Cricket fred

[Galfon]

They say miracles can happen around this time of year,
but we've been myrrh-dered, consistently own-gold, and incensed uncle Frank. Few star performances - several lucky not to get the shepherd's crook..

[Galfon]

All a bit disappointing, just feels Eng. for whatever reason didn't give it their best shot against a superior side in these conditions.
Still wish we had a reliable spinner.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/art ... g4yznemkxo

[fivepointer]

Big questions for those at the top to answer. We've underperformed but did we pick the right team and should our preparation have been markedly different?

[Galfon]

'"Whatever you can do, we can do worse.." unlikely to get results.
Archer a big loss but well done Josh T.

[Puja]

This pitch absolutely made for Bazball - the very epitome of it being better to make hay rather than wait for the ball with your name on it. Very generous of the Australians, although I am sure we can still snatch defeat from here.

Puja

[Galfon]

.. Very generous of the Australians, although I am sure we can still snatch defeat from here.
Puja

Bazellujah
Eng seamers generally ok on greentops or similar & Duckley actually get a start , Bethell does a bit under pressure.
Another couple of biggies for JT.
Back-to-backs something to aim at.

[fivepointer]

Nice one.
Bowlers delivered and batsmen did just enough on a far too sporty wicket.
Now lets follow it up.

[Galfon]

Potts in due to injuries, rest as was.
Eng. win toss and decide to baz..
Focus, focus, focus !....

[Puja]

Jamie Smith might actually be the dumbest man ever to play for England. In a solid partnership with Root, into the 40s, Australia not getting much out of the pitch, 6 overs away from the new ball, and Australia bring on Travis Head to bowl in what might be the most obvious trap ever seen in the sport. He manages to restrain himself for one over, only for Australia to up the ante by bringing Labuschagne on at the other end and instructing him to bowl not just seam (his exceptionally part-time bowling normally being spin), but the most filthy selection of bouncers you've ever seen.

Cue JSmith lasting just two balls before deciding to back away towards leg and flail at one of them, swatting it straight to a fielder.

Australia have literally come up to him with a flashing neon sign saying, "THIS IS A TRAP" and he's still gone ahead and thought, "Yeah, but I reckon I'm good enough that I can take the cheese and be out of the way before that metal bar comes down."

Absolute idiot.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Just seen this on the BBC along with commentary from Agnew. Its every bit as bad as you describe. Utterly gormless stuff.

That didnt help our cause and the bowling left a lot to be desired.

[paddy no 11]

Mudder o gawd duckett, catch the ball

England been chronic on catches all series

[Galfon]

Mudder o gawd duckett, catch the ball

England been chronic on catches all series

'Catches win matches' or in this case, just make a match of it..
Crawley & Jacks too, really soul destroying for the skip & bowlers under the cosh.Potts only in due to injury & cruelly exposed.
Can Eng. wrap things up by snatching defeat from the jaws of a draw ?

[fivepointer]

Unforgiveable to drop so many chances. Sure, some may be difficult but the Aussies have managed to take a few blinders while we have routinely shelled dollies.

[Galfon]

Another Starc reminder. ffs.

[Which Tyler]

Yay - Aus WILL have to bat again!

[Which Tyler]

Yay - Aus WILL have to bat again!

But not for long...
Sudden change of bringing on a spinner, and changing what the batsmen are seeing...

[Galfon]

Talent unquestioned but application for Test cricket confirmed you might say ! Tremendous knock Bethell but even a lead of 150 probably won't even touch the sides.

[Galfon]

4 -1 pretty much fair reflection of performance levels.
The various pyjama versions of the game is certainly box office & gives the decent players a crust or two, but we're counting the cost at Test level, certainly against the better teams in technique and game management.It appears.

[fivepointer]

The series was a massive let down. I thought we'd be really competitive at least and expected far more. In reality only a few players have achieved a pass mark and there are serious issues about the management of this group. The preparation was laughably inadequate.
We had our chances. We blew a good position in the first test and repeatedly failed to make the most of the openings we had. Some of our play - with bat, ball and in the field - was simply amateurish and well below what you'd expect from a competent test team.
Heads should roll but, save for a couple of players, I doubt they will.

[Puja]

4 -1 pretty much fair reflection of performance levels.
The various pyjama versions of the game is certainly box office & gives the decent players a crust or two, but we're counting the cost at Test level, certainly against the better teams in technique and game management.It appears.

It is wild that the preparation for this tour wasn't better. Yes, money in limited overs is good, but The Ashes is the only thing in English cricket that breaks through into the general public consciousness, so you'd've thought it would've been treated as more of a priority, with the players told that they need to get at least 2-3 first class games in if they wanted to be selected, and with a proper warm-ups so that we weren't going cold into T1.

I know Australia will always deprive us of a proper challenging warmup so playing their teams is sometimes pointless, but surely Ireland or Scotland would've fancied a test before we left, or we could've played another side on the way as a stopover on the way through? A Test against Ireland, followed by a game or two in Aus to get used to the pitches and conditions would've made the world of difference to our first Test performance.

Puja