The Ashes

[randombear]

Batsmen who play test innings like they are in the middle of a T20 (I don't want to lay all the blame on him, but for Vince to get out again, nicking whilst trying to play a big drive when our backs are already firmly against the wall is just unforgiveable. Others have been equally as guilty) and bowlers who look largely innocuous in these conditions don't tend to lead to success; as we have seen over the past few weeks.

The only mitigation I will give to England is that there situation is not unique; home advantage in Test cricket seems to be far greater now than any time recently (Certainly seems that there are fewer away series victories around the world at present) I would need some time to look at recent results to back that claim up however.

I agree Rednal, we need to produce bowlers who can bowl on such pitches, but alternatively bowlers who can exploit them too; the ECB wont do that by insisting that the County Championship be confined to the months of April and September, with all the cold, damp, green wickets that we associate with that time of year.

[coolerking]

(07-01-2018, 06:02 PM)rednalbear Wrote: Thing is Warley we are not a bad team, we did beat SA last summer the number 1 ranked team at that moment in time.

That's true, although SA were shorn of Steyn, de Villiers and, for extended periods, Philander. We're not a bad team but neither are we a particularly good one.

[narsty simon]

It's not all doom and gloom good to see Mason Crane following the same career path as Shane Warne(1for 100 and plenty in his first test!! )

[randombear]

BBC have just published the England batting and bowling averages for the series; we all knew it was bad but bloody hell the numbers are horrific:

---Batting---
Malan: 383 runs at 42.55, HS 140
Root: 378 runs at 47.25, HS 83
Cook: 376 runs at 47.00, HS 244*
Bairstow: 306 runs at 34.00, HS 119
Vince: 242 runs at 26.88, HS 83
Stoneman: 232 runs at 25.77, HS 56
Moeen Ali: 179 runs at 19.88, HS 40

---Bowling---
Anderson: 17 wickets at 27.82, BB 5-43
Broad: 11 wickets at 47.72, BB 4-51
Woakes: 10 wickets at 49.50, BB 4-36
Overton: 6 wickets at 37.66, BB 3-105
Moeen Ali: 5 wickets at 115, BB 2-74
Root: 2 wickets at 39, BB 1-1
Curran: 2 wickets at 100, BB 1-65
Ball: 1 wicket at 115, BB 1-77
Crane: 1 wicket at 193, BB 1 - 193

...and just to put the crown on it, the margin of defeat (Innings & 123 runs) was England's heaviest against Australia since Headingley 1993 (Innings & 148 runs)

[narsty simon]

And so endeth 2 ashes series with differing fortunes, 1 very high profile 1not quite so, 1 satisfactory conclusion 1not quite so, well done girls on an honourable 8 all draw the men?, Like the 2018cc fixture list, a sorry mess

[GrizzlyBear]

Even those who measure success solely in terms of cash in the tills should be worried by the (men's) Ashes performance. Ashes Tests remain a big money spinner both in gate receipts and TV rights. How long will that last when games are so one sided? Chances are the ECB will take this as a reason to give up on red ball cricket entirely and schedule even more hit-and-giggle.

[Paul]

(08-01-2018, 05:42 AM)randombear Wrote: BBC have just published the England batting and bowling averages for the series; we all knew it was bad but bloody hell the numbers are horrific:

---Batting---
Malan: 383 runs at 42.55, HS 140
Root: 378 runs at 47.25, HS 83
Cook: 376 runs at 47.00, HS 244*
Bairstow: 306 runs at 34.00, HS 119
Vince: 242 runs at 26.88, HS 83
Stoneman: 232 runs at 25.77, HS 56
Moeen Ali: 179 runs at 19.88, HS 40

---Bowling---
Anderson: 17 wickets at 27.82, BB 5-43
Broad: 11 wickets at 47.72, BB 4-51
Woakes: 10 wickets at 49.50, BB 4-36
Overton: 6 wickets at 37.66, BB 3-105
Moeen Ali: 5 wickets at 115, BB 2-74
Root: 2 wickets at 39, BB 1-1
Curran: 2 wickets at 100, BB 1-65
Ball: 1 wicket at 115, BB 1-77
Crane: 1 wicket at 193, BB 1 - 193

...and just to put the crown on it, the margin of defeat (Innings & 123 runs) was England's heaviest against Australia since Headingley 1993 (Innings & 148 runs)

Wait until they come here next. Its makes awful reading. From the sublime to the ridiculous for Moeen South Africa. Australia. We need to look at how we prepare for these tours. we are better than we performed. We cant afford to carry injured players. Moeen was never able to bowl the way he can with his split finger. Big mistake not taking Rashid. idiot selectors

[Terry]

Counties will prepare their players to play in the conditions they can expect in the County Championship.  So Jim Troughton, in the interview with Brian Halford that I posted elsewhere, says of the preparations in a tent:
"The marquee should be ready for the first week of February and that will be great.  It will allow us to replicate conditions that a lot of championship cricket will be played in next season. With four championship games to start with and another batch coming late on, a lot of four-day cricket will be played with a bit of moisture around."
His job is to get the team winning matches so he's not going to worry about the difference between how you need to play in damp English conditions and how you would need to bowl (or bat) if you got picked for an England tour to Australia or India.

[Warleybear]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42590656

[Terry]

(10-01-2018, 08:37 PM)Warleybear Wrote: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42590656

Thaty's a fascinating article - thanks, Warley.