The Ashes 2025/26

[rockinj]

Aggressive cricket is one thing and can be used effectively in right situation.

eg to score quickly and enforce a quick declaration

Pitch flattens and the star bowler is rested

Just smashing everything isn’t exciting and it’s cowardly.

As tuffers said “where’s the fight” a very small amount from stokes but funny that his strike rate was under 50

They should hang their heads in shame.

Best England team was the 2005 ashes winning team. They played to the situation and had aggressive players to take game away like big Kev for instance.

Should be an overhaul of the game after this and scrap that 100 shite

 

[monmouth]

Tendulkar said once that he realised he was getting out too often driving on the up and so decided never to play that shot again. Not ever.

Some of these players need that kind of self discipline.

Basilball might come off once during the series, because it’s based on luck or weak bowling.

 

[rockinj]

Tendulkar said once that he realised he was getting out too often driving on the up and so decided never to play that shot again. Not ever.

Some of these players need that kind of self discipline.

Basilball might come off once during the series, because it’s based on luck or weak bowling.

That’s the problem it requires discipline and mental toughness. This lot don’t seem to have that mental acuity.

It’s almost like a class striker or a middle of the road one. The top class striker will hit the ball on the ball in the corner. The middle of the road player will score the occasionally worldy but not bag 25 a season.

To become top players they need to have a razor focus on discipline but they don’t have it from what I can see and much of that stems from the system which is hearing more towards dashing and not patience

 

[exiledclaseboy]

“Bazball” is one of those things that everyone loves when it comes off and the same people slate when it goes wrong. It’s the way of the world these days.

 

[J_B]

We'll have a very good test at some point after the series is lost. We might even win it but will probably have to settle for draw.
They'll then claim to have found the answer and turned a corner.

 

[Swanjaxs]

“Bazball” is one of those things that everyone loves when it comes off and the same people slate when it goes wrong. It’s the way of the world these days.

Time for a change? It's been a blast (literally) but all good things come to an end.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

Time for a change? It's been a blast (literally) but all good things come to an end.

Depends what the alternative is. Stokes and McCullum have both fairly recently signed contracts up to amd including the 2027 home ashes series. Unless they both quit, which feels unlikely, I can’t see them getting sacked. And of course this series isn’t lost yet. He says, with blind optimism.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

Time for a change? It's been a blast (literally) but all good things come to an end.

Possibly, but the bigger question is ‘are there players in the county system, that are technically good enough and have the mentality for test cricket, ready to replace anyone in this side?’ Don’t watch enough domestic cricket to know the answer but as awful as these 2 tests have been the answer to that probably informs the decision.

Either way I think they’ll hang fire until after the T20 World Cup in February then assess the whole winter.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Depends what the alternative is. Stokes and McCullum have both fairly recently signed contracts up to amd including the 2027 home ashes series. Unless they both quit, which feels unlikely, I can’t see them getting sacked. And of course this series isn’t lost yet. He says, with blind optimism.

Never mind that, the Mermen are back tonight! The wife is absolutely on pins

 

[monmouth]

Depends what the alternative is. Stokes and McCullum have both fairly recently signed contracts up to amd including the 2027 home ashes series. Unless they both quit, which feels unlikely, I can’t see them getting sacked. And of course this series isn’t lost yet. He says, with blind optimism.

Stranger things have happened.

 

[rockinj]

“Bazball” is one of those things that everyone loves when it comes off and the same people slate when it goes wrong. It’s the way of the world these days.

Well that’s obvious but in reality I think it’s bloody stupid as a philosophy.

But as I said in previous post it’s like scoring a worldy you can’t help but get on your feet and go wow.

But far better overall to play the percentages

 

[Cooperman]

There is nothing wrong with Bazball as a concept, but it cannot be the be all and end all. Several of the England top order have failed to read the room and just ploughed on, and the comments of the Aussies show that they can see it coming. They are just doing the basics of sticking the ball in the right area, and England serve up the chances.

 

[rockinj]

There is nothing wrong with Bazball as a concept, but it cannot be the be all and end all. Several of the England top order have failed to read the room and just ploughed on, and the comments of the Aussies show that they can see it coming. They are just doing the basics of sticking the ball in the right area, and England serve up the chances.

No when used in the right circumstances it makes absolute sense.

Playing shots on the up early against quality bowling is just dumb

 

[Niigata Jack]

Starc has had a field day against these England batsmen they made it far to easy for him, they're all full of promise leading up to the tour and the self belief and mental toughness fritters away as soon as the take to the field.

 

[Jackareme]

In my opinion, the tactical approach results from an inability to critically think. Great that we are attacking relentlessly, but the key to the game is to do to the opposition the thing that they least want.
Classic example was Starc batting out time and keeping in them in the field, so that they could attack them under the lights with the new ball.
Another example is having a plan to bowl short, and refusing to pitch the ball up, even when it is obvious that it is more dangerous to do that.

A lot of young players, for sure, but I feel there is a mental element to the game that they might never develop. Good teams adapt to circumstances and find a way to win.