves no chance, from selection and preparation, to booze and the beach in Noosa.
it was a glorified stag do. Some members of the team followed two days of drinking in Brisbane with four more in Noosa – six in total, as many days as there had been of Test cricket at this point in the tour."

Ashes 2025-26: How England lost latest Ashes series down under in just 11 days

BBC Sport chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt reveals the inside story of England's Ashes defeat in Australia on and off the pitch.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Niigata Jack]

Ashes third Test: Australia and England player ratings

Chief cricket reporter Stephan Shemilt marks the performances of the Australia and England teams after the third Test in Adelaide.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Darran]

My wife just asked me if I’d seen the dog bowl.

To be honest I didn’t even know he played cricket.

 

[Cooperman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2003710821357310400

 

[Swanjaxs]

Just listened to Ben Stokes interview with Aggers on TMS. Have to say Ben sounds fed up to the back teeth with the way the Test series has gone, and the behaviour of some individuals on the recent stop over at the Noosa resort. I can see him stepping down as captain after the Ashes, and McCullum resigning too. Pity on both counts, it really has been a blast.

Test Match Special Podcast - Ben Stokes responds to Noosa revelations & Archer is out - BBC Sounds

Ben Stokes speaks to Jonathan Agnew about the reports of the squad’s conduct in Noosa.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[exiledclaseboy]

I don’t think Stokes will step down. I have a feeling McCullum will get the sack though. I’m not sure coach and captain’s relationship is what it was after this tour. England really need Stokes to stay on. There’s no obvious replacement as captain and despite this tour his record is excellent. And he’s the most important player they have as there’s no other all rounder even approaching his status.

 

[Swanjaxs]

I don’t think Stokes will step down. I have a feeling McCullum will get the sack though. I’m not sure coach and captain’s relationship is what it was after this tour. England really need Stokes to stay on. There’s no obvious replacement as captain and despite this tour his record is excellent. And he’s the most important player they have as there’s no other all rounder even approaching his status.

Agree with being no obvious replacement, but as with Joe Root, I think you'll see a totally different animal in Ben without the burden of captaincy.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

On a related note, that team could well get battered in Melbourne. Confidence and everything else will be on the floor and now they’re without the only bowler with the ability to rattle opposing batters. Merry fecking Christmas

 

[Cooperman]

I don’t think Stokes will step down. I have a feeling McCullum will get the sack though. I’m not sure coach and captain’s relationship is what it was after this tour. England really need Stokes to stay on. There’s no obvious replacement as captain and despite this tour his record is excellent. And he’s the most important player they have as there’s no other all rounder even approaching his status.

I had considered McCullum as being extremely safe in his job, but as form and (allegedly) discipline fall through the floor, there may well be repercussions.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

And you’re right as well, it has been a blast so far. This tour has been an unmitigated disaster but it shouldn’t mask what Stokes,McCullum and “Bazball” have done for test cricket and English test cricket particularly. There need to be changes but I hope they don’t throw the baby out with the bath water this time.

 

[Cooperman]

Just listened to Ben Stokes interview with Aggers on TMS. Have to say Ben sounds fed up to the back teeth with the way the Test series has gone, and the behaviour of some individuals on the recent stop over at the Noosa resort. I can see him stepping down as captain after the Ashes, and McCullum resigning too. Pity on both counts, it really has been a blast.

Test Match Special Podcast - Ben Stokes responds to Noosa revelations & Archer is out - BBC Sounds

Ben Stokes speaks to Jonathan Agnew about the reports of the squad’s conduct in Noosa.

www.bbc.co.uk

I think a lot will depend on how he views his body and fitness. Nobody but him will know where he really is in terms of ability to carry on; he’s 35 next year so has a limited number of draining tours left in him.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

I think a lot will depend on how he views his body and fitness. Nobody but him will know where he really is in terms of ability to carry on; he’s 35 next year so has a limited number of draining tours left in him.

He’s contracted to the end of the 2027 ashes. In that time the only overseas test tours are three in South Africa this time next year and two in Bangladesh in February 2027. That’s not particularly arduous so I think he’ll see out his contract if he wants to and if he’s not sacked which as I’ve said above would be silly anyway.

 

[Cooperman]

He’s contracted to the end of the 2027 ashes. In that time the only overseas test tours are three in South Africa this time next year and two in Bangladesh in February 2027. That’s not particularly arduous so I think he’ll see out his contract if he wants to and if he’s not sacked which as I’ve said above would be silly anyway.

And I think he’s pulled out of IPL in order to protect himself.