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