The Ashes 2025/26

[Swanjaxs]

Still on this mind

 

[Swanjaxs]

Awful review by Cummins that Desperation

 

[Swanjaxs]

Jacks Army

 

[Swanjaxs]

Marnus you cunt

 

[cmajack]

The Ashes will be lost before I open the Christmas pâté. This makes me sad.

It's disgraceful. The boxing day test used to be quite an occasion. It doesn't matter now, the Ashes are lost AGAIN. Bazball my ass . Bazbollocks. Get back to playing test cricket like it should be played, though i doubt we have many batsmen that could consistently grind out big hundreds.

 

[rockinj]

Swann just nailed the Brook dilemma on TNT. He is what he is. He’s not going to nurdle his way to a 250 ball century so if we’re gonna love the match winning innings you’ve got to accept that he’s gonna get himself out in what look like stupid ways.

I strongly disagree.

You can be aggressive but still have a brain. Playing one of the all time greats with a reverse sweep when the ball is pitched in line with the stumps is dumb.

When outside the line it makes some sense. It’s percentages, if he is to be a top player he has to add a little bit of mental toughness and game situation awareness.

When they reached 10-15 overs left of days play they should have shut up shop.

If that was done who knows it could well be 2:1 now.

I just think a message needs to be sent

 

[Cooperman]

I strongly disagree.

You can be aggressive but still have a brain. Playing one of the all time greats with a reverse sweep when the ball is pitched in line with the stumps is dumb.

When outside the line it makes some sense. It’s percentages, if he is to be a top player he has to add a little bit of mental toughness and game situation awareness.

When they reached 10-15 overs left of days play they should have shut up shop.

If that was done who knows it could well be 2:1 now.

I just think a message needs to be sent

Indeed. Poor shot selection has been the biggest downfall in the batting department, not technique.

 

[Cooperman]

It's disgraceful. The boxing day test used to be quite an occasion. It doesn't matter now, the Ashes are lost AGAIN. Bazball my ass . Bazbollocks. Get back to playing test cricket like it should be played, though i doubt we have many batsmen that could consistently grind out big hundreds.

There are five days available, we don’t need to win in three every game. Test match cricket is known as a grind.

 

[monmouth]

There are five days available, we don’t need to win in three every game. Test match cricket is known as a grind.

They did try this time. Both those innings were pretty far removed from the absurd self aggrandizing ‘Bazball’. Unfortunately players have developed such bad habits from doing it and from playing far too much bish bosh shit cricket, that they can’t help but get themselves out to stupid shots. Funny enough, if they had played ‘Bazball’ on such a good wicket, they might have got closer…they only needed it to come off for Root, or Stokes.

Now they don’t really know what to do. They’ve lost the ashes and also the only thing that gave them identity and swagger. I actually think the next test or two are very, very, important for them, and not meaningless at all.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

I strongly disagree.

You can be aggressive but still have a brain. Playing one of the all time greats with a reverse sweep when the ball is pitched in line with the stumps is dumb.

When outside the line it makes some sense. It’s percentages, if he is to be a top player he has to add a little bit of mental toughness and game situation awareness.

When they reached 10-15 overs left of days play they should have shut up shop.

If that was done who knows it could well be 2:1 now.

I just think a message needs to be sent

I think you’ve nailed it with the “still have a brain” comment. I remember when Adam Lyth opened for England briefly. The commentators used to regularly refer to him as an “uncomplicated individual”. It was a polite way of saying that he’s as thick as a canteen mug. Harry Brook is an uncomplicated individual.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

Also “bazball” isn’t the reason players don’t have the skills for old school test cricket. You can lay the blame for that firmly at the door of the authorities that have allowed the all consuming proliferation of pointless, boring and identikit T20 franchise leagues all year round. Test series are shoehorned in with no preparation and no thought.

 

[Cooperman]

Also “bazball” isn’t the reason players don’t have the skills for old school test cricket. You can lay the blame for that firmly at the door of the authorities that have allowed the all consuming proliferation of pointless, boring and identikit T20 franchise leagues all year round. Test series are shoehorned in with no preparation and no thought.

It’s the lack of preparation which frustrates me the most. I get that some players cannot easily switch codes, which is why the the odd warm up game provides an easier transition. Imagine a new football season without a pre-season friendly, or going to a World Cup without a warm up friendly or two.